Resources
Glossary | Required Readings | Resources to support culminating project | Recommended Resources| Videos | Applying Learning Styles | More Learning Styles Theories
Glossary
Collaborative Learning
Collaborative learning is a situation in which two or more people work together to attempt to learn or understand something. Collaborative learning has been shown to improve web-based instruction. Uribe, Klein, and Sullivan (2003) showed that people working in groups scored significantly higher than those working individually on a problem scenario.
Uribe, D., Klein, J.D., & Sullivan, H. (2003). The effect of computer-mediated collaborative learning on solving ill-defined problems. Educational technology Research & Development, 51(1), 5-19.
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/coopcollab/index.html
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Howard Gardner
In 1993, Howard Gardner, a professor at Harvard University, developed a theory of multiple intelligences. This represented a break with the psychometric tradition of intelligence. Intelligence had been limited to the logical and linguistic realms. Gardner believes that "there is persuasive evidence for teh existence of several relatively autonomous human intellectual competencies that can be fashioned and combined in a multiplicity of adaptive ways by individuals and cultures" (Gardner, pp. 8-9). The original seven forms of intelligence are Linguistic, Logical/Mathematical, Spacial, Musical, Body-Kinesthetic, Social (interpersonal; empathy and learning in groups), Self (intrapersonal; independent study and introspection). He has also added Naturalistic (interest in ecology and large systems, develop patterns before details) and Existential. He claims that all humans possess all of these intelligences in varying degrees which represent a pattern of intelligences.
Gardner, H. (1993). Multiple Intelligences: The theory in practice. New York: Basic Books.
Gardner, H (1999) IntelligenceReframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century. New York. Basic Books.
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David Kolb
In 1975, David Kolb created an Experiential Learning Model (ELM) consisting of four elements: concrete experience, observation of and reflection on that experience, formation of abstract concepts based upon the reflection, and testing the new concepts. These elements would be repeated creating a spiral process of learning. This process usually begins with a concreate experience but can begin with any element.
Kolb. D. A. and Fry, R. (1975) Toward an applied theory of experiential learning. in C. Cooper (ed.) Theories of Group Process, London: John Wiley
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Learning Style Inventory (LSI)
David Kolb developed a Learning Style Inventory (LSI) which decribes learning preferences along two continuums: Active experimentation-Reflective observation and Abstract conceptualization-Concrete experience. This creates four type: converger, accommodator, assimilator, and diverger. He believes that individuals have a primary learning preference.
This test is only available from the Hay Group.
http://www.haygroup.com/leadershipandtalentondemand/
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Multiple Intelligence
Refer to Gardner, Howard entry
VARK (Visual-Auditory-Reading/Writing-Kinesthetic)
Neil Fleming (Lincoln University, New Zealand) developed a theory derived from the VAK neurolinguistic model that categorizes learners as follows:
- Visual Learners
- Auditory Learners
- Reading/Writing-preference Learners
- Kinesthetic or Tactile Learners
Visual learners prefer to seeing (e.g., diagrams, pictures, concept maps); auditory learners learn best by listening (e.g., lectures, audio tapes); kinesthetic learners prefer to learn by experiencing through touch and by doing (e.g., movement, hands-on projects) and reading/writing learners prefer textual stimulus.
http://www.vark-learn.com/
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Required Readings
Using Learning Styles to Adapt Technology for Higher Education by Terry O'Connor
Indiana State University
**Link broken - resource missing (as of March, 2013)
Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles from the Emerging Perspectives on Learning, Teaching and Technology—This webpage gives an excellent overview of Multiple Intelligences and ideas for application in the classroom. It also explores the VARK Learning Styles theory and its educational implications.
Kolb Learning Styles: David Kolb's learning styles model and experiential learning theory—from BusinessBalls, A well-written overview of Kolb's learning styles theory.
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Resources to support culminating project:
Assessments and Learning Styles PDF, by Elizabeth and Angela, focuses on the importance of applying learning styles theory to assessment.
Multiple Intelligences: Website that contains an overview of Multiple Intelligences, lesson plan ideas, and technology considerations. The most useful section is called: Technology Considerations. The technology considerations section is an excellent resource for ideas on software, activities, web resources, and technology tools to address the mulitple intelligences of students.
Teaching and Learning at a Distance—The Learners: Multiple Intelligences—A short nuts and bolts list of suggestions for applying MI to online learning.
