Why should I do it:

• Students learn in various ways and modes
• Students respond better
• Students are more likely to complete work
• Students will become more engaged
• All learners will have better opportunities to understand and correctly complete expectations

When should I do it:

• Alternative modes of completing assignments should be regularly used in all classes and students given the choice as to which method they will use
• You may want to suggest or require that certain students use a specific mode of completion if it seems that mode may work best for that student or the student has shown a pattern of learning to support the use of that mode of completion

How do I do it:

• There are numerous alternative modes of assignment completion, here are the most common:
  • Verbally giving answers
  • Drawing a picture, graphic, diagram, etc.
  • Using a computer to type out an assignment
  • Putting answers on index cards
  • Have student act out assignment
  • Make a small comic book out of assignment
  • Have student do a demonstration or experiment
  • Record verbal responses on computer mic
  • Do homework in Power Point
  • Make assignment into a song or rap
  • Etc.

Resources & Support for technique:
(Items with footnotes link to external websites)

• Learning Styles & Teaching ¹
• Teach to Students’ Learning Styles ²
• Multiple Intelligences ³
• How Can I Find Out My Child’s Learning Style? ⁴
• Multiple Intelligence Online Test ⁵
• Teaching Style Survey ⁶
• Addressing Different Learning Styles ⁷

Footnotes:

1. Verster, C. (2010). Learning Styles & Teaching. [https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/learning-styles-teaching].
2. Haynes, J. (2009). Teach to Students’ Learning Styles. [http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/learningstyle.php].
3. Armstrong, T. Multiple Intelligences. [http://www.thomasarmstrong.com/multiple_intelligences.php].
4. casacanada.com (2000). How Can I Find Out My Child’s Learning Style?. [http://www.learningthings.com/blog/index.php/find-childs-learning-style].
5. Birmingham Grid for Learning. Take a Test. [http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/questions/choose_lang.cfm].
6. Anthony F. Grasha & Sheryl Riechmann-Hruska, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Oh 45221. (1996). Teaching Style Survey (Grasha-Riechmann). [http://www.longleaf.net/teachingstyle.html].
7. Brunaccioni, J. Addressing Different Learning Styles: Helping All Students Succeed in the Kindergarten Classroom. [http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/addressing-different-learning-styles].