Sankovich 1 Kyle Sankovich Professor Christian Berry ENC 1102 18 March 2013 Annotated Bibliography Felder, Richard M.

and Joni Spurlin. Applications, reliability and validity of the index of learning styles. International Journal of Engineering Education 21.1 (2005): 103-112. Web. 19 Feb 2013.

The article focuses on how learning styles can be used and the validity of them. Through a study of students in 1988, Felder and Silverman noted the differences of learning styles and how they could be used. Today it is not wholly agreed upon that learning styles provide benefit, however Felder and Spurlin attempt to change this. The goal of this study was to prove that learning styles do exist and that they can be helpful when used properly. They wanted everyone to know that learning styles are important and can serve a purpose to education of the future. The goal of the article (not the study conducted 1988) was to prove that the model created back in 1988 was still valid to this day and that learning styles are still important. This was directed towards those who hold disbelief in learning styles and attempts to convince them other wise. Learning styles can be used as a valid starting point for improving education. Determining a learning style is important because it can help an instructor better connect with the student. The conventional teaching approach used in engineering education emphasizes lectures over active engagement (favoring reflective and verbal learners over

Sankovich 2 active and visual learners) (8). Not all students are the same and this is part of the reason why all students are not exactly the same. A wider range of learning styles must be accompanied if we are to move ahead in education. The Index of Learning Styles was thought out and dwelled upon for a significant amount of time and that is why it is still relevant today in determining learning styles along with helping instructors teach.

Hawk, Thomas F. and Amit J. Shah. Using learning style instruments to enhance student learning. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education 5.1 (2007): 1-19.Web. 19 Feb 2013.

Hawk and Shaw start their article by summing up the last 25 years of research on learning styles and attempt to tie it all together. Their main claim would be that our understanding of learning styles could greatly aid teachers with struggling students. The focus seems to be placed on adult students rather than children like in most of the articles. This article is directed towards teachers who want to be able to better teach adults because adults often times struggle with learning new concepts. In the first eight pages the authors explains six different models for looking at learning styles. Eventually on page 14 they combine all of the models together and explain how they can be used to further learning and understanding of students. This is where they pull the best aspects of each of the six models and explain the best parts of each one. They then propose five propositions based on the models and I agree with all of them, as they are extremely broad statements based on learning styles.

Sankovich 3 Giuliani, Dr. Julie. "Eaching Style versus Learning Styles: Something You Should Know." Www.ion.illionois.edu. N.p., 2003. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.

Karagiannidis, Charalampos and Demetrios Sampson. Adaptation rules relating learning styles research and learning objects meta-data. Workshop on Individual Differences in Adaptive Hypermedia. 3rd International Conference on Adaptive Hypermedia and Adaptive Web-based Systems (AH2004), Eindhoven, Netherlands. 2004. Web. 19 Feb 2013.

The authors main purpose here was to discuss the most current uses of learning styles at that time. They were writing to anyone who wanted to learn more about the most up to date information about learning styles and research. At the time there were many articles about learning styles, but this one specifically responded to learning styles and how the research on them could be used for teaching purposes. The authors main claim is that we should be using the information we have on learning styles in order to create a better teacher. The paragraph I chose discussed systems that could be used to help students learn in a method unique from their dominant one. Categorises learners into transforming, performing, conforming and resistant. Based on this categorization, the system presents different learning experiences to each learner (Karagiannidis and Sampson 5). The goal of this is to strengthen all methods of learning in a person so that they do not have to just rely on one sole method that may not always be the most effective. They are not necessarily trying to prove a point here but rather explain what research on the topic has

Sankovich 4 discovered. They want teachers to hopefully take something from their article to better help students.

Lafferty, Hugh, and Dr. Keith Burley. "Do Learning Styles Exist?" Do Learning Styles Exist? N.p., 2009. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.

This article was one of only a few that could be found that portrayed learning styles negatively. The goal was to bash any claims made that learning styles are important to learning in future. The purpose of the article was to make it known that the future of education does not rest in learning styles. The goal is to convince educators to stay from learning styles and look elsewhere to help their students excel. Other targeted groups include school boards, parents and of course students. The article claims that students do not gain anything by knowing what type of learning style suits them and that it would just be a waste of time and resources. There are not many people out there that disbelieve in learning styles enough to write a logical article pointing out its flaws. Lafferty and Burley are exceptions however, as they explain everything wrong with learning styles. Let us say there are 16 important learning styles and are measurable, then we measure how the student learns. A lot of teachers teach a topic one way and then another. This means that we have to create at least 32 lessons for each topic, one for saying it one way and one for saying it a different way. The teacher would spend way too much time developing 32 lesson plans and therefore would deem using learning styles to teach students as a utopian idea. However,

Sankovich 5 they bash the use of learning styles and never come up with a solution to improve education. They are certainly a minority in their field.

