Technological influences on the teaching and learning styles in education

Technological influences on the teaching and learning styles in education.

Teaching styles and learning styles in education are essential to academic success. In the last three decades technology has both influenced and enhanced education. Formal Authority, Demonstrator, Facilitator, and Delegator are teaching styles which have been manipulated and enhanced by technological advances. In addition, Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic learning styles have also been manipulated and enhanced by advances in technology. Technology has both influenced and improved teaching and learning styles within the system of education. Before focusing on technology and its influence in education it is important to describe the four main teaching styles.

One style is the Formal authority teaching style. It’s used by educators who utilize a style primarily focused on a teacher centered environment (the flow of content is heavily emphasized). In this method the educator does not try to build a personal relationship with the students, nor does the educator try to enforce the class to participate. The main focus of this style is the maintenance of a continuous controlled flow of information. The primary goal is to tell students what to think and not formulate their own conclusion. An example of this method is a traditional lecture. (), (),

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The second teaching style is the Demonstrator or personal model teaching style. It’s used by educators who also utilize a style primarily focused on a teacher centered environment. In this style, the students are encouraged to participate and ask for help when needed. The main focus of this style is for students to visualize and comprehend the educator’s role model skills or the educator’s ability to demonstrate the content. An example of this method is groups and individuals assigned independent learning activities.(),(),()

The third of the four teaching styles is the facilitator style. It’s is used by educators who primarily focus on a learner oriented environment. (Doesn’t follow the curriculum but teaches for understanding. A learner is encouraged to question current beliefs and explore a new way to think.) The main focus of this style is emphasized on activities. In addition, the educator encourages the students to take an initiative to use various previously learned skills. The primary goal is for students to actively participate and collaborate with fellow students. Furthermore, heavy emphasis is placed on creativity and originality. An example of this is assigned group work in which student development and application of skills is emphasized by counsel and guidance. (), (),

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The last teaching style is the delegator style. It’s used by educators who utilize a style primarily focused on a learner oriented environment. The primary goal of this style is to place responsibility on an individual or a group of students to learn among each other. In addition, the educator encourages the students work on complex projects in which students learn more than course related topics. The main focus of this is to get them to work in group stimulations and manage various impersonal roles. Identifying teaching styles is crucial but analyzing learning is also very ...

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The visual learning styles can be described in many ways. Visual learners can best be described as learners who learn best when a visual component is present. The teacher’s facial expression and body language are critical components of the student’s ability to comprehend the material. They think in pictures and learn best from visual displays of diagrams, illustrated books, overhead transparencies, videos and demonstrations. Visual learners tend to sit in the front to avoid visual abstractions such as people’s heads. Furthermore, they are usually neat and clean due to their visual focus. In addition, they tend to take numerous detailed notes. Some careers that suit visual learners best are executive positions in which the visions of the future are important, architecture, engineering and surgery.\(),

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Secondly, Auditory learners can best be described as learners who learn best when an oral component is present. For example, verbal lectures, discussions, and face to face instructions are critical components of the student’s ability to comprehend the material. They think in pictures; information is filtered and stored with a picture around it. They comprehend material when they listen to the voice, tone and speed of the educator. They sit where they can hear well. Written information is meaningless until it is heard (read aloud). Auditory learners are easily distracted by excess noise. Furthermore, they may not coordinate color clothes but they can explain the reason they wore it. A career which would suit an auditory learner might be pathology, a disk jockey or a musician.

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The last of three learning styles is the Kinesthetic style. Kinesthetic or tactical learners can best be described as learners who learn best through a hands-on approach. For example, to be physical and emotional is a very critical part to the student’s ability to comprehend the material. They find it hard to sit still, they need to be active. In addition, they tend to speak with their hands. They hate classrooms where there is no technical hands-on experience. Furthermore, they tend to sit near the door or a place where they can move around. They don’t have a good sense of orderliness or cleanliness. Kinesthetic

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learners tend to pursue a career as a dancer, athlete or construction worker. After describing teaching and learning styles technologies impact on each can be analyzed. (), (), ()

Teaching and learning styles have been improved through the invention and use of several technological advances. The use of VCR’s and DVD’s has changed the way educators teach and the way students learn. For example, due to films, documentaries, and presentations, teachers who utilize the demonstrator teaching style can now show their students specific clips or full detailed documentaries on the taught material. Furthermore, students who learn in a visual or audio style can watch and hear content that they utilize according to their own unique way of learning.

Another technological advance that improved and manipulated the different teaching and learning styles is overhead transparencies. “Overhead projectors simplicity of operation belies its versatility and value as a teaching tool. A great advantage of transparencies is that they can reproduce just about anything a regular photocopier can-

even colors are a possibility” (Meyers, Chet and Jones Thomas 145). Overhead projectors have also enhanced the demonstrator teaching style which gives the educator the power to display content. Students who learn in a visual style are easily attracted by the reproduction of the content and the use of color.

Another technological advance that improves and manipulates the different teaching and learning styles is advances in audio capabilities. Classrooms and lecture

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halls have been technologically enhanced with projectors microphones, and speakers. The formal authority teaching style relates to, lecture professors; they are able to project to a larger audience. Students with an auditory learning style have the ability to hear the instructor easier.

A huge technological advance, the computer, has really enhanced both teaching styles and learning styles in several ways. Educators who use the Formal Authority, Demonstrator, Facilitator, and Delegator styles can all use the computer as a supplement to aid the students in the comprehension of content. Furthermore, students who use the Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic learning styles are all able to profit from the computer because in order to use a computer one is using visual, audio, and tactical skills. (http://www.nsba.org/sbot/toolkit/tiol.html)

Also the reason teaching styles and learning styles have been changed is due to the accessibility of technology. Whether it’s one or multiple computer inside the classroom, overhead projectors, or even VCR/DVD players, technology is ubiquitous. In addition it’s accessible to both students and teachers. If one can’t afford a PC for domestic personal use. One can use a computer in a school or public library. Whether it’s to research a particular topic or use PowerPoint for a class presentation.

Technology has influenced as well as enhanced the way educators teach and the way students learn. First, Formal authority style teachers can use audio equipment in order to enhance the effects of their class. Second, Demonstrator style teachers can use

overhead projectors, as well as other software and hardware to increase the effects of their content. Third, facilitator and delegator style teachers can use a wide variety of

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software and hardware devices to increase the impact of their class on their students. Furthermore Students who are visual and Auditory learners benefit from all the possible visual equipment that is available in the modern classroom. Lastly, kinesthetic learners benefit from the technical equipment in the classrooms, such as the various technical schools that offer technical training. To see what technology has done for the modern classroom in the past five years, one can only wonder what technology will do in the next decade.

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Draude, Barbara . "Assessing the Impact of Technology on Teaching and Learning: ." method. 16 Dec 2006 <http://www.mtsu.edu/~itconf/proceed99/brace.html#method>.

Meyers, Chet and Jones Thomas. Promoting Active Learning: Strategies for the College classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1993

Technologies Impact on Learning. Department of Education. 18 Dec 2006 <http://www.nsba.org/sbot/toolkit/tiol.html>.

"Teaching styles." Teaching & Learning. 14 December 2006. Michigan State University Board of Trustees. 16 Dec 2006 <http://vudat.msu.edu/teach_styles/>.

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"Teaching and Learning Styles." Teaching Styles. 29 August 2004. Michigan State University. 16 Dec 2006 <http://teachvu.vu.msu.edu/public/designers/teaching_and_learning/index.php?page_num=4>.

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