Do Students Learn in Different Styles?

This belief is based off the topic of differentiated instruction.  Although this question is a very broad and bold educational belief that can be answered in a multitude of ways, there is much evidence behind the fact that every student does not learn the same way, as well as researches, studies, and tests done to answer this question over a span many years dating back to when education started.  It doesn't take researching, testing, or studying to answer this question; however, it does help, but I think the best way to answer this is through a teacher’s personal experiences with his/her students.  I will reflect on my own personal experience with students I've had, and also be conducting some research on this topic.  

I may not be a "certified teacher" yet, but I have had more than enough experience to understand that differentiation is relevant in education.  In short, differentiated instruction is the idea that different students are provided with different avenues of learning in terms of acquiring knowledge.  Through my few years of experience in Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS), vastly made up of a diverse population of students, coming from different socio-economic status', backgrounds, and ethnicity.  If I have 23 students in my class, then I more than likely have 23 different ways I will connect with each student to effectively deliver the content across the student's mind.  Every student has their own special needs when it comes to learning.  Some students need more attention (one-on-one) than others, some student's require feedback every time an activity or assignment is done correctly.  I've discovered that this information can be acquired through the students CA 60 file (every student has one).  It can even go as easy to say that students learn better from lectures, readings, videos, or even audios.  (McCarthy, 2014) It’s impossible to teach a lesson to every student the same way.  Yes, you might do a lesson for the whole class, but within that lesson you learn to modify certain parts of the lesson based on the situation at hand.

"During the 1900s, educators talked about individualizing instruction. In the 21st century, the politically correct term is "differentiated instruction." Differentiated instruction should be implemented in a way that does not change what is taught but rather changes how it is taught." (Aldridge, 2010) I like the way Aldridge explains differentiated instruction.  He goes in great depth about developing instruction within this article and addresses the considerations of the students cultural, familial, and personal characteristics.  Another article I found talked about learning styles, explaining that there is no such thing as "learning styles." (Paul, B. A., 2013) Within that article by Paul, B. A., Reiner and Willingham argue, "There is no credible evidence that learning styles exist." (Reiner, Willingham, 2010.) They agree with the fact that students learn differently and acquire content in a multitude of ways, but not through learning styles.  Many educators and parents believe that students have a preferred mode to learn.  Reiner and Willingham continue with their argument, "While students do have preferences about how they learn, the evidence shows they absorb information just as well whether or not they encounter it in their preferred mode."  At first I thought this article by Paul, B. A. was disagreeing with the fact that differentiated instruction exists.  In the article "Do Students Really Have Different Learning Styles," she explains, although there are no learning styles teachers shouldn't present/teach information to students in one fashion.  "The “learning style” that teachers and parents should focus on is the universal learning style of the human mind." (Paul, B. A., 2013) This speaks a lot truth about the concept of differentiated instruction because every students mind works differently.

I'm sure based on everything I have said above clearly shows that I agree with the fact that students learn in different ways.  I've found some information to be more clear now that I've done research on differentiated instruction and learning styles, but I don't think anyone will ever be able to change my mind on this subject.  Furthermore, I don't know that I will ever come across a Professional Educator that doesn't support this belief.  If I were to come across a colleague that believes students learn the same way, I would simply ask him/her to analyze and assess their students individually after teaching a topic.  I would bring up my own experiences, as well as share my research with them.  I believe this topic is important and every teacher should know how to effectively teach a diverse group of students.  Any school you teach in will be diverse in some way, which is what I love about education.

Aldridge, Jerry. "Differentiated instruction." Childhood Education 86.3 (2010): 193+. Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Sept. 2016.

