How I Learn

  I have realized over the years that the best way for me to learn is by doing.  My learning style is similar to Vygotsky's "Zone of Proximal Development".  I learn best when I have seen a model do something the correct and then I try it.  A good model helps set the standard and allows me to create high expectations for myself.  It allows me to get a sense of what the end product should look like.  And with practice I become better at the skill.  For example, I had the technology teacher at my school show me how to create my own class web page.  After he showed me once, I looked at other teachers' pages, played around with mine, revised it a few times and eventually created a class page that I am proud of.  

 Besides learning from a model,  whatever it is I am learning needs to have value in my life, it needs to matter to me.  If the content does not relate to me or I don't make connections to it, it is very difficult for me to learn it.  I may memorize something but that does not mean that I have learned it.  It's like learning a new language.  I can memorize vocabulary and verb tenses but if I am not speaking the new language on a daily basis, it doesn't sink in, or the learning process is slow.  

This is how I learn best.  Now imagine if I were a student in a class of  25.  I know that the way I learn is probably a little bit different than the other 24 students.  Schools today need to teach a variety of strategies so that they can apply to various learners.  Teaching Multiple Intelligences is a great way for a teacher to cater to students' strengths.  Because I learn best by seeing a model do something first, learning communities would be helpful for me.  I think that schools today do a significant job teaching all learners.  The more a teacher knows his/her students, the more able he/she is to cater lessons to meet the needs of different learning styles.