African American Culture

1
African American Culture Learning
StylesStephenie Loney11/02/2007
2
Introduction

• The purpose of this research is to inform and
  educate teachers, students, parents, and
  professionals about the inherent differences in
  culture and learning styles there are between
  African American students. To create a deeper
  understanding and awareness that includes a
  deeper appreciation of the impact African
  American culture has on behavior, learning
  styles, and preferred teaching styles.

3
Overview

• Definitions of Learning Styles Culture
• Identify Different Learning Styles
• Study/Differences Between African American
  Caucasian Students on Critical Thinking and
  Learning Style
  
• Different Learning Styles of African American
  Children
  
• Avoid Bias
• How to Improve Programs and Break Down Cultural
  Barriers

4
Define Learning Style

• Polce (1987) defines learning style as a way of
  perceiving, conceptualizing, and problem solving
  a preferred way of interacting with and
  responding to the environment (as cited in
  Willis 1992, p. 271).

5
Define Culture

• Geertz defines culture as an historically
  transmitted pattern of meanings employed in
  symbols, a system inherited conceptions expressed
  in symbolic form by means of which men
  communicate, perpetuate and develop their
  knowledge about attitudes towards life.
  (Comprehensive Multicultural Education, p.43)

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Dimensions of Traditional Black Culture

• Spirituality
• Harmony
• Movement
• Verve
• Affect
• Communalism
• Expressive Individualism
• Orality
• Social Time Perspective

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Three Basic Learning Styles

• Visual Learners
• Auditory Learners
• Kinesthetic Learners

8
Elements of Learning Styles According to GSU
Master Teaching Program (MBTI)

• Extroversion vs. Introversion
• Sensing (S) vs. Intuition (N)
• Thinking (T) vs. Feeling (F)
• Judging (J) vs. Perceptive (P)

9
Differences Between African American and
Caucasian Students on Critical Thinking and
Learning Style

• Study of African and Caucasian students on
  critical thinking and learning style.
  
• 52 Caucasian 51 African American students
  responded to Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking
  Appraisal and the Inventory of Learning Processes
  (a learning style inventory).
• Analyses showed Caucasian students had
  significantly higher mean scores in critical
  thinking than African American students in four
  subtest scores
• Deductions
• Interpretations
• Evaluations Arguments
• Total Critical Thinking

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Critical Thinking Defined Includesappraising,
reasoning, judging problems of everyday life

• Research studies show that critical thinking
  skills can be taught (Gadzella, Hartsoe,
  Harper, 1989 Mckeachie, Pintrich, Lin, 1985)
  
• Critical thinking skills and some learning
  strategies are predictors of academic success

• Results of the Critical Thinking Inventory
• Lower scores reported by African American
  students compared to Caucasian students
  
• Difficulty in Reading, Comprehension, and Problem
  solving
  
• No significant difference on how each group
  processed the information studied, retained facts
  details
  
• Goal develop effective learning strategies for
  everyone
  

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Learning Styles of African-American Children

• The Overriding theme of the African worldview is
  harmony with nature (Kambon, 1996).
  
• Thinking, Feeling, and behaving are
  interdependent phenomena (Boykin, 1983 Noble,
  1983 as cited in Willis 1992).
  
• The 9 dimensions of Black culture are relevant to
  African American Learning Styles

• Movement kinesthetic abilities developed
• Value imagination humor
• Express feelings and language traditions
• People oriented
• Resourceful
• View the whole, not separate pieces
• Use inferences
• Alert, curious, good retention

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Creating Learning Environments for
African-American Students

• Learning in Cooperative Groups (Slavin, 1977)
• No Reward System, intrinsic value only
  (Ladson-Billings, 1992)
  
• Supplementary after-school and weekend
  opportunities
  
• Black History Month to promote academic success
  and role models
  
• Parental involvement and knowledgeable about
  children and their learning

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Avoiding BiasTeachers must avoid bias
understand cultural backgrounds of each student

• Demand equal levels of excellence
• Capacity is different than what their cultural
  mainstream
  
• Students are results of culture
• Expand appreciation

• Recognize understand cultural differences
  treat differences with respect
  
• Intervene immediately
• Value different experiences

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Breaking Down Cultural Barriers

• Goal
• To learn about cultural differences in customs
  and beliefs to foster an atmosphere of trust,
  cross-cultural communication, and competence.
  
• To create insights, not stereotypes
• To create cultural competence

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Conclusion/Summary

• Teachers, students, parents, and educators must
  become keenly aware of African American culture
  learning the impact of culture on behavior,
  learning styles, and preferred teaching styles.
  The foundation teachers must appreciate is that
  there is a distinct effect culture has on
  learning style and as educators and parents we
  can facilitate the learning process by knowing
  the differences from culture to culture thus
  directly affecting the leaning styles and
  breaking down racial walls and teaching critical
  thinking skills.

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Websites

• HighBeam Encyclopedia, http//encyclopedia.com/doc
  /1G1-62839470.html
  
• The website contains a vast amount of information
  relating to news articles, student journals, and
  academic journals. The website is a productive
  resource for parents, teachers, and
  professionals.

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Websites

• West Virginia University, http//www.as.wvu.edu/e
  quity/african.html
  
• The website includes avoiding bias, classroom
  strategies, discussion and interactions,
  activities, methods and materials, home and
  family, stereotypes, and references. The website
  provides a vast resource for parents, teachers,
  and professionals.

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Websites

• Learning Point Associates, http//www.ncrel.org/sd
  rs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/math/ma8african.h
  tm
  
• The website is a valuable tool and resource that
  references after school programs, school
  improvement, literacy, math science, teacher
  quality, technology, NCREL data. The website is
  primarily directed at teachers and professionals.
  

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Websites

• Instructional Technology Center College of
  Education-Georgia State University
  
• http//www.2gsu.edu/dschjb/wwwmbti.html
• The website provides a vast amount of resources
  for parents, educators, students, and
  professionals.
  

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Print Resources

• Differences Between African American and
  Caucasian Students on Critical Thinking and
  Learning Style, Gadzella, Bernadette M., Huang,
  Jiafen, Masten, William G. Study of African
  American and Caucasian students determining
  critical thinking can be defined. The resource is
  beneficial to teachers and professionals in
  education.
• Learning Styles of African-American Children,
  Carrie L. Francis. The learning style differences
  stems from the way African-Americans learn and
  express information. The document is useful for
  students, parents, teachers, and professionals.