Final thoughts

I've really enjoyed this course. In part it was due to a topic near and dear to my heart-reading. I love reading and all that comes with it. I am a natural think-aloud person when I read and often share that with my students. I have applied many of the strategies suggested in classes and can attest that they work well for all students in some capacity. The adult learner will discover what works for them and will apply it to activate and sustain their learning.
In addition to the reading component Unit 4 also had a section on learning styles and how those impact the learner. There was an article by Paul Howard Jones (2014) Brain baloney that talks about brain based learning and the myths around the research. Should we be focusing on multi-modalities to the point of students only learning according to a preference or indicated strength (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)? I think the truth lies somewhere between the article and all of the brain based research. We need to provide multiple ways in for our learners and multiple ways for them to demonstrate their learning. We need to consider the composition of our classes, the content and teaching from a strength based approach rather than a deficit approach. One size does not fit all whether we are referring to the learner or the lesson.
I also appreciated the opportunity to interact with peers and the instructor in this unit through our Talking Circles. I found the sessions informative for not only the skills I needed but also in the application of what I am learning-and isn't that what we want for all of our students?