Digital Resources and Digital Resources and Learning need of ChildrenLearning need of Children

By Gina Annison

Pupils have different abilities, Pupils have different abilities, interests, experiences and interests, experiences and

learning preferences. learning preferences. ICT can be used to support ICT can be used to support

differing learning styles and help differing learning styles and help introduce new ways of working.introduce new ways of working.

There are three main There are three main learning styleslearning styles

Visual LearnersAuditory LearnersKinesthetic Learners

VAK

Visual LearnersVisual Learners

Learn through seeing.Need to see teachers body language and

facial expressions.Prefer to sit at the front of the class.Think in pictures and learn best from visual

displays, illustrated text books and videos.Digital resources very useful for visual

learners.

Auditory LearnersAuditory LearnersLearn through listening.Learn best through verbal lectures,

discussions and talking things through.Listen to tone, pitch and speed of voice to

learn.Written information may have little

meaning until heard.Benefit from reading text aloud and using a

tape recorder.

Kinesthetic LearnersKinesthetic Learners

Learn through, moving doing and touching.Hands on approachActively explore the physical world around

them.Find it hard to sit still for long periods.Can become distracted by their need for

activity and exploration.

What can we do with ICT What can we do with ICT to help these learners?to help these learners?

AuditoryKinesthetic

•Movies

•PowerPoint

•Movie Maker

•Online reference material i.e. Encarta, My first Dictionary.

•Lots of diagrams

•Talking books

•Recording sound and speech programmes.

•Video Links

•PowerPoint-incorporating sounds

•Simulation software

•Animation- 2 animate

•Interactive Games

•PowerPoint

•Beebots

•Roamer

•Clicker

Visual

Why is ICT so valuable to Why is ICT so valuable to these learners?these learners?

ICT is able to combine all the skills to support these different learners often in one programme so that all learners can benefit at the same time and a particular group are not left out.

It is important to grasp the new programmes that are being developed as we do not live in a pen and paper world and children do not learn by text alone it’s a colourful world out there and to make it simple and black and white is not allowing children to blossom. ICT is an excellent way to make it a rainbow day every day for everyone!

ReferencesReferences

NAHT. 2004,'My learning-my way - A School Leader's guide to using ICT to personalise learning' Microsoft,http://www.microsoft.com/uk/education/headteacher

accesssed Nov. 16th 2006 Zimmerman J .1997, ‘How to Create a Dynamic

Learning Enviroment’ Impact Consulting Group, http://www.impactcg.com/training/ziptrain.htm accessed Nov.16th 2006