Learning Styles: Ways in which

students receive and organize

knowledge

Visual

Auditory

Kinesthetic

Tactile

Culturally Responsive Teaching &

Culturally Diverse Learning Styles
Michael A. DePolis
Grand Canyon University: TSL 545
December 5, 2012

Kapolei
Elementary
School
Home of Diverse Teachers and Learners

Affirming the Learning Styles of All Students

Affirming Culturally Influenced Learning Styles Without Stereotype

Cultural and Individual

Learning Styles
In the United States, analytical thought and
individual achievement is valued. However,
within our Euro-American
mainstream culture, individual
learning styles vary.
One tool to distinguish between field dependent and field independent
learning styles is the Embedded Figures Test (EFT). Most
Americans score high on this
test. Field independence is
favoring abstract, analytical
thought and individualism. The
Field Dependence of many cultures favors a global perspective responding to social reinforcement.
Some students require high structure, some structure, or little structure. We
must avoid stereotyping, as there are individual differences within cultural groups
(Bennett, 2007).

Teaching Style/Learning Style

We tend to teach in the style in which we learn
best. Teachers need to be willing and able to
step out of the European-American style with
which we are accustomed. We should first be
aware of our own attitudes and practices. Then,
we must increase our cultural awareness and
knowledge. We cannot teach what we do not
know.
Teachers need to be aware of the
learning characteristics of each student, so
that we can provide an equitable, compatible,
relevant, and
responsive
education to
each. Differen- Caption describing picture or
tiating instruc- graphic.
tion to the general diversity of learning styles can be accomplished by taking small steps. We can become
reciprocal learning partners with our students,
and be careful with stereotyping and the hidden curriculum. Students should be given fair
choices, and not have the school culture imposed, disregarding the home culture (Brown,
2007).

Melting Pot Versus Salad Bowl

Students and teachers are creators of
culture, and we come together in a classroom culture, not as a melting pot, but
as the salad bowl metaphor.
Once again, the danger is to stereotype or pigeon-hole. Cultures have
similarities within groups, while learning
styles differ between individuals
(Mariani, 2007).

Steps for Implementation

1. Examine and adjust curriculum to
include multicultural literature and
practices.
2. Provide for teacher training of culturally responsive teaching and multiple
intelligences.

References
Bennett, C. I. (2007). Comprehensive multicultural education: Theory and
practice (6th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.
Brown, M. R. (2007). Educating all students: Creating culturally responsive
teachers, classrooms, and schools. Intervention in School and
Clinic, 43(1), 57-62.
Mariani, L. (2007). Learning styles across cultures. Perspectives, a Journal of
TESOL-Italy, 34(2).