Lane, Carla. "Implementing Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles in Distributed Learning/IMS Projects." Tecweb.org. N.p., 2000. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.

In the article, Lane discusses how learning styles are important and that in todays society we need to be more open to different styles. The main point of the article is to convince readers that learning styles have value to us and that we should buy into it. There are people who believe that learning styles are not important and she attempts to change their mind. This article is directed at a number of people including students, parents, educators and members of school boards. This article is directed at a lot of people because it will take a large body of people in order to make progress. The paragraph chosen explains how teachers would become help cater to a students learning style along with making sure he/she had a greater chance to understand the content. The basis of the model is that technology provides a deeper learning experience for students if content materials are presented in their preferred style first, then in his/her second and third styles (7). Students gain a better grasp on content when they see it in their preferred style. With the technology students have access to today we should be utilizing it to help students of all learning styles.

Sankovich 6 Moseley, David and Elaine Hall, and Kathryn Ecclestone. Should we be using learning styles?: what research has to say to practice. Vols. LSRC reference. London: Learning & Skills Research Centre, 2004. Online. Internet. 19 Feb 2013.

This article presents a similar argument to the one discussed in the article by Hawk and Shah. It discusses effective use of learning styles when teaching adults, however, it also discusses the validity of research done previously on learning styles. It is directed towards anyone who is skeptical of the use of learning styles by showing them that a greater understanding of them can help teachers. They hope that after reading the article you will have a greater understanding of how learning styles are beneficial and disperse the doubt around them. Although Moseley, Hall and Ecclestone believe learning styles are positive, they warn against labeling. The theorists warn of the dangers of labeling, whereby teachers come to view their students as being a certain type of learner (Mosely, Hall, Ecclestone 61). Labeling someone as one type of learner would cause the teacher teach towards him or her differently without even knowing. Teachers must be aware that knowing the preferred learning styles is beneficial but also can be negative. This paragraph is just one of the few explaining possible negative effects of learning styles.

Psaltou, Angeliki, and Zoe Kantaridou. "Major, Minor, and Negative Learning Style Preferences of University Students." Education Resources Information Center. Elsevier, Mar. 2011. Web. 10 Mar. 2013.

Sankovich 7 The Ron Clark Story. Dir. Randa Haines. Perf. Matthew Perry. Johnson & Johnson. 2006. DVD.

In the movie, the main character is a teacher who is brought in to teach a group of students who are failing school and destined to become dropouts. Nobody has any confidence in them and do not put much faith into them ever making something of their lives. When Ron Clark comes in, he teaches the students in new ways that better suit them. The main point of the movie is that any student can achieve if the right person teaches them in the right style. This movie was meant to be a motivational tool for students and for teachers out there who may think a student is not teachable. The Ron Clark Story is a heart-warming story about a professor who does not give up on his students. He recognizes that his students anything but typical and needs a different way to get through to them. By changing the way he teaches according to their learning styles, the students improve their grades and even perform better on a test when compared to the honors class. It shows that by teaching according to learning style, the students perform at much higher standards. Even though he never mentions learning styles throughout the movie, Matthew Perry figures out how to help his students succeed.

Threeton, Mark and Richard A. Walter. The Relationship Between Personality Type And Learning Style: A Study Of Automotive Technology Student Education Resources Information Center. 46.2. 2009. Online. 13 March 2013.

In this interesting article, the authors set out to find the connection between personality and learning style. There was only a small amount of research available to them because the field is still developing, however, their article may promote further

Sankovich 8 research into the field. The main point of the study and article was to uncover the connections between a persons personality and learning style. Their goal was to help instructors better educate their students by knowing what methods allow a student to excel the most. The article was written for anyone who teaches others because their information could help make the teaching process more efficient. It is important to consider learning styles when thinking for methods to better prepare students. Should guard against disproportionately teaching to one learning style over another. A process of adopting and adapting instructional techniques and strategies for all learning styles seem more appropriate (7). By using one learning style, instructors are neglecting the personality of decent percentage of students, which is not fair. Why should some students receive the benefit of being taught in their preferred style while others are not? Teaching based on personality and learning style is fair and allows all students to succeed.