Diversity+S2

toc

Team One Compilation:
Summary: The basis of this article is that on the basis of social and psychological diversity, it is impossible to teach a class in a uniform fashion. Although on some level uniformity will always exist in the classroom for the sake of efficiency, we must appreciate as educators that [|culture] and different values play just as much of a role in a students learning as learning styles and learning difficulties. The article breaks down a student's personal learning style into four major categories: cognition (how students receive information), conceptualization (how students process information), affectation (how students react emotionally and what their values are) and behavior (actions). It is important for teachers to also remember that traditionally students will have been labeled 'disabled' if their [|learning styles] do not match the current fads in teaching, and despite this they may be very capable learners. The article also informs that as teachers we must appreciate that our own cultures and personalities will effect our teaching.

Reflection: Throughout this article, the author reminds us that each and every one of our students is different. This is something that we have been learning throughout our education classes, but it seems to be something that is worth a reminder. Each of us can give an example of a time when we saw things a little bit differently than the rest of the class and were perhaps looked down upon for doing so. We, as educators, must get to know our students as individuals that have unique learning preferences so they do not have to go through this sort of learning discrimination. Every time we are able to tailor a lessonto fit our students on an individual basis, we are helping them succeed. It might take a different approach from us, but when students are able to understand what we are asking of them, they are able to do the work to the best of their ability.

[|Diversity Article Response- Drew]
Summary On the basis of social and psychological diversity, it is impossible to teach a class in a uniform fashion. Every student is individual in terms of learning styles; how they know, how they think, how they decide, and how they act. For this reason, uniformity in teaching is impossible; however, a certain amount of uniformity in education will always exist for the reason of efficiency in the classroom, as teaching is not something always done on a one-on-one basis but instead in a general pool of different individuals in a classroom. Difference in people is evident, and one can most easily see this in terms of perception. What is to one student may not be to another. Where one student may be focused on a fragment of a whole photograph book, another student may have more of a sense of the whole. In order for an educator to receive the best results from their students, an educator must identify and have a deep understanding of the variations of learning styles not only in their classroom but, of the general public, in order to address each student in the most appropriate way possible. (Guild)

Reflection Throughout my elementary and middle/secondary education experience, I have noticed many things that are addressed in this article. In my schools, all learners were treated alike. Those who did not learn how others learned were typically put into special education classrooms, tucked away, and fed through the system. As a young student, I was labeled as an ADD afflicted child, having difficulties in dealing with subtle sounds and having difficulty in regaining focus once my attention was drawn away from the project at my hands. It wasn’t that I was a difficult student, it was that I was incapable of getting my work done in a reasonable amount of time. When my work was completed, it was flawless. Perhaps it is ADD mixed with an absolute care for perfection that made me a labeled student.

In terms of perception, the section of the article concerning music is something that I can relate greatly to. I find that I know the words to very little music, whereas my friends and family seem to know every word to every song in the endless catalogues of time. I find that I tend to naturally focus on the instrumentation, the technicality at hand, and most important, the rhythms. Even when listening to artists such as Bob Dylan, known for great written word but lack of musical mastery, I still focus on the instrumentation and the environment he has created more so than the story or the lyrical value.

Diversity Article Response- Jesse
Schools focus on treating all students the same way– you must learn all the same material, at the same rate, using the same teaching method. Though it understandable that schools want to standardize, it should also be brought to attention that this can lead to an ineffective school environment. Not all students learn the same way, not all students have the same strengths. Not all students even learn at the same rate, so it is impossible to try and force them to do so. However, this is how the majority of school are set up, so when students don’t fit into the standard, they become labeled with disabilities. Commonly hands-on students who have trouble sitting style in class are diagnosed with ADD, when, alternately, teachers have not tried different approaches to teaching them.

There are four categories to look at when focusing on learning styles; Cognitive, Conceptual, Affect, Behavior. All students perceive, think, feel, and act differently. Therefore teaching methods should vary so that more students are able to use their strengths in order to effectively learn. Visual learners need diagrams, or images. Kinesthetic students need hands-on activities. Every student is different, and is the teacher’s responsibility to plan their lessons in such a way as to capture several strengths at once. Though this is not easy, it is a start in changing how we teach our students. Everyone is different, therefore everyone should have the opportunity to learn through their strengths. = =

= =

[|Diversity Article Response - Tracey]
While research shows that educators are aware of the different learning styles students prefer, they are reluctant to realize that diversity among students is of equal importance. Schools are still operating under the condition that all students are the same and in doing so, many students are at a serious disadvantage. Educators must realize that understanding students’ learning styles is merely a tool to be used to foster cognitive processes. Just as learning styles differ, culture among students and educators differ too. Educators must recognize that culture does play a role in how students learn. While culture does play a role in education, students should not be stereotyped by their culture, just as they should not be stereotyped by their learning style. After all, every student is unique but understanding the learning differences will help educators “facilitate, structure, and validate successful learning for every student”.

