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How can we find out more about and respond to the different ways pupils like to learn? PDF Print E-mail
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How teachers respond to individual pupils’ efforts can influence pupils’ motivation and, ultimately, their behaviour. However, pupils’ efforts and behaviours may arise from their responses to ways of learning at least as much as from their level of interest in the work. Image How much do you know about the ways your pupils like to learn and how do you use the information?
 
Your evidence
You may find it helpful to analyse how you respond to the approaches to learning shown by your pupils. Could you tape record, take diary notes, or ask a colleague to observe your teaching during selected lessons in order to monitor the way you help children?

You might like to consider:
  • ways in which you react to different pupils’ learning responses
  • how far your responses helped pupils’ learning
  • similarities and differences in your expectations of the learning behaviour of boys and girls
  • similarities and differences in your expectations of the learning behaviour of faster and slower learners
  • the opportunities you provide for pupils to respond tasks in ways that suit them
  • the extent to which tasks you set reflect your own favoured approaches to learning.

Moving forward
Would it be helpful for you to think about and expand the range of ways pupils can make responses in learning situations? If you are not sure what they are, could you work with another, more experienced colleague or with a professional with expertise in this area? Could you build into your lesson planning a range of ways in which pupils could give their responses including, for example, written, oral, diagrammatic or artistic ones?

Find out more
Further info Hallam, S., Castle, F., Rogers, L., et al (2005) Research and Evaluation of the Behaviour Improvement Programme Research Report RR 702, London: DfES

You may also find these articles informative and helpful:
National Teacher Research Panel Conference, 2004, Research summary, Effective teaching to raise boys’ literacy learning and achievement  At:  http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/ntrp/lib/pdf/OSullivan.pdf 
 
QCA website article, Taking into account pupils’ learning styles at: http://www.qca.org.uk/pess/371.htm







 
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