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What has research taught us?
The effects of environmental stimuli on learning, Dunn and Dunn conclude, support their theory that everyone learns differently. By pinpointing the learning style or aptitude of a student, the teacher can modify instructional methods to bring about productive learning experiences for each student. Such environmental factors as sound, light, temperature, and design play a role in maximizing the effectiveness of the learning environment. Emotional elements are also contributory to the results of the learning tasks. The emotional elements are motivation, persistence, responsibility, and a structured program. Other elements are sociological: preferences for working alone, with peers, with an adult, or with varied groupings. The time of day and the need for a sedentary or a peripatetic situation in which to learn are also individualized factors that may predetermine the success or failure of a student's attempt to master the curriculum. Dunn and Dunn therefore propose that a variety of teaching methods be used with structured lessons and that environmental modifications be made to tailor instruction to fit the learning styles of the students.
Activity
Visit Dunn and Dunn's web site and find one other site related to their learning style theory. How does this learning style theory affect your ideas on setting up your own classroom to make it conducive to learning? Be prepared to share your views with your peers.
Want to know more? Check out these sites:
http://www.oswego.edu/Acad_Dept/s_of_educ/curr/plsi/
http://www.learningstyles.net/
http://www.funderstanding.com/learning_styles.cfm
http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/learning/styles.html
http://www.brevard.edu/fyc/resources/Learningstylesinstruments.htm
http://www.northern.edu/ois/Learnsty.htm
Source
Dunn, R., & Dunn, K. 1992. Teaching elementary students through their individual learning styles. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
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