Learning Styles: Different Ways to Learn

Teaching, Learning, and I

My involvement in teaching and learning goes back to 5 decades ago when my first grade teacher, Ustaz (Mr.) John used to ask me to help less able students with their class activities. I was still seven years old. In grade seven, I decided to become a teacher like my cousin, Mahmood. My favorite game was making exam questions in Math and Science and challenging my classmates to solve them. Subsequently, I was accepted to the École Normale; a preparatory school for elementary teachers. I later attended the College of Education in Beirut, where I graduated with certification to be a chemistry high school teacher. My work in university was honored with a full Doctorate scholarship to Columbia University in New York City, USA. There, I earned 2 Master degrees and a Doctorate degree in Math and Science Education.
My direct involvement in learning styles dates back to three years ago when former ZU Provost Larry Wilson asked me to initiate research activities on the subject. He, and later Michael Allen, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Jeff Belnap, Director of Zayed University, Abu-Dhabi Campus have encouraged me to find out whether our students at Zayed University learn in the same way as American and Western students, and whether something can be done to motivate our students in order to improve their learning. I confess that this was the most exciting and fruitful turning point in my professional life. “Learning styles” has simply pumped fresh and rejuvenating blood into my endeavors in the educational profession, as I am sure it will for you.

Learning Styles and Peace

Students learn differently from each other. They have different learning styles. Measuring learning styles can produce individual profiles that help students, teachers, parents, and administrators improve the conditions of students' learning . More specifically, Learning Profiles can teachers develop instructional strategies and resources that cater for different learning styles.

If students are allowed to read and reflect on their profiles, and are given the chance to share their profiles with other students they can easily realize how different they are from each other. In learning styles, there is no better or worse, we are just different. If students internalize this they can display a better acceptance of themselves an more understanding and tolerant of others. This in my opinion is the first step to establishing love and peace among people.