The strategies to be used will depend on several different components, e.g. the ability, knowledge and background of learners, the subject, differing learning styles etc.
John Dewey (1859-1952) believed that formal schooling was falling short of its potential. He emphasised facilitating learning through promoting various activities rather than by using a traditional teacher-focused method. He believed that children learnt more from guided experience than from authoritarian instruction. He subscribed to learner-focused philosophy and argued that learning is life, not just preparation for life. This is also applicable to adult learners. Using different teaching methods, combined with learner activities, will help reach the different learning styles of the individuals we are teaching. Fleming (1987) categorised learning styles as visual (seeing), aural (hearing) and kinaesthetic (doing). Gravells. A, Simpson. S, (2010) Second Edition, Planning and Enabling Learning in the Lifelong Learning Sector. Exeter: Learning Matters
We have clearly come a long way from the ‘traditional’ teaching and learning beliefs that were practiced before John Dewey pioneered learner-focused teaching.
Learning in the classroom and in the workshops/salon floor will be enhanced when using appropriate learning techniques and taking your learners preferred learning styles into consideration is a vital factor in this.
According to data collected from a questionnaire submitted to students aged 11 to 18 years and provided by M. Hebditch, Gillingham School Dorset,1990:
Students like action, talking in groups, making things, being involved. The more traditional ways of learning, i.e. Essays, Lectures, Time schedules etc., were definitely less popular. Petty G,(2009) Fourth
References: Gravells. A, Simpson. S, (2010) Second Edition, Planning and Enabling Learning tin the Lifelong Learning Sector. Exeter: Learning Matters Petty G, (2009) Fourth Edition Teaching Today. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes, p140 Habia.org.uk about us, http://www.habia.org/index.php herbertofliverpool.co.uk/ virtual learning http://www.herbertofliverpool.co.uk/learning