Learning modalities

There has been a great deal of work on learning styles over the last two decades. Dunn and Dunn[3] focused on identifying relevant stimuli that may influence learning and manipulating the school environment, at about the same time as Joseph Renzulli[4] recommended varying teaching strategies. Howard Gardner[5] identified individual talents or aptitudes in his Multiple Intelligences theories. Based on the works of Jung, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Keirsey's Temperament Sorter[6] focused on understanding how people's personality affects the way they interact personally, and how this affects the way individuals respond to each other within the learning environment. The work of David Kolb and Anthony Gregorc's Type Delineator[7] follows a similar but more simplified approach.

Education can be physically divided into many different learning "modes" but the learning modalities[8] are probably the most common:[9]

* Kinesthetic learning based on hands-on work and engaging in activities.
* Visual learning based on observation and seeing what is being learned.
* Auditory learning based on listening to instructions/information.

Depending on their preferred learning modality, different teaching techniques have different levels of effectiveness.[10] Effective teaching requires a variety of teaching methods which cover all three learning modalities. No matter what their preference, students should have equal opportunities to learn in a way that is effective for them.

Teaching

Teachers need the ability to understand a subject well enough to convey its essence to a new generation of students. The goal is to establish a sound knowledge base on which students will be able to build as they are exposed to different life experiences. The passing of knowledge from generation to generation allows students to grow into useful members of society. Good teachers can translate information, good judgment, experience and wisdom into relevant knowledge that a student can understand and retain. As a profession, teaching has very high levels of Work-Related Stress (WRS)[12] which are listed as amongst the highest of any profession in some countries, such as the United Kingdom. The degree of this problem is becoming increasingly recognized and support systems are put into place.

Parental involvement

Parental involvement is an important element in a child's educational development. Early and consistent parental involvement in the child's life is critical. Examples include reading to children at an early age, teaching patterns, interpersonal communication skills, getting them involved in their community, exposing them to diverse cultures and educating them about a healthy lifestyle. The socialization and academic education of a child are aided by the involvement of the student, parent(s), extended family, teachers and others in the community. Parent involvement is more than the parent being the field trip helper or the lunch lady. Parents need to be asked about how their child learns best. They need to share their career expertise with the children. Today's educators need to remember that parents are the child's first and foremost teacher; parents, too, are experts, and teachers should learn from them.

Academic achievement and parental involvement are strongly linked in the research. Many schools are now beginning parental involvement programs in a more organized fashion. In the US this has been led in part by the No Child Left Behind legislation from the US Department of Education.

Parental involvement in education does not end at high school graduation. College parents play a vital role in supporting their children's post-secondary education emotionally, intellectually and financially.