by Lauren Bayliss
PhD student, University of Florida

As teachers, we come to the classroom with a lot of preconceived notions regarding what good teaching is.  We have taken classes throughout our lives, and we know what helps us learn.  However, recognizing that what helps one person learn may not help every person learn is important when preparing lesson plans.  Teachers need to recognize both their own natural preferences in the classroom as well as the preferences that been cultivated by the dominant teaching culture.  Both influence teaching preferences, but may not prepare teachers to teach to the majority of students.

Learning styles provide one way to consider these issues.

Before you read on, find out your own learning style to give context:

Learning styles: http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxb11/LSI/LSI.htm

Learning styles can be described in many ways but commonly are broken down to three preferences: auditory, visual, and tactile (also called kinesthetic).

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