Impact of Faculty Learning Styles

Who: John Knight

Where: CCCU Conference on Technology at Moody Bible Institute

What would training look like if we designed training for faculty in terms of learning styles instead of topics?

Everyone is talking about education. Tech is changing almost daily. We are competing in a global market. How do we affect positive change in education?

Everyone is willing to invest, but they don't know how to use it. However, students know how to use it. Additionally, students don't want lecture in the classroom. They would rather watch a video or see an online lecture. Students know that our methods are outdated. They don't respond to those methods anymore - by and large. Devices are ubiquitous. 

What tools do faculty need/have access to to be be able to keep up with students needs?

Technology is framed here as the "silver bullet" to be the affectation of change in education. (JB - I disagree. This is part of what's wrong. We've got to continue working to teach tech skills. The tech is there, but faculty are unable/unwilling to adopt for a myriad of reasons. Mostly because current faculty grew up learning a certain way and are unwilling to bend and flex to the new education world. I know that's a bit harsh, but it's what I see.)

There's a new Kolb inventory for learning styles that is only available online. There's also an app for learning style. 

(JB - part of my issue with all of this is that the most current research on this is over 20 years old. I really struggle with that. At what point do we stop focusing on the technology and start looking at ways to integrate rather than making it all about it. I think we put too much focus on it. Although maybe I'm not one to talk since my graduate work is in technology.)

This research focused on identifying 4 technology learning styles. KD1 is directed, has high ease of use and low usability. KD2 is a delegating with high ease of use and high usability. KD4 is supporting and is high on use ability and low ease of use. KD3 is coaching and is low usefulness and low ease of use. I can see these traits in my own faculty. However, what do we do with this? Where do we go?

(JB- Side note: how much good could we do if this were shared with everyone in an open journal rather than "starting a company" to sell this to people. Why not start a foundation and give it to faculty and get funded from non-profit? Does it really take that much money to run a website? It's valuable and has a value, but I am a proponent of the open movement rather than the keeping it behind a "pay wall.")

Next steps are to take the survey ($28) and use the info. And/or hire their firm to come and help you understand the results. :-/