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Emma/Andrew I'd be interested to know more about that framework.
Personally, I think social psychology can give at least some account of
those complex relationships you mentioned.

So, by way of an example, hearing a bird call might activate the
'bird-watchers' identity as long as you identify yourself as a member of
that social group (bird-watchers). With that identity activated, you might
then pick up your binoculars to look because its part of what group-members
do on that group-relevant activity (their norms). You may not do that
secondary activity (looking with or without binoculars) if you just heard
it as someone who was largely indifferent to bird-watching.

Therefore, I would say any idea of learning styles can be related to
particular social-identities being activated. This is distinct from simpler
views based on 'attributes' of the environment or 'attributes' of the
individual alone (including physical disabilities). We are all
situationally 'deaf' when other identities are engaged which is why we have
developed a social identity approach to student induction (below).


Best Wishes,
Nick

--------------------------------------
Dr.Nicholas Bowskill,
University of Derby (Education),
Kedleston Road,
Derby

Workshop: Student-Generated Induction, York , March 25th
<http://bit.ly/17ZjcGT>

New Book: Student-Generated Induction: A Social Identity Approach
<http://amzn.to/1a3rxFF>



Nicholas Bowskill is a former Kelvin-Smith Scholar at University of
Glasgow. He is lead tutor for SEDA online workshop on Introduction to
Educational Change and an online tutor (Education) at University of Derby.
SharedThinking is an independent consultancy.


