Diverse Learners
Keith Kirkwood
June 2009

Dimensions of Learner Diversity
• Social
• Economic
• Linguistic
• Technological
• Disability
• Multi-literacies

Dimensions of Learner Diversity -
Social
• culture
• race
• gender
• sexual orientation
• religion
• age
• family relations

Dimensions of Learner Diversity -
Economic
• class
• opportunity
• employed/unemployed
• immigration
AP/MTV Poll: Financial worries, stress and depress on college campus, May 2009, retrieved from:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/specials/interactives/wdc/ap_mtvu_poll_0509/index.html?SITE=YAHOO&SECTION=HOME

Dimensions of Learner Diversity -
Linguistic
• L1
• non-standard L1 dialects
• L2
• LOTE at home, with friends

Dimensions of Learner Diversity -
Technological
• digital natives
• technophobes
• gamers
• digital sophistication (critical analysis,
discrimination, information management)
• digital divide

Dimensions of Learner Diversity -
Disability
• physical
• mental
• depression
• nutritional
• attention/concentration
• home/community situation
AP/MTV Poll: Financial worries, stress and depress on college campus, May 2009, retrieved from:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/specials/interactives/wdc/ap_mtvu_poll_0509/index.html?SITE=YAHOO&SECTION=HOME

Dimensions of Learner Diversity -
Multi-literacies
• textual
• aural
• video
• virtual
• the ability to critically analyze

Learner diversity is intimately tied to
learning and teaching styles

Learning Styles and pedagogies
• Traditional instruction: Face-to-face and one-to-one
• Narrative: storytelling and anecdote
• The lecture paradigm: one-to-many
• Constructivist approach: many-to-many
• E-learning: the networked environment
• Situated learning: learning in the workplace
• Informal learning, informal teaching
• Social learning: communities of practice
• Peer-learning: non-authoritative teaching

A strategy of diverse pedagogies in teaching
accommodates diverse learning styles
There is no ‘normal’ or standard learner;
thus, to speak of deficit or remedial
measures is missing the point.

The individual learner is a complex entity
connected to an ecosystem of influences.
Our role in learning support is to provide a
safe and nurturing environment where the
holistic learner and the learning
community are foremost.

The holistic learner
We support a learner when we:
• take the time to listen
• show interest in their story
• consider the several variables that make up an
individual
• work with their preferred learning style(s)

The learning community
We create community when we encourage:
• campus events and involvement
• students helping other students
• cultural pride and celebration of diversity
• a strongly networked virtual learning commons
• active engagement with local communities
• awareness of the global community