Interestingly, the author addresses the labeling and mislabeling of ADD/ADHD students without the examination of their learning styles. Similarly, the author addresses the fact that teachers are evaluated by the same uniform process, hindering those who teach in a less traditional fashion; however, as the author states, “We do not have evidence of one best way to teach, just as we don't know of one best way to learn.” At the end of the article the author states, “The goal is equity: true equal opportunity for all learners.” This statement made me really think about equity. “True equal opportunity for all learners”…hmmm. While this sounds like a great idea, an idea we all strive for as educators, we are naïve to think that this is changing. Forty years ago, we said “separate is not equal” and abolished segregation among schools. Well, it was the thought that counted, I guess. Here we are 40 years later and schools are [|still segregated by race]. So, while we sit here discussing the disadvantages of not teaching to different cultures and learning styles, we should also consider the disadvantages that are created by a segregated school system.

Diversity Article Response- Corinne

The article discusses the issue of the diversity of learning styles in the classroom. Guild states that teachers need to understand how their students learn by seeing their students as unique individuals. One of Guild's main arguments is that a students culture, meaning their race, family background, socioeconomic status, and religion; all impact their growth and development and so their learning styles ad behavior. Outside of their culture students learning styles, and the way they process, perceive, and act upon the knowledge they receive, is still incredibly diverse. Basically, Guild asks teachers to understand their students and their learning needs, in order to best decide what practices they can make uniform and which practices need to be diversified. This will allow teachers to provide for their students success.

I agree with Guilds point on getting to know your students, their learning styles, and their culture. However Guild places a lot of importance on culture and the students background. I think that the focus on a students background is important, but to focus on it is to generalize and group people based on labels of race, religion, and socioeconomic status. Such background is important to understand the student, however when Guild starts to get in to the different learning styles of a certain race, I think it comes dangerously close to stereotyping. A students personality, learning styles, and intelligences can be understood based on the present interactions with a student, which allows the teacher to look at the student as an individual and not a group. I do think culture is extremely important, since it does shape a person, however I don't want to know my students through labels but through their individual personality and learning preferences.

Diversity Article Response - Ted
The article “Diversity, Learning Style, and Culture” refreshed and redirected information and insight we’ve been gaining over the past several years. It illustrated how instructional technique can either positively act with a student’s culture, benefiting the student’s sense of self, or it can negatively reverberate with the culture, putting the student in a position of uncertainty and shame. It also looks at another version of the same complex, substituting the student’s culture for the student’s learning style, which is made up of cognition, conceptualization, affectation, and behavior. Despite these two items being the primary focus of the piece, it was frequently reiterated that while the classroom teacher needs to take both culture and learning styles into account, it is important not to combine the two factors into one, as this is learning style stereotyping of a culture. While certain cultures may espouse certain values, there is no reason that these values will necessarily translate into a specific uniform learning style, nor is there reason that the student will fully embrace the values of the culture. The main point of the article is that teachers should sincerely employ a variety of instructional techniques because the more limited instruction is, the smaller the group that can learn, and the less the entire class can learn fully.

I got a lot out of the article. The article frequently reminded me that it is important not to get lazy and to make my instruction very deliberate. I kept recalling a particular camper I had this summer whose behavior was problematic. I remembered telling myself over and over again to keep in mind that the fact that this camper was black was not a direct factor in his behavior, but the fact that he’s grown up being chastised for his thinking style (highly physical, kinesthetic) has negatively impacted his desire to cooperate with an authority figure. I had to remind myself and other counselors that ethnicity was not directly involved in his behavior. The worst part was when I had to explain this to other campers who were trying to take matters into their own hands. In a classroom environment, I would hope that I had more opportunity to redirect his energy in a positive direction, but it’s definitely easier said than done, as the article made clear. As a teacher, I will need to be constantly vigilant in planning my teaching styles and observing the learning styles of my students.

= =

Diversity Article Response - Dani
All students learn differently. Most teachers realize this but for some reason schools have yet to implement enough this information effectively in the classroom. These different learning styles are born both of our nature and our experience. The combination makes all individuals unique while allowing for many similarities especially among individuals who have a similar culture. It is important to remember that different cultures have different values. This helps teacher’s understand why a student may have a slightly different learning style. This seems to be repeated over and over in all of our education classes. It is important to use multiple strategies to teach students in order to have the best success at reaching them and thus insuring they are grasping the material. So why is it so hard to do it? Are teachers simply not skilled enough? Are schools not tolerant enough of new ideas? I think it is probably more the second one. Sometimes the past is tougher to break than we think. The article’s inclusion of culture was new though and I think it made an interesting point that because different cultures value different skills more highly that those values may affect a person’s multiples intelligences.

