Teachers graduate to new ways of learning
How do you learn which order the planets appear in the solar system?
Teachers from across Warwickshire have been finding out that there are many ways that children can remember that Mercury is nearest the sun and Pluto the furthest.
The example of how the planets line up can be used to show the different ways that youngsters learn.
Teachers have been studying for two years as part of the University of the First Age, run by Warwickshire County Council, and are graduating this week.
The aim of UFA is to help teachers understand how to bring lessons to life by helping children identify and use the ‘learning styles’ that suit them best. In total, 43 schools are involved in UFA in Warwickshire.
There are eight learning styles, and most people will favour three, although they will use other ones depending on the circumstances.
They are:
Word smart – when you make phrases or acronyms to help you remember information
Nature smart – some people prefer learning outdoors
Body smart – creating a pattern of movement as you learn something to help you recall it
Music smart – an example would be putting information in a rap
Picture smart – a visual memory, putting things down in maps, diagrams, images
Number smart – remembering things in a logical, sequential way
People smart – learning more effectively by working in groups
Myself smart – learning more effectively working on your own
Stella Bolitho, Extended Learning manager for Warwickshire County Council, said: “Teachers coming through the University of the First Age are able to
give children the tools to become more effective learners both at home and in class. By focusing on how they learn rather than subjects, this empowers children to tackle their work in a different way and gain confidence in the process.
“This is the second cohort of teachers to complete the programme and two more are currently under way. The result is that more and more teachers around the county are finding new ways of engaging children in learning.”