McCarthy, J. (2014). 3 Ways to Plan for Diverse Learners: What Teachers Do. Retrieved September 28, 2016, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/differentiated-instruction-ways-to-plan-john-mccarthy

Paul, B. A. (2013, April 13). Do Students Really Have Different Learning Styles? Retrieved September 28, 2016, from https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2012/04/13/do-students-have-different-learning-styles/

Reiner, C., & Wellingham, D. (2010). The Myth of Learning Styles. Retrieved September 28, 2016, from http://www.changemag.org/Archives/Back Issues/September-October 2010/the-myth-of-learning-full.html

Post #3 - Blogs in a classroom

I enjoy writing and currently I've found out that I enjoy blogging as well.  This is the first class I've ever had to blog for assignments.  I believe blogging is a great idea for us as teachers to have incorporated into our lessons.

As a physical educator, literacy is not used as much as it would be in other classrooms, but that doesn't mean it can't be used.  If anything, this would be great for a physical education classroom.  Since PE is filled with learning loco motor skills, developing skills required in sports and other everyday activity, as well as learning about healthy lifestyles, I think a blog would be a great way for students to go home and reflect on what they have been learning in their PE class.

Everyday is a different day in the gym and I think that is the beauty of PE.  I could use this blog to upload motivation videos/links, other sites about health and wellness, and any other information pertaining physical education/activity as whole.  Yes, I could incorporate a weekly personal blog by the students to cover the literacy aspect of PE, and to get the point across that PE is not all about the games we play.  Furthermore, I could really take advantage of this and get my students in touch with all the physical and healthy aspects of life.  I could really open their eyes to the importance of physical activity and sports in child, teen, or young adults life.  

A blog has a lot of character and personality embedded into the posts and I think that is the part I like best about it.  The biggest constraints would be getting all the students on board with using it correctly as well as remembering to do their posts since it would be out of a PE class.  Doing writing assignments is not the typical idea of a PE class, but I would be making these blogs interesting, connected to the students, current trends, sports, etc.

Post #2 - Learner Analysis

I've decided to do my single learner analysis on Patrick Star from Spongebob Squarepants.  I loved this show growing up, and remember this epidose extremely well.  In this episode Patrick Star and Spongebob Squarepants go to boating school.  For Patrick this is the first time he has ever been to school, and is referred to as the new student of the class.  His best friend Spongebob is why he had decided to go to school that day.  Patrick seems to struggle at understanding the concept of "school," whereas his friend Spongebob excels which can be seen by all his good noodle stars.  Patrick Star is an independent that some how gets by without working, without going to school, basically his only hobbies in life are bugging Spongebob, catching jellyfish, and eating krabby Patties.  He lives under a rock, but just because he lives under a rock doesn't mean he has a lower SES status.  Actually, in one of the episodes it shows Spongebob going into his home (under the rock) and it is clearly obvious that Patrick is a fancy liver with nice furniture and organized living rooms.  Patrick does everything but engage himself in the classroom.  The only thing he excels in is distracting Spongebob and others from the lesson and getting Spongebob in trouble.  Patrick gets Spongebob in so much trouble that Spongebob gets sent to the back of the room and even gets a good noodle star taken off the board.

Patrick seems to figure out how to be a good noodle by working with Spongebob to save the egg in the incubator.  Patrick uses his senses to find a light to use to warm up the incubator.  Patrick does an excellent job critically thinking about where to find a light bulb.  Although he puts much thought in to getting the light bulb that is already being used in a socket, and misses the fact that he had to climb up a pile of un used light bulbs, he stills gets the bulb and saves the egg.  

Since Patrick is a cartoon character I don't think he would ever be in my class...Kidding!  If Patrick were to be in my classroom I would put a lot of emphasis in separating Patrick from the rest of his friends in the class so that he could focus on the task at hand.  I don't know that technology would be the best choice for Patrick to use.  This episode clearly shows that Patrick can't handle being in a classroom with other students and definitely wouldn't be able to be use technology for that matter.  If anything, I think Patrick would need more hands on or one on one attention by an aid.  I could video tape certain lessons and assignments for Patrick to watch at home and complete, then have him bring his completed work back to class.  Unfortunately, Patrick dropped out of school the first day he started.....so there would be no chance at improving his skills in the classroom.

