Three Different
Ways Student Learn
One Is Clearly the Most Productive
There are three recognized
styles of learning: individualized,
cooperative and competitive. Each
positive aspects of competition’s
built-in win/lose feature.
The individualized learning
of the styles is clearly distinguishable
style, like the competitive learning
from the others.
style, involves the student’s self-
For many years, competition
improvement – but with more of an
has been used in motivating
emphasis on personal goal setting.
schoolchildren to learn. It is
Here the interests of the individual
distinguished by the rivalry that
are of major importance.
results from a contest between
Individualization encourages the
students.
student to, in essence,
Competitive
compete with himself or
grading, tests,
herself in an effort to
quizzes,
raise the standard or
contests, and
quality of his or her own
games have
performance – apart
served as
from the rest of the class.
primary tools of teachers for a long
In individualized instruction, the
time. If handled properly,
teachers adapt to an individual
competition can teach responsibility
student’s special abilities, needs or
and determination. Teachers use it
interests.
to help students develop a healthy
Even though both the
attitude toward self-improvement.
competitive and individualized
Competition allows students to
learning styles have clear benefits to
compare their improvement to that of
students, teachers realize that one
their classmates. And, when
other learning style may prove
competitive activities are managed
equally or more beneficial; the
well, students tend to focus on
cooperative learning style. As a
matter of fact, the cooperative
learning style not only stresses self-
the common good. In other words,
improvement, but also teamwork.
businesses want employees who are
Cooperation is the act of working
cooperative. Competitive employees
with another or others in a common
are not in demand.
effort for some mutual benefit.
Cooperative one
Cooperation is highly productive
are.
because it shows students that the
Businesspeople
most gratifying form of self-
realize that without
improvement is achieved as a
cooperation, little
member of a team.
can be
Within family units, we most
accomplished by
often attempt to foster cooperation
any organization.
Cooperation
is valued
in the
world of
work.
among siblings. Getting along,
In our schools, we recognize
working together, sharing, and
that we need to use all three styles
engaging in mutual problem solving
of learning in order to reach every
are valued on the home front.
child. At the same time, we realize
Therefore, it seems ironic that some
our emphasis should be on
parents want their child to be the
cooperative strategies. Those
best math student, a member of the
students who tend to lose frequently
top reading group, the first-chair
in competitive situations often end up
trumpet in band, or the quarterback
not competing anymore. Our task
of the football team. It also seems
becomes one of balancing
ironic that some schools use
competition, individualization, and
competition to prepare students for
cooperation in order to motivate all
the “competitive world of work.”
students. We realize that if students
But what about the world of
feel good about themselves, feel that
work? Although competition is a real
they belong, and feel that they have
and vital part of the business world,
a sense of ownership in their school
manager of businesses, like parents
and in their education; we can
of children, value cooperation. In
motivate them to learn. In the realm
order for businesses to be ultimately
of competition, there are winners and
successful, employees must be
losers. In our schools, it is our
willing to work with one another for
mission to help all students win.