Enhancing Learning and Student Performance

Theoretically if students are made aware of their particular tendency towards a particular learning style then students themselves can adopt strategies that may enhance their performance. This can empower students and assist them in taking responsibility for their own learning.  In attempting to assist my students to address their own needs it must be pointed out that identification of these learning tendencies and the strategies suggested are merely tools that may enhance student performance and not to be construed as a labeling of student ability or performance.

I have put together a selection of online resources and a student self-evaluation survey to assist students in improving their performance, not only in my own chemistry classes, but in all coursework they attempt. The survey, originally developed by C. Crawford of Granada Hills High School was adapted and enhanced to be more specific to my chemistry class curriculum, activities, goals and methods of instruction.

In review of the many online resources, Dr. Richard Felder's website at North Carolina University titled RESOURCES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING EDUCATION appeared to be the most interesting, inclusive and appropriate. I especially appreciated his Handouts for Students which included a memo to students who were disappointed with their test grades.  Through Dr. Felder's main page is access to the Index of Learning Styles that includes an online instant feedback assessment tool, description of each learning type and how each type can help themselves.

In that many classes are not equipped to have all students online simultaneously or able to print out results for future reference, I have collected the available downloads from the websites for hard-copy use in class and included these for any instructor who wishes to download and utilize these materials in one packet.  These materials are freely available online directly from North Carolina University at http://www2.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSpage.html

In addition, I found several online resources that have more extended examples of learning strategies for each learning type.  One such resource is available for educational purposes  at DVC Online as part of a Learning Style Survey for College written by Catherine Jester, Learning Disability Specialist.  She has divided the learning styles into four categories which are still applicable and relevant to the previous assessment tool:  The Four Learning Styles in the DVC Survey, The Visual/ Verbal Learning Style, The Visual/ Nonverbal Learning Style, The Tactile/ Kinesthetic Learning Style, The Auditory/ Verbal Learning Style.

I have included the aforementioned resources in each packet of my student class set. (MS Word)  Right click to download this pre-assembled selection of materials. (One-stop shopping)

1.  Student Self-Reflection Survey  (Please remember this is a working draft and corrections/alterations are emminent)

2.  NCU Index of Learning Styles Assessment
3.  NCU Index of Learning Styles Assessment Scoring Sheet
4.  NCU Index of Learning Styles Descriptions and Strategies
5.  DVC Online Learning Strategies (Note that these do not exactly match the assessment categories of learning styles but appears to be appropriate nonetheless.)

I would appreciate any feedback and discussion on the practical use and outcomes in student performance when utilizing these materials.

J.Flint Baumwirt
Chemistry Instructor
Granada Hills High School
cts@csun.edu