On 6 March 2015 at 16:35, Emma Davenport <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Yes, there is, which suggests that the mind/matter dualism prevents us
> from fully understanding just how complex the relationship is between
> ourselves, the environment and others.  However, our sensory functions are
> shaped by our experiences so when using them in any social situation, we
> may tend to draw upon or become reliant upon any one of them in ways that
> prevent us from engaging with phenomena differently.
>
> My anthropology background is starting to show now!  My main point is that
> we should try to avoid a disembodied model of learning and while learning
> styles may be an attempt to see learning as more embodied, they can in fact
> obscure it by way of narrowing our perceptions of what is possible.
>
>
>
> On 6 March 2015 at 16:24, David Andrew <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>>  There is a branch of anthropology which deals with this, in relation to
>> the cultural context.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Online forum for SEDA, the Staff & Educational Development
>> Association [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Nicholas Bowskill
>> *Sent:* 06 March 2015 16:18
>>
>> *To:* [log in to unmask]
>> *Subject:* Re: Diagnostic tests to assess individual learning styles?
>>
>>
>>
>> Our senses function as interactive mediators between the mind and the
>> social environment, don't they? Therefore it is surely only the social
>> situation, or being mindful of particular social identities
>> etc., that determines whether any one or more of our
>> senses has *saliency* in a given moment (I think saliency may be more
>> accurate than 'preferences' because it is not always a conscious selection).
>>
>>
>>          Best Wishes,
>>
>> Nick
>>
>> --------------------------------------
>> Dr.Nicholas Bowskill,
>>
>> University of Derby (Education),
>>
>> Kedleston Road,
>>
>> Derby
>>
>>
>>
>> Workshop: Student-Generated Induction, York , March 25th
>> <http://bit.ly/17ZjcGT>
>>
>> New Book: Student-Generated Induction: A Social Identity Approach
>> <http://amzn.to/1a3rxFF>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Nicholas Bowskill is a former Kelvin-Smith Scholar at University of
>> Glasgow. He is lead tutor for SEDA online workshop on Introduction to
>> Educational Change and an online tutor (Education) at University of Derby.
>> SharedThinking is an independent consultancy.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 6 March 2015 at 15:22, Emma Davenport <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>   Hello,
>>
>> This is a fascinating debate, given that I have just delivered a lecture
>> on phenomenology to second year design students where I argued that if
>> perception is embodied, it must draw upon all sensory facilities.  I agree
>> that learning styles are problematic but appreciate that they attempt to
>> describe what are no doubt complex processes of social cognition.  However,
>> I will strongly suggest that everyone draws upon all their sensory
>> facilities when learning - it is impossible not to do so from a
>> phenomenological perspective.  We are all multi-sensory learners, all the
>> time.  The issue is in the detail of when, where, how and why we might draw
>> upon them, arguably always in combinations because senses rarely dislocate
>> from one another.  This ultimately raises a concern about why it is that we
>> may preference some sensory experiences over others, which underpinned my
>> argument whereby sight has tended to dominate the creation of knowledge and
>> understanding within material culture.
>>
>> Many thanks,
>>
>> Emma
>>
>>
>>
>> On 6 March 2015 at 15:02, BLAND TOMKINSON <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Whilst I am happy to concede that the concept of "learning styles" is
>> anathema to many, I cannot accept that we are all visual *and* auditory
>> *and* read/write *and* kinaesthetic learners.  One of my main reasons
>> for introducing the concept of VARK is that some individuals are unable to
>> access these modes of learning or can do so only with considerable
>> difficulty.
>>
>>
>> C Bland Tomkinson BSc BA MEd PFHEA FAUA
>> Visiting Lecturer, University of Manchester
>> Special Consultant, South East University, Nanjing
>> Associate Editor, HERD
>>
>> ----Original message----
>> From : [log in to unmask]
>> Date : 06/03/2015 - 14:30 (GMTST)
>> To : [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
>> Subject : RE: Diagnostic tests to assess individual learning styles?
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear all
>>
>>
>>
>> Maybe it has already been mentioned that the debate has moved on from
>> Learning Styles as an effective diagnostic tool and many have criticised
>> Honey and Mumford’s Leaning Styles.
>>
>>
>>
>> John Hattie and Gregory Yates in “Visible Learning and the Science of How
>> We Learn” (2014), debunk the learning styles myth:
>>
>>
>>
>> "We are all visual learners, and we all are auditory learners, not just
>> some of us. Laboratory studies reveal that we all learn when the inputs we
>> experience are multi-modal or conveyed through different media."
>>
>>
>>
>> Also see:
>>
>>
>>
>> https://richarddawkins.net/2014/12/the-myth-of-learning-styles/
>>
>>
>>
>> Sorry!
>>
>>
>>
>> Best Wishes
>>
>>
>>
>> Kate
>>
>>
>>
>> Kate Hellman (FHEA)
>>
>> Head of Academic Development and Director of ASPIRE
>>
>>
>>
>> Old Library
>>
>> Streatham Campus
>>
>> Tel: 01392 72 (x4511)
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Online forum for SEDA, the Staff & Educational Development
>> Association [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *BLAND TOMKINSON
>> *Sent:* 06 March 2015 09:12
>> *To:* [log in to unmask]
>> *Subject:* Re: Diagnostic tests to assess individual learning styles?
>>
>>
>>
>> Hi, Mike
>>
