Learning Styles in Childbirth Education Classes
Learning Styles
There are many different theories about learning styles. I will
note a couple of the categories below, and include some thoughts on what
elements are essential in childbirth education classes for each of these
learners.
·
Visual – Auditory – Kinesthetic.
o
Visual Learners need to see information to retain it: anatomy
illustrations, posters illustrating effacement and dilation, doll and pelvis
demonstrations, a drawing of the labor curve on the board, a flip chart with
the key elements of the lecture written down, demonstrations of comfort
techniques, videos, medical equipment such as amni-hooks, epidural needles, oxygen
masks. Avoid: distracting clutter, or disturbing images.
o
Auditory Learners learn by listening: they do well with lectures,
videos, question and answer sessions, small group discussions, and music during
relaxation exercises. Avoid: distracting noises; use sarcasm cautiously, as
some auditory learners absorb the words, and don’t retain that they were said
sarcastically.
o
Kinesthetic Learners need to move, and need to hold things in their
hands: pass around the doll and the pelvis for them to explore how the baby
moves through the birth canal, pass around cervical dilation chart, amnihooks,
epidural needles, nursing bras, whatever else you can come up with. Hands-on
demonstrations and position practice are essential. Even watching you move can help them retain information, so remember to
move a lot yourself.
·
Global vs. Analytic: Some people learn best with the big picture,
some want all the little details and want them all broken out into a logical
sequence of steps. Always have an outline where students can see it, so they
have a sense of where you’ve been, and where you’re going. Also, verbally
review this within segments of the class: “First, I’m going to tell you the
basic big picture about epidurals: what they are and how they work, then we’ll
go back and walk through the whole process step-by-step so you can see the
details.” I will also cite data often, saying “I know there are those of you
like me who want to know numbers and statistical odds, so I’ll give you some of
that data. If you’re someone whose eyes start to glaze over when you hear all
that, feel free to just gloss over it…”
·
o
Bodily-Kinesthetic learners use all or part of their body to solve
problems. Activities: Practice positions, practice massage, etc. For example,
show them several different options for supported squats and encourage them to
work with their partners, experimenting to find the best one for them as a
pair. Also, when you actively write on the board during class, kinesthetic
learners absorb the information better (because they follow the motion of your
hand) then they do if the information is already written.
o
Musical learners create, communicate, and understand meanings made
out of sound. Activities: Use music in classes. Emphasize rhythms of the
breathing, and discuss vocalization during labor. Teach mnemonics: like Rhythm,
Ritual, and Relaxation for coping with active labor.
o
Interpersonal learners recognize and make distinctions about others’
feelings and intentions. Activities: Small group discussions, questions and
answers, continuum exercises where everyone places themselves in a line based
on, for example, their level of experience caring for babies (from professional
nanny to never held a baby.)
o
Intrapersonal learn by examining their own feelings, and drawing on
their own mental models to make decisions about their lives. Activities: Give
time for self-reflection; do reflective writing: ask a question and have
everyone write down their thoughts about the answer, encourage them to journal
in between classes.
o
Linguistic learners make sense of the world through using language.
Use lectures, writing exercises, mnemonics, suggest the coping technique of
having someone read to them in labor.
o
Logical-Mathematical learners use and appreciate abstract
relations. Activities: the Stages of Labor breakdown, and information about how
long labor will last, and statistics about relative risks of interventions.
o
Spatial learners perceive spatial information, and recreate visual
images from memory. Activities: Draw the labor curve on the board, draw a
diagram of fear-tension-pain triangle, draw contraction patterns and breathing
patterns.
o
Naturalistic learners distinguish among, classify, and use features
of the environment. Activities: lists of options, outlines, discussion of
categories of comfort techniques. For example, list categories first (massage,
water, activity) then fill in ideas for each category (effleurage,
counterpressure, hip squeeze).
Compiled by Janelle Durham, 2003
Teaching
Techniques for Childbirth Educators