Patrick may have express his knowledge with teamwork, but he fails to prove himself in the classroom.  He has much to improve on, including his responsibilities, work ethic, attitude towards education and learning, as well as his ability to give his teachers and others the right attention.  I don't think Patrick is ready for college and has much to learn.

Video of Patrick's first day of school

About Me

Greetings, my name is Ian Hamilton.  I am 24 years young (just turned, woot woot) and how can I say this, but I absolutely love life.  I'm blessed to have had a great family to grow up with.  I have 1 older brother (Sean) who is 4 years older than I am.  He's exactly four years older than me except his birthday is Sept. 5th and mine is Sept. 2nd....Hmmmm that seems odd that he could be exactly 4 years older than me, but the fun fact of it is; we were both born on labor day which changes dates every year because its the first Monday of September.  My parents Melissa and Brad have done an amazing job raising me and allowing me to really explore this world, whether it came to sports, friends, riding bikes to the park, etc.  I also have the most beautiful loving girlfriend a man could ask for.  Her name is Demi (yes like Demi Lovato) and we have been dating for 3 years to come now on the 21st of Sept. and I could on for pages about her, but for the sake of this blog, I'll keep it at that.  If it weren't for all them I wouldn't be the person I am today.  

I played sports all my life and am a DIE HARD REDWINGS FAN.  Ice Hockey was my favorite and the one I seemed to be the best at for myself, in comparison to football and baseball.  Football and baseball died off towards the end of high school but my passion for hockey never died, nor will it.  I played 5 years for GVSU's D2 hockey team and am currently in my first year outside of competitive hockey.  Saddening a bit, but I now get to have the privilege of Coaching Jenison High School's varsity hockey team!  Surprisingly enough, I do have a life outside sports.  I enjoy taking my 2 dogs Pavel (my dog, and yes he is named after Pavel Datsyuk) and Spanky (family dog) on all my adventures.  Our adventures consist of walks in the woods/parks, going to beaches, me long boarding with them along side me, and even most car rides (those are there favorite).  I love to snowboard especially out west whenever I get the chance.  I just love being physically active, outdoors as much as possible to enjoy what this world has to offer.  There are so many beautiful places out there, and I try to see as much of it as I can.  My girlfriend and I have a hidden secret about us, and this is that we love to go to concerts, as well as Music and Art Festivals.

Spanky

Pavel

One could only guess what my planned certification will be...Yes, Physical Education (K-12) with a School Health Education minor.  I absolutely love the field I'm in, not only because I get to enjoy the presence of games, sports, and skill development, but also because I find myself to be good at it as well.  Being in a Physical Education setting seems to come natural to me and I enjoy everyday of it (so far), and believe I will for the rest of my life.  I've recently worked for a summer school program this past summer teaching Kindergarten and found out that I absolutely love being an Elementary Teacher and would love to be able to teach as an elementary teacher rather than being only Phys. Ed certified.  I plan to further my education and get a M.Ed in Instruction and Curriculum with an emphasis in Elementary Ed.

I graduated from Jenison High School (Jenison Public Schools).  In all honesty technology wasn't as popular in our school as it is now a days.  Until high school the use of technology was very broad and brief.  The only time we would use it was to do small homework assignments in the computer lab, varying from research assignments to essays or short stories.  SMARTboard were non-existent in my schools; I didn't even know they were a thing until my freshman year of college.  Despite not having a ton of technology use in my years at Jenison, I was the kind of kid who understood technology very well.  Outside of school I would work on computers and phones and was using them a lot whether it was to do school work, play games, or just explore different programs within a computer.  I actually was very close to becoming a computer science major because I loved the idea and sounds of being a coder.  I always wanted to create my own computer website, program, and app at one point, but I'm extremely happy I didn't go that route.