Recently I asked people to list five verbs that describe the way they learn. There were 25 responses (including my own). The top four verbs reported were discuss (8), read (8), experiment (7), and practice (7).
I wonder how the way(s) in which we each learn influences the way we each structure our classes.
I also wonder if I incorporate enough different modes into my own classes. While I try to structure each class so that there is individual, small group, and whole class work/discussion time, I’m not sure there is enough time given to individual work. Then again, I want them discussing their work with each other. I’m sure there is a good balance. I’m also sure I haven’t found it yet. Something to watch closely next year.
Continuities 
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Watch, try, play, think, goof.
Interesting choice, “verbs.” It looks like that choice made it harder for some people.
Jonathan
I would have been tempted to write down “learn.” We learn by learning how to learn.
Yep, I’ve been reading Gödel, Escher, Bach this summer….
I momentarily debated taking out the non-verb responses Jonathan, but decided against it. How is your “goof” response different than “play”?
Uhm, Richard, care to elaborate on that? How do you think one learns how to learn? Would describing learning how to learn look different than describing learning?
I always wondered as a kid why we did the exercises where we tried to figure out how we learn best. I never really struggled in class and could not understand that some kids actually learn better some ways than others.
Great point. I many times also wonder how much how I learn affects how I teach. I try to reach all the different modes of learning during a lesson, but it’s almost impossible. I think the big thing is having the learner understand their mode and use it.
This is such an informative post. I wanted to thank you for this detailed analysis and presentation.
“discussing their work with each other…” – these few words scream leveraging technology. A forum, for example – not in class, but outside of class.
You posted a “cropped_learnverbs.png” graphic file on July 18,2010. I would like permission to display this graphic in my sermon to illustrate the point each of us needs to learn how we learn and then live so as to make ourselves available to learn what’s really important the way we learn best. I searched for that image on the internet for the copyright holder but did not find it again. Please reply to cbarnhardt@emanuellivingthelife.com.