Report of the New York State Board of Regents' Panel on Learning Styles
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
1988
Publication Title
New York State Board of Regents' Panel on Learning Styles
Abstract
This report comprises the results of a panel commissioned by the New York State Board of Regents to review the status of knowledge on learning styles and group tendencies in learning behavior. The panel commissioned background papers, and debated various aspects of learning style as they relate to education. Of particular note was the role of culture and learning style, cognition, multiple intelligence, left brain-right brain development, and environmental conditions. The panel also considered pedagogy, instructional strategy, school organization and administration, diversity and educational equality and equity, and educational policy and practice as each related to learning style and behavioral tendency. The deliberations of the panel were consistently framed in the historical and educational experience of African-American and Latino American children in particular, and people of racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural difference in general. Recommendations are provided to advise the Board of Regents on how it might address these issues. Commentary on the recommendations is provided by Edmund G. Wilson, the Chairperson of the panel. A review of the knowledge base by Brenda A. Allen is included. The bulk of this report is comprised of the following position papers: (1) "Behavioral Style, Culture, and Teaching and Learning" (Asa G. Hilliard III); (2) "Learning Styles Dialogue" (Bernice McCarthy and Marcus Lieberman); (3) "Theories of Learning Styles, Neurosciences, Guided Imagery, Suggestopaedia, Multiple Intelligences and Integrative Learning" (Laurence Dean Martel); and (4) "Are Schools Responsible for Students' Failure?: A Synthesis of the Research on Learning Styles" (Rita Dunn, Jeffrey A. Beaudry, and Angela Klavas). Each of these reports includes an extensive list of references, and some of them use tables and figures to illustrate data.
Recommended Citation
Dunn, R., Beaudry, J. S., & Klavas, A. (1988). Are schools responsible for students' failure: A synthesis of research on learning styles. New York State Board of Regents' Panel on Learning Styles. November.
