After a bit of thinking, I have decided to argue in favor of Ms. Williams article. I think that what Dr. Grandin had to say about the different styles of learning was very well thought-out, but her idea that most people are not visual learners is something with which I do not agree. As Ms. Williams indicated, more than half of the general population are visual learners. The man that Dr. Grandin points out as someone who is not a visual learner could fall into either of the other two types of learners Grandin points out, or as Ms. Williams says, any of the many other styles of learning she didn't even address. I have no doubt that Dr. Grandin is a visual learner and that a lot of people with autism are as well, but I do not think that only people with autism are the only visual learners. I, myself, am a very math/musical learner. I do follow patterns well and I am able to memorize them better than nonsensical groupings of numbers, for example.
My personal argument against Dr. Grandin's article is not as strong because I don't fall into the category of a visual learner, but my mom does. She communicates much more easily in person than over the phone, she must put sticky notes around for reminders rather than a list, etc., and she is not a person with autism. My mom (pictured, being crazy) is also a craft maker and her ability to see her art before she produces it is the indication that Dr. Grandin gave of a visual learner, so in the case of my mother, Dr. Grandin's article should be better researched.
Davis Haines
Syracuse University
1 comment:
Davis,
I agree with you that many people are visual learners, probably more than we realize. The reason for our course is not so you can do "pretty" art with your young students, but to help you all recognize that art is another way of knowing and also to help you consider the visual learners you'll have in your class.
12 points
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