Comment on Dennis Secara's post:
Dennis, this is an unusual use of portfolios. In grad school, I began a portfolio and continued to add to it as I grew and learned. I am grateful for the process but would hate to see it as an evaluation method.
The instructor may want to use the technology that will benefit the particular student's learning style, even in a class with several different preferred learning styles.
It is important to use a variety of learning methods to allow students of different learning styles the opportunity to engage, understand and participate to their full potential. Using a holistic approach to assess learning offers a better assessment of learning.
It’s important to be reflective. Also knowing the differences between learning preferences and learning challenges. Providing content in a variety of learning styles will reach more students.
As an instructor you need to learn what learning style your students are using.
Learning preferences vs. challenges
It is important to create different ways to assess what the learner has learned.
Could giving a learning styles assessment the first day of class be beneficial to instructors allowing them to tailor their teaching style?
My favorite part of instructional design is creating multiple engaging ways to meet the learning goals of the lesson. What I need to work on is expanding my toolbox and being brave to use other tools besides my favorite ones. Students may become bored of using the same cooperative learning structures, or introspective learners may get overstimulated in my classroom.
