We are all unique and there are many ways in which we are all different from one another. Therefore teaching and the learning of a classroom environment should reflect diversity in the resources, tools and teaching practices to ensure inclusion of different learning styles. Inclusion is very important across the educational sector and technological tools presents the curriculum in a variety of ways in order to suit the differing learning abilities and styles. For example writing letters through 'voice to text' or listen and read along storybooks on an iPad or tablet device.
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The Multiple Intelligences Theory
Howard Gardner's Multiple intelligences theory values and recognises the many different ways in which children comprehend and understand the world around them. He highly recognised children's individual intelligences and on how these intelligences should be embedded in early childhood contexts to understand the different learning styles of the students.
Technological tools can assist students with diverse learning needs and styles for example, some students are more visual learners and therefore require visual tools to carry out tasks. Another example if a student is more kinasthetic in their learning abilities in which they use their bodily movements or concrete materials to carry out tasks. |
Examples of Integrating ICT for different Learning Styles
There are many ways in which ICT can cater for different learners. The mind map below depicts the different learning styles adapted from Gardner's theory and includes some of the ways they can be implemented in to ICT learning in early years. ICT devices such as computers, laptops, cameras, speakers, tablet applications and other tools will assist in catering for these differences to foster each individual child's knowledge.
An example...
View this video of young students using the interactive smart board and consider how the learning caters for the two diverse learners:
Student 1: Uses the Maths blocks to demonstrate his understanding- VISUAL/ KINAESTHETIC Student 2: Wrote the number - LOGIC |
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ICT resource to cater for different learning styles
My Storybook
My storybook is a digital online resource where students can create their own story book via computer or tablet. There are also books available for children to listen and read along to. Students can work together in groups or individually
How this type of resource caters for many learning styles?
Word Smart: Narrate the story
Logic Smart: collection of data or information
Nature smart/ Body Smart: Research ideas on the natural world and or take images in the local environment
People smart: Work in groups on the task
Self smart: create a story or diary relating to something familiar
Music smart: Create music or a story on a particular musical instrument. Listen to stories
Picture smart: Taking pictures and using visuals to represent storybook
How this type of resource caters for many learning styles?
Word Smart: Narrate the story
Logic Smart: collection of data or information
Nature smart/ Body Smart: Research ideas on the natural world and or take images in the local environment
People smart: Work in groups on the task
Self smart: create a story or diary relating to something familiar
Music smart: Create music or a story on a particular musical instrument. Listen to stories
Picture smart: Taking pictures and using visuals to represent storybook