>> Whilst it is not indicative that different styles are* appropriate* for
>> different disciplines, a study we did a little while ago (Hill, F.,
>> Tomkinson, B., Hiley, A., & Dobson, H. (2014). Learning style preferences:
>> an examination of differences amongst students with different disciplinary
>> backgrounds. *Innovations in Education and Teaching International*.)
>> suggested that there were differences in approach by students of different
>> disciplinary backgrounds.  I know that some work had been done eons ago
>> using the MBTI both to look at learning preferences and also disciplinary
>> differences, but I don't seem to have kept any references to the work.  The
>> problem then is not one of advising students what style to adopt to pursue
>> a particular discipline but in what effects learning styles might have in
>> mixed classes - the study mentioned above was on a project management
>> programme where students might, in the main, have an engineering or a
>> business studies background.  The other question concerns the learning
>> preferences of teachers, as opposed to students: using Honey and Mumford
>> some years ago we found considerable differences between students and
>> teachers in the same discipline.  These might be expalined by success as a
>> teacher being predicated on adopting certain styles whereas students come
>> from a range of backgrounds.  From my point of view, the utility of using
>> the concept of learning styles is that it can be a vehicle for getting
>> teachers to understand that their students' approaches to learning may
>> differ from their own and that this might contribute to a lack of success
>> on the part of the students.  It is too easy simply to imagine that
>> students who don't succeed are either thick or lazy.
>>
>> Sincerely
>>
>> Bland
>>
>> C Bland Tomkinson BSc BA MEd PFHEA FAUA
>> Visiting Lecturer, University of Manchester
>> Special Consultant, South East University, Nanjing
>> Associate Editor, HERD
>>
>> ----Original message----
>> From : [log in to unmask]
>> Date : 06/03/2015 - 07:02 (GMTST)
>> To : [log in to unmask]
>> Subject : Re: Diagnostic tests to assess individual learning styles?
>>
>> Can I just add two good books reviewing much of the research on
>> intellectual styles:
>>
>>
>>
>> *“The Malleability of Intellectual Styles”* (Zhang, 2013; Cambridge
>> University Press).
>>
>> Forthcoming:  *“The Value of Intellectual Styles”* (Cambridge University
>> Press).
>>
>>
>>
>> I guess the title of the first book raises the issue of malleability,
>> depending on context etc.
>>
>>
>>
>> My own, and others, research into student approaches to learning and
>> teachers approaches to teaching is consistent with the idea of malleability.
>>
>>
>>
>> The real question for me is, are different learning styles more
>> appropriate for studying different disciplines, and if so, how do we
>> support students to adopt an appropriate style for the discipline they wish
>> to study.
>>
>>
>>
>> Some people have describe our teaching approaches – information
>> transmission/teacher focused and conceptual change/student focused as
>> different teaching styles. If they are styles, I hope they are malleable.
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>> Michael Prosser
>>
>> Honorary Professor, The University of Sydney
>>
>> Honorary Professor, The University of Hong Kong (+852) 39174770
>>
>> Visiting Professor, The University of Tasmania
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Online forum for SEDA, the Staff & Educational Development
>> Association [mailto:[log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>] *On
>> Behalf Of *Ruth Pilkington
>> *Sent:* 05 March 2015 01:29
>> *To:* [log in to unmask]
>> *Subject:* Re: Diagnostic tests to assess individual learning styles?
>>
>>
>>
>> Just wanted to chip in at the end of a most fascinating exchange of ideas
>> and expertise. This is what SEDA is all about. I have definitely been a
>> lurker but I think when this is pulled together we will have a very useful
>> reference list and list of links. Perfect.
>>
>> Thank you so much for sharing your expertise - so sorry I have not
>> contributed...
>>
>> Ruth
>>
>> Ruth Pilkington
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>>
>>
>> Educational Consultancy
>>
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>> Skype: ruth.pilkington2
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 4 Mar 2015, at 11:47, Edwards, Corony <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>  Dear All,
>>
>>
>>
>> Somewhat late in the day, but here are links to two further (and shorter)
>> articles that I have found useful in stimulating debate about learning
>> styles:
>>
>>
>>
>> Timothy J. Landrum & Kimberly A. McDuffie (2010): Learning Styles in the
>> Age of Differentiated Instruction, Exceptionality, 18:1, 6-17
>>
>> *To link to this article: *http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09362830903462441
>>
>>
>>
>> And
>>
>>
>>
>> Cedar Riener & Daniel Willingham (2010): The Myth of Learning Styles,
>> Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 42:5, 32-35
>>
>> *To link to this article: *http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00091383.2010.503139
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Landrum and McDuffie’s piece is primarily concerned with the usefulness
>> of learning styles to inform differentiated instruction for students with
>> disabilities or particular learning needs, but the account on pages 10 – 13
>> gives a fascinating glimpse into the origins of some of this work, and the
>> credibility we might therefore afford it. They sum it up thus: ‘We
>> encourage future reviewers to attend carefully and more explicitly to the
>> methodological quality of studies when reviewing learning styles
>> literature, and we encourage readers to evaluate existing studies of the
