Styles of Learning

There are many different techniques that each of us uses to learn, and different people use them in very different proportions. I recently helped teach a group of 6 people the C programming language and asked them which of these techniques they find suits them most:

to start at page 1 and read serially through a text book.
to have a lecturer use the traditional 'talk-and-chalk' approach.
go straight to the examples at the end of each chapter
read someone else's program.
work as a team member on a [programming] project that had a real purpose.

I had a taker for each!

In this course we can try a number of approaches since we are not limited by physical classroom restrictions, or by 'students having to pass exams'. We have a variety of consultants each with their own styles - some will already have material, others will enjoy discussion, yet others may suggest and coordinate projects.

We do not yet know whether we have a central 'textbook' which leads students through the subject in a programmed order. It may be that it is more suitable in some places to set objectives to be met, and in others to suggest that students prepare material. In some of the early parts of the course there may be some learning by rote (for example the names and formulae of the amino and nucleic acids!)

Learning through tactile activities is an important part of some subjects and we cannot help you directly! But many of us have found it valuable to build a physical model of a protein, and if you (or your lab) can spare the time and money it's well worth doing.

We may not be able to provide all of these appraoches in the first instance and it will certainly be appropriate if you feel you want to use real-life books!

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pmr for pps
Sept 18 1994