And
many of the new learning techniques can also be used effectively for adult learning and
teaching.
7. Catering to every individual learning
style
We all know that some of us
learn better one way, some another. Some love to read by themselves. Others can learn best
in groups. Some love to study while sitting in chairs, others lounging on a bed or a
floor.
Each of us has a preferred learning style and a
preferred working style. Some of us are mainly visual learners: we like to see pictures or
diagrams. Others are auditory: we like to listen. Others are haptic learners: we learn
best by using our sense of touch (tactile learners) or by moving our bodies (kinesthetic
learners). Some are print-oriented: we learn easily by reading books. Others are
"group interactive": we learn best when interacting with others.
Our traditional secondary school has done a great job
in appealing to two of our many "intelligences": linguistic intelligence (the
ability to speak, read and write) and logical-mathematical intelligence (the type we use
in logic, math and science). Most of our examination systems are based on testing those
limited academic intelligences.
But many of our current high school dropouts do not
learn best by those methods. And the high school classroom techniques used to teach
so-called academic learners are NOT the best methods to lift the standards of those who
make up our high dropout rate. And sure, it is probably impossible to cater to every
individual learning style all the time. But it is possible to design school curricula so
that all learners are either tested to determine their preferred learning style or
teachers are trained to observe them. Then the styles to be catered to at school.
Equally important, it is now simple and inexpensive to
provide print-outs of preferred learning and work styles for everyone to plan his or her
own education and future working career.
8. Learning how to learn and learning
how to think
In our view, two
"subjects" should form the central core of schooling, each integrated into all
other studies: learning how to learn and learning how to think. This
first means learning how your brain works, how your memory works, how you can store
information, retrieve it, link it to other concepts and seek out new knowledge whenever
you need it - instantly.
Some of these specific techniques are named
"accelerated learning,"
Contents Page Preface
Introduction
|