>> impact of teaching based on learning styles with an equally critical eye
>> toward methodological soundness.’ (page 13).
>>
>>
>>
>> Best wishes
>>
>>
>>
>> Corony
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Online forum for SEDA, the Staff & Educational Development
>> Association [mailto:[log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>] *On
>> Behalf Of *Phil Race
>> *Sent:* 04 March 2015 10:11
>> *To:* [log in to unmask]
>> *Subject:* Re: Diagnostic tests to assess individual learning styles?
>>
>>
>>
>> A very interesting discussion. I'm actually quite sceptical about
>> learning styles too, but had a dabble alongside this way back in 2005 in
>> the first edition of 'Making Learning Happen'. I deleted this chapter from
>> the 2nd edition in 2010, and likewise 2014. However, you might find it adds
>> a little to the discussion, so I've attached it here.
>>
>>
>>
>> My own belief is that we can identify seven (in 2005 just five) factors
>> which underpin successful learning, but that each individual learner
>> addresses these factors in their own ways - and differently on different
>> days. By the time I'd expanded the number of factors to seven, and with the
>> natural overlap between the factors, it was no longer sensible to even try
>> the approach I used in that 2005 chapter - hence its deletion.
>>
>> all best wishes
>>
>> Phil
>>
>>
>>    *__________________________________*
>>
>> *Professor Phil Race*
>>
>> *BSc PhD PGCE FCIPD PFHEA NTF*
>>
>>
>>
>> *follow@RacePhil*
>>
>> *Website: **http://phil-race.co.uk/* <http://phil-race.co.uk/>
>>
>> *___________________________________*
>>
>>
>>
>> On 3 March 2015 at 11:53, Chris.Edwards <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>> Pollyanna’s account of her learning styles bib experience suggests a
>> commitment from the school that I know I would be straight in to challenge
>> if it involved my children.
>>
>>
>>
>> I believe, however, those involved in The Education, Learning, Styles,
>> Individual differences Network, ELSIN, http://elsinnetwork.com/index.php,
>> would cite evidence to show things have moved on since Coffield et al’s
>> critique but I am not up to date with the latest developments.
>>
>>
>>
>> Frank Coffield also wrote this pamphlet with students in mind, and it
>> might be a useful resource to use more broadly (as does
>>
>> Gibbs’ idea no.29) with students: All You Ever Wanted to Know about
>> Learning and Teaching But Were Too Cool to Ask. You’ll find the pdf if you
>> search – url seems too long to paste here!
>>
>>
>>
>> It looks like Guy Claxton’s domain name is up for sale. His work fed into
>> the development at Bristol of the Effective Lifelong Learning Inventory,
>> ELLI, which picks up on the ideas of learning dispositions and learning
>> power. I was involved in an original trial of this within HE and, it might
>> be worth following up if you’re interested. It certainly provides a rich
>> framework to talk about learning and approaches to learning but isn’t
>> something to be covered quickly like the Fielder-Silverman option mentioned
>> by Laurie. Last time I had any contact with the ELLI team, it was still
>> seen as something to be mediated by a mentor but they had reduced the size
>> of the questionnaire to less than 40 questions.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks Ian for your Pashler et al. reference. I will check it out when I
>> get a chance.
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Chris
>>
>> Lecturer
>>
>> Institute of Educational Technology
>>
>> Open University
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Chris Martindale [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> *Sent:* 02 March 2015 21:16
>> *To:* [log in to unmask]
>> *Subject:* Diagnostic tests to assess individual learning styles?
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear colleagues,
>>
>>
>>
>> Can I draw upon the resources of your knowledge and experience? I am
>> looking for a workshop activity that will help learners to discover their
>> individual learning preference or style. I am aware of at least some of the
>> models in the literature produced by Kolb, Gregoric, Fielder-Silverman or
>> Fleming's VARK questionnaire. Ideally the test does not have to be too
>> complicated and it has to include a visual outcome of some kind. Your
>> suggestions would very welcome and save me having to 're-invent the wheel'.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you in advance,
>>
>>
>>
>> Chris
>>
>>
>>
>> Chris Martindale
>>
>> Learning Enhancement
>>
>> University of Derby
>>
>> Tel. 01332-591212
>>
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>   --
>>
>>
>> Emma Davenport: Personal Academic Tutor/CCS Senior Lecturer (*Mondays -
>> Thursdays)*
>> Aldgate Student Hub (Commercial Road)
>> Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design
>> London Metropolitan University
>>
>> www.thecass.com <http://thecass.com/>
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>> For an appointment with your PAT, please email the new Aldgate Student
>> Hub  [log in to unmask]  or telephone 020 7320 4807
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>
>
>
> --
>
> Emma Davenport: Personal Academic Tutor/CCS Senior Lecturer (*Mondays -
> Thursdays)*
> Aldgate Student Hub (Commercial Road)
> Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design
> London Metropolitan University
> www.thecass.com <http://thecass.com/>
>
> For an appointment with your PAT, please email the new Aldgate Student
> Hub  [log in to unmask]  or telephone 020 7320 4807
>
>  You can also check when your PAT is available from links on our webpage
> to our Google calendars (click on Week for a simple view):
> https:[log in to unmask]&ctz=Europe/London&gsessionid=OK
>
>
> Latest News:
> http://www.thecass.com/news-events
>
>  Companies Act 2006 : http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/companyinfo
>
>