Diversity Article Response Ryan
This article outlines the need to address the balance between uniformity and diversity, and the need to address students’ learning styles and how their culture affects the way they learn. Most schools provide an emphasis on uniformity knowing full well that students learn in very different ways. This is damaging to students and teachers alike because teachers are looking for the “one best way” to teach their students. Culture and learning are connected in ways such as early life experiences and cultural values affect the way a student can learn. By gaining and using knowledge about their students’ culture and learning styles, teachers can provide diverse learning experiences for their students.

This article, for me, sheds more light on aspects of accepting that not all students learn the same way. This is a fact that I already knew, but this article looks at it from slightly different angle. I think this would be very beneficial to adopt and apply in my classroom because it is my job as a teacher to make sure that I am teaching in a diverse ways, to reach all learners, and not in a “one size fits all” fashion. What I liked about this article was that Guild tied together the notion that cultures play a significant role in shaping a students learning style. By using the idea of understanding learning and cultural differences, I can become a more effective teacher and educate in many diverse ways. For example, I can vary instruction, curriculum, classroom management, and assessment to fits the learning styles and needs of my students.

Diversity Article Response-Ben
For the last two years I have come to grasp with the Multiple Intelligences, and how I can interpret them into my class so all my students have the opportunity to learn. After Thursday’s class and reading //Diversity, Learning Style, and Culture//, an article written by Pat Burke Guild, I realize that there are more than the Multiple Intelligences I have to address. When teaching a lesson each student has a MI that they can relate to and understand the most; however, “uniformity [still] continues to dominate school practices” (Burke 1). Even though the MI’s are now being integrated into our schools, we cannot just group the different MI’s together for each student has a different learning style. A learning style is how a student perceives the way you give the lesson.

When creating a lesson, as an educator, I address the MI’s; now, after this article I know that I must also address the different learning styles to each MI. People take things differently, whether it’s a lecture or an activity. We all have diverse backgrounds and cultures that influence how we perceive the events in our lives. What one might see as heroic, another might see as devastation. I have to remember this as an educator, just because I use a MI in a certain way, doesn’t mean all of the students who are strong in this MI field will understand. I have to be flexible in how I create my lesson plans and using the Multiple Intelligences.

Diversity Article Response- Sara Cole
Abstract “Diversity, Learning Style and Culture” highlights the fact that not all learners learn through the same methods or ways. Why then do schools insist on teaching the same way year after year to group after group. Schools value cookie-cutter uniformity over diversity. Each student has a different learning style as highlighted in the article, whether it be cognition, conceptualization, affect, or behavior. Culture and learning are also connected and the culture of the teacher and students needs to be taken into account when setting curriculum, as well as the personal/life experiences of those involved in the classroom. Diversity and recognition of culture and learning styles is key to a successful learning environment. Reflection: I feel this article presents many arguments that have been key in education classes here at the university. Taking learning styles and cultural background into account should be second nature to me now and I believe it is. Instruction needs to be diverse, not cookie-cutter. I feel this article highlights the need for diversity and acknowledgement of learning styles very well, if not a little redundantly. This article should be presented to veteran teachers as well as those going through a teacher education programme. = =

Diversity Article Response - Stephanie Lennon
Abstract This article begins by explaining the difference between uniformity and diversity. Uniformity is exposing every student to the same exact material in the same exact way. Diversity is allowing students to learn the same material in different ways. It also discusses the importance of taking advantage of the skills students have. The article then goes on to introduce the four categories of style differences: cognition (perceiving knowledge); conceptualization (ideas and thinking); affect (emotional response and values); and behavior (actions). These four things have a lot to do with how people learn. Finally, the article touches on the importance of culture and the diversity within. Students will be raised in different ways and their lives outside of school will have a huge impact on their lives inside school. This is very important for teachers to keep in mind.

Reflection This article was certainly very interesting. I especially liked how it stressed the importance of having an even mix of uniformity and diversity. Although it is important that all students learn the same material, it really isn’t necessary that they all learn it in the same way. Some might not do so well with lectures, while others may not feel comfortable with a hands-on experience. It is very important to provide students with options, giving them a sense of comfort, as well as a sense of control. I also really liked how they broke down the four categories: cognition, conceptualization, affect and behavior. It makes it very easy to understand normally complex subjects.

