Teachers, Schools and Society: Ch. 1-2 Part Two

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There are many ways in which people learn. A domain of learning is called the "cognitive domain." This encompasses the different styles of learning like; auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners to name just a few. Many people are a mix of multiple learning styles, with one being a little more predominate than the other. I am a visual learner as well as a kinesthetic learner. The "affective domain" of learning includes ones attitude, values, and emotions. A large part of the affective domain involves ones drive to always improve themselves, and to have a "can do" attitude. Also as I have stated before in previous articles physiological factors play a large role in how one learns. A healthy and happy individual is a more productive individual. Having a healthy emotional state due to a positive outlook on self-worth, and self image allow an individual to be happier and more productive.
Teachers can respond to different learning styles for either the positive, or the negative. A teacher can teach in one learning style usually the on that they best learn in and only reach a small percentage of the class, or they can be a proactive teacher. I mean that they can teach in multiple styles through out multiple environments. As a Physical Education teacher you can incorporate visual aids, music, and physical activity. One method of teaching that encompasses all the ones listed above would be using an exergame based unit. This all correlates to Howard Gardener's "Multiple Intelligences Theory." This simply states that people learn in different ways, and that teachers must conform their teaching in order to best teach to the needs of the student. Gardner has identified eight intelligences thus far. These being; logical-mathematical, linguistical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist types
Their are many levels of multiculturalism within the schooling curriculum. Multiculturalism education has developed into multiple themes, these include; expanding the curriculum to reflect America's diversity, using teaching strategies to encompass multiple learning styles, better support teachers by making them knowledgeable of how to interact and teach people of different cultures, and lastly a commitment to social justice and global equality. Mainstreaming bilingual/multicultural students into regular classes has become a law for most states. A fear has been brought about that English will be lost as our native tongue. This fear has led to students only being allowed one year to acclimate to a total foreign environment in every sense of the word, and then be expected to learn and give forth the same quality of work native speaking students do. This to me is quite unfair. My grandfather was born in Yugoslavia, and he had an experience similar to this when he came to America. He was never able to fully understand the language, therefore he was not bale to perform in school to the best of his ability. Obviously the times are different now, but the principle is still the same!
The needs of differently abled learners are met in variety of ways in today's classrooms. Thanks to new acts that have been instated like "IDEA" which outlines differently abled individual's rights to education, and the educational process that should be followed. Also IEP, or "Individualized Education Programs" should be written, and what procedures need to be put in place in order to adhere to the IEP. Inclusion is a large part of Adaptive Education. Inclusion simply refers to differently abled individuals having the right to take part in regular schooling for the social and cognitive enrichment. Also I do not feel as though adaptive technology would cause any bitterness, or even technology used in helping bilingual students. Technology is their to aid and enhance all learners, as long as it is fairly used within teaching I do not believe jealousy will become a problem.