SurfAquarium Immersion—A really fun resource of lots of different kinds of online games and activities that speak to multiple intelligences.
How Technology Enhances Howard Gardner's Eight Intelligences—This website will explain how you can plan your instruction to accommodate each learning style that you select (found at the bottom of the screen.)
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Recommended Resources (ones you might want to review when you have time)
**Concept to Classroom—Workshop: Tapping into Multiple Intelligences—A Distance Learning Class on Multiple Intelligences geared toward K-12 education that utilized MI theory in its design.
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www.renzullilearning.com—Great K-12 website. I (Elizabeth) train teachers on how to use this in their classes. It has students take a survey to determine students' learning interests, styles and preferences then assigns work to them to tailor work towards their needs. It also has teachers assign work based on learning styles. To preview the program, use this username to enter as a teacher: username: joetrainer, password: jtrainer
**Learning Styles Don't Exist—A video of Professor Daniel T. Willingham, Dept of Psychology University of Virgina, debunking Learning Styles theory. A further clarification: Re: Learning Styles Don't Exist. An article in the Washington Post: Willingham: Student "Learning Styles" Theory is Bunk.
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Videos
Big Thinkers: Howard Gardner on Multiple Intelligences. Edutopia revisits its 1997 interview with the Harvard University professor about Multiple Intelligences and new forms of assessment.
Multiple Intelligences Leave No Child Behind. Edutopia revisits Indianapolis's Key Learning Community to see how things have changed since our first look in 2001.
The Key Learning Community: Cultivating Multiple Intelligences—View the original video.
Howard Gardner What is Multiple Intelligences?
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Applying Learning Styles Theories to On-line Courses
Implementing Kolb’s Learning Styles into Online Distance Education—This article gives a good overview of Kolb's learning styles theory and talks about applying to DE.
Multiple Intelligences and The Design of Web-based Instruction—An article by Susan Y. Ociak and Welliam D. Milheim that focuses on how Multiple Intelligence theory can be implemented in web-based instruction. (pdf is available in our research resources)
Developing On-Line Courses for Visual / Kinesthetic Learners: A Case Study—Stephanie A. Clemons. Start on pg 59—an interesting article about creating two courses for using student's preferred learning modalities visual and kinesthetic, how students responded, and implications for educators.
Designing Effective Projects: Thinking Skills Frameworks—Learning Styles—This article talks about designing student projects to speak to different learning styles.
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More Learning Styles Theories Resources
Introduction to Learning Styles—The Ageless Learner website. Simple, clearly written, and good bibliography.
Indiana State University Learning Styles site—not well organized, but good overview of 4 categories of learning styles theories.
Learning Styles from Learnativity.com—provides a brief overview of learning styles and a really nice resources section with lots of learning styles and adult education materials.
Learning Styles: An overview of theories, models, and measures—This article is an excellent overview of 20 Learning Styles theories and how they've been categorized.
Learning Styles & Preferences—An overview of the main three schools of Learning Styles theory including VAK, Kolb, and Multiple Intelligences.
Learning Styles, Expectations, and Needs of Online Students—Davison M. Mupinga, Robert T. Nora, Dorothy Carole Yaw. Coll Teach 54 no1 Winter, 2006
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Multiple Intelligences Theory—An excellent wiki overview of Multiple Intelligences theory created by Angela Dowd
Multiple Intelligences Go To School: Educational Implications of the Theory of Multiple Intelligences—by Howard Gardner and Thomas Hatch, Project Zero, Harvard University. And article that outlines the history and theory of MI as well as its implications for education and assessment.
Relationships between Learning Styles and Online Learning: Myth or Reality?—An article by Susan A. Santo in "Performance Improvement Quarterly" that critically overviews different Learning Styles theories and looks at the research that been done on their relationship to success in online learning. (16pgs)
Should We Be Using Learning Styles? What research has to say to practice—This informative but rather long article looks at 13 learning styles theories and critically examines their reliability, validity, and impact on pedagogy. Starting on page 29 summary evaluations of the 13 learning styles theories. (84 pgs)
SurfAquarium: I Think.....Therefore.....MI! Multiple Intelligences in Education—Fabulous site on Multiple Intelligences with links to many different articles and websites.
Vak Section of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences—from BusinessBalls, Begin at VAK (1/2 way down the page) This article covers both MI and VAK (including VARK, and VACT). The required reading is the section on VAK theory.
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