Things You'll Need:
- Learning Centers
- Rubrics
- Portfolios
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Step 1
Set up your classroom to be conducive to multimodal learning. Create child-friendly centers or stations that allow children to explore materials, problem solve, work together, discuss observations and, ultimately, report upon their findings. Typical centers might include a classroom library, a listening center, a technology center, an art table, a writing center, math manipulatives, science tools and realia relative to a current unit or project.
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Step 2
Observe students at work. During centers or independent work time, there are ideal opportunities to walk around the classroom and watch students as they make discoveries and engage in activities. Look for behavior relative to specific learning styles. For example, interpersonal learners will want to involve other group members and discuss every idea. Intrapersonal learners may prefer to observe for a while before interacting, or may migrate to less-populated centers. Visual learners may prefer the art table and kinesthetic learners will enjoy math manipulatives, board games or dance.
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Step 3
Establish a method for recording your observations. When testing for learning styles, many teachers find a rubric format beneficial for recording their findings. They may attribute points to different types of learning styles and tally the results. Or they may interview children, inquiring about their preferences, and use these results to drive rubric information.
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Step 4
Consult student work. If students keep portfolios, this is the ideal place to observe areas in which students excel. You may note that logical learners engage in step-by-step processes to describe their math or science work. Visual and spatial learners may create elaborate concept maps or graphic organizers.
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Step 5
Analyze other modes of assessment. As you participate in authentic assessment activities, it can be beneficial to note where your results contradict those on the standardized tests or other modes of assessment. These contradictions may reveal that a child's learning style is not reflected in the traditional form of assessment. For example, bodily-kinesthetic learners may have an easier time showing what they have learned through movement and gestures rather than filling in a bubble on a test.
