By Anne Reardon-James <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I too, am sure like you many of you, was indoctrinated with the cult of learning styles during teaching college. It seemed such a neat theory – find out whether your learners have visual, auditory, read-write or kinesthetic (VARK) preferences and adapt your teaching style to suit. It was fun to give new learners a learning styles quiz to fill out during the induction and share results with the group. It also made you think about your own learning style biases too and reminded you as a tutor to make sure you weren\u2019t just facilitating learning using a single method of delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Popularised in the 1970s, learning styles were advocated by theorists such as Fleming, Honey and Mumford. But now, more recently we are being told that these ideas in fact do not have validity in education and are based on \u2018neuromyth\u2019. This critique is based on research developments, advanced knowledge and understanding in neuroscience. These ideas are being replaced with Universal Design for Learning (UDL), first defined by David H. Rose, which proposes a set of new principles to meet learners\u2019 diverse needs. According to UDL, curriculum should provide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple means of representation \u2013 with various ways of acquiring knowledge,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple means of expression \u2013 providing learners with alternatives for demonstrating learning; and<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple means of engagement \u2013 to motivate learning with appropriate challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does this mean in practical terms? At first glance, UDL knits together well with digital pedagogies. The explosion in digital literacy tools and techniques, accelerated during the Covid pandemic, has enabled a vast array of ways for multiple means of representation, expression and engagement. Learners now have quite a choice of<\/p>\n\n\n\n
learning methods available either in person, online, hybrid, independently or in groups, using anything from traditional textbooks, handouts and worksheets to YouTube videos and experiential \u2018learning by doing\u2019. Similarly, assessments to demonstrate learning could be vlogs, blogs, recorded professional discussions, Kahoot quizzes, infographics\u2026the list is endless. Engaging with learners is no longer simply in structured in-person tutorials and sessions, but can be carried out via virtual forums, Zoom, Teams or Googlemeet calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So now when I introduce learning styles to trainees (as it is still in the standards for many introductory teaching qualifications) I use a strong note of caution against pigeon-holing and encourage learner choice and creativity in learning and assessment. Essentially teaching and learning needs to be inclusive and multi-modal, with variety to meet the different needs and preferences of learners. Based on constructivist theory, many argue that learning should be co-created through collaboration, and ownership taken of learning by adult learners. This seems to make good sense. I first \u2018cut my teeth\u2019 in adult community learning (ACL), where a democratic model of learning was advocated by those such as Freire, in contrast to the \u2018banking model\u2019 of assuming learners are empty vessels to be filled with knowledge from the teacher. Adult learners have many options of engaging with learning for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, is there is a danger of \u2018throwing the baby out with the bathwater\u2019? I am enjoying experimenting with putting UDL principles into practice, but the main challenge I am finding is encouraging learners to take risks and try out different digital tools to demonstrate learning. Offering choice to learners for them to express their learning can often mean that they stick to assessment methods that they know. What do you think about UDL as a framework for inclusive practice? I\u2019d be interested to hear your thoughts. @areardonjames<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n This blog was written as a draft formulation of the author’s ideas before submitting her contribution to the new open source journal Future FE Pedagogies. Anne would welcome your thoughts, ideas and comments to help her extend her thinkpiece. You can share them via a Mentimeter poll here: https:\/\/www.menti.com\/alu2o1cdvhne <\/p>\n\n\n\n