Cognitive and Cultural Styles

The unique ways in which students learn and teachers teach, or learning and teaching styles, are closely related to cultural values and personality types. Matching preferred styles can prevent school failure, enhance success, and motivate students to stay in school and develop talents to their fullest. Matching students' preferred styles can also make the teaching experience more satisfying for educators and can increase the effectiveness of educational programs. However, as American society becomes more complex and diverse, schools and teachers are finding it more difficult to identify and match the preferred cultural and cognitive styles of students.

Cultural styles reflect virtues and philosophies of life that are emphasized by families, communities, and cultures. As one component of learning styles, they serve as guideposts or markers that ...