Josh Daigle
Though educators in general believe that not all students learn the same way, they often treat their students similarly. A student’s family background, culture, and SES affect his/her learning. Currently, educators are more biased towards uniformity over diversity. Educators need to determine what material can be taught is a similar way to all students, and what needs to be taught in different ways to engage each student. Instructional tools must be created and adapted to all students so as to cater to each student’s specific learning needs. Culture and learning style among students are connected, as well as the culture of an educator and his/her teaching style. To achieve diversity, an educator must believe in a deep understanding of the multiple learning styles that each student possesses. Learners who are accommodated more frequently by way of learning style often receive more immediate success.

This article was a good refresher for me. It talked about the importance of teaching to each student’s style of learning, and stressed the importance of discovering each students abilities and learning style early. Having background information on different types of learning and things to look for to assess each student’s learning style is an important aspect of being a well prepared educator. The article made me excited about discovering new ways to engage students and help each one be successful. I want to be a teacher of the 21st century who uses technology and new and different teaching styles to benefit all of my students.

= =

Abstract Due to the diversity of the students we teach as educators, we need to examine what we hold as required and uniform and what we can adapt for each individual learner. Students each have their own unique heritage and culture through which they learn the habits which they will use to accomplish tasks they are given. When we don’t take this into account and teach each student the same, we put many students at a disadvantage. In order to understand for themselves how they learn, students need to take an inventory and figure out how they know, think, decide, and act. As teachers, we must take an inventory of the different types of learners that are in our classrooms and take as many opportunities as possible to teach them in that ways that are most beneficial to them.

Reflection I feel that this article definitely highlights the importance of understanding the needs of each different learner. When teachers can successfully teach to the different styles students are better able to learn and succeed academically throughout school. Teachers are also given the opportunity to give each student the tools they need to become unique individuals through learning diversity. As students become comfortable in their learning styles they grow as a unique individual in a diverse world. Through this acknowledgment of diverse learning styles, students will grow to appreciate the differences they see around them and the peers around them.

Sarah Paxton
Abstract

I found this article to be very informative despite the fact that I have read many, many articles on the very same subject. I was very refreshed that not only did the article state that all students learn differently, but that students who do not learn well under the instruction of the hot new teaching fads are labeled "disabled". I felt that this small sentence truly embodied the meaning of the whole article, and also called to mind the fact that teaching is an ever changing field in which students either sink or swim depending on what researchers tell teachers will work. I also enjoyed the breakdown of students' learning styles, where cognition, conceptualization, affect and behavior were all separately analyzed as parts of a students personal diversity. I also enjoyed that the article also mentioned that the situation of the teacher as a diverse individual can effect their teaching just as much as a students' situation an effect their learning.

Reflection As a teacher I feel that this article made me truly appreciate how differently students can digest even the most successful of teaching methods. I especially appreciated the example that was given where two people watching the same movie in a movie theater would remember different things later on. I feel that this comparison is a perfect comparison for the classroom, as even the most intelligent individuals will not remember the entirety of a movie and will appreciate it in their own personal way depending on their personal culture and background. I also truly enjoyed the analogy that a classroom should be more of a "salad bowl" than a "melting pot", encouraging all different kinds and using them to complement each other rather than trying to beat them all into uniformity. If all teachers appreciated these points students would enjoy a much more successful learning environment.

Andrew Flanagan
current education model and how easily educators are divulging the same information to an audience that is full of cultural richness that can differ or oppose the values taught within our school systems. In order to correct the balance educators must be willing to try to teach the ideas in such a variety of ways so that every student can be successful and only through the proper instruction and adaptation to individuals can we breed academic proficiency. The author then goes on to state that we must classify our learning style in order to be better fit to teach separating behaviors into Cognition (How Do I Know?), Conceptualization (How Do I Think?), Affect (How Do I Decide?), and Behavior (How Do I Act?). Once the style is established the educator has a better sense on how to react the student using certain methodology deemed appropriate to facilitate a better conversation with a student on an individual basis. Finally a student’s cultural background must be figured out and lessons planned to tailor information and values that are cross-cultural while still learning about and respecting a students individuality and autonomy creating a much better environment for all students to see and learn things in a multitude of ways so that everyone can work towards goals and take steps to achieve academic success in the end.

I found this article was a great review for topics that have been discussed throughout other education courses at UMF. The information provided has something that has obviously been missing for the past 50 years in our US education system. The emphasis on student’s first and taking account on how individuals function and perceive new information within a classroom is something that should have been implemented years ago. I finally feel the experience of being part of an educational community that I am tested for and praised for my individual learning style and am taught techniques in order to be more successful within the traditional classroom. But I’ve also been in private education and even situations within the public sphere in which I was discriminated against or insulted because I didn’t see information in the same way or perform to the “average” like other students at my grade level. The information discussed in this article has such a personal connection to my own learning experience that I know whenever I get the chance to impliment this into my own classroom I can finally develop the comfort and understanding that I was denied within my own lifetime.