Reflection 9: Learning occurs in Mysterious Ways!

Everybody has the right to learn in accordance to his or her capacities and characteristics.

Just like we all dress differently and just  like we all enjoy different things through our pilgrimage in this world,  it just happens that people learn in dissimilar ways. The idea of having the same  lesson´s activity for everybody in the classroom is not correct anymore. It is the duty or challenge of instructors nowadays to find the ways to make learning a more democratic process where each participant can access knowledge according to his or her capacities and characteristics. It is a decision, by part of any instructor, to open his or her eyes to wider range of perspectives just like any person opens the windows of his or her house to have a better view or just to let some fresh air or light get into the room. 

The first step to take when you are an instructor is to be able to differentiate the learning styles your students have. One possible way of doing this is by taking a test (http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-learning-styles-quiz) to know what learning style you have. After this, there would be a clear idea of the scenario you are going to be moving on. Then, it would be more a matter of taking choices from all the technological devices out there. You can take the lesson plan to include listening activities from YouTube, for example, or from podcasts for those whose learning style is audio oriented. You can also bring music into the classroom such as songs for a grammar class where people have to identify the parts of speech to the rhythm of the most recent hit. You can find a whole set of excellent resources to prepare activities for your class based on learning styles in this useful web page on Technology and Multiple Intelligences (http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic68.htm).

The best way of seeing the change of including different activities that can address different learning styles is by being part of it; there is no doubt about it. To illustrate this, I can bring back my final project -which we handed in this week- (http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=181343) where my students had to prepare a class activity for a grammar lesson by their own and based on their field of study or work activity. The results where simply amazing and the class turned into a varied and colorful canvas  where we were witnesses of a unique parade of games, songs, and speeches. As a result, the class became a stage where we all participated and learned at the same time. It was truly enriching and changed my perspective of what to do and what not to do in a class. 

Through having a class based on learning styles, not only the student benefits from it;  the instructor does as well. That interaction provided by the spaced created in the classroom is filled with a plurality of ideas that constructs the learning process into a series of roads that expand the access to knowledge; providing such diversity that it suits any one in the classroom either in direct or indirect way. Through having a class based on learning styles  it is clear that the instructor makes sure that whatever it is being studied in class can find each one of its participants; turning the act of learning into a universal one for every single student will benefit from its joys. It is like having a huge, shady tree that covers everyone under its branches. And the best thing, my friends, is that... it feels so good!

There is no age nor place for learning styles.