Category : research

Is catering to a learning style pointless?

During researching learning styles it has become a bit challenging to find scientific evidence to support the use of learning styles to better the performance of students. This article on Scientific American describes the for and against argument however there is a lack of links to some form of evidence. That said however, several names have been given that will need further research into.

Names:

  • Ken Gibson – LearningRx
  • David Klobb – Western Reserve University
  • Daniel Willingham – University of Virginia
  • Frank Coffield -University of London
  • Harold Pashler – University of California
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Visual Spatial Learning?

As a starting point of looking into learning styles and how to identify them, this site came up first which describes a Visual Spatial learning style as:

*Visual Spatial learning style is one of eight types of “Learning Styles” defined by Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Visual Spatial learning styles, or intelligence, refer to a person’s ability to perceive, analyse, and visualise information in the world around them.

(*note: While on Howard Gardner’s site which then links here and then here to the Washington Post, it states that these are not in fact learning styles…)

 

Source

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Interesting docs

I often look to video tutorials and documentaries for more information past the written word. During a search for how illustrations changed graphic design, this little gem popped up. Helvetica is a really good watch, the music and presentation is nicely done while introducing you to some big names within the design industry and their own opinions on typography.

I’ll have to watch the rest of these.

Source: http://99designs.com/designer-blog/2013/07/09/12-documentaries-every-graphic-designer-should-see/

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What’s a “Craft Beer?”

Unlike major beer brewing companies along the lines of Carlsberg, Heineken and Budweiser etc, Craft beers are made in small quantities and normally have higher ABV (Alcohol By Volume) not to mention a better overall taste. A Craft brewery is another name for a micro brewery, the definition is that a craft brewer only produces around 6 million barrels of beer or less annually and is 75% or more, independently owned or controlled by themselves.

So where did it all begin? According to a quick Google, Microbrewing “movement” began in the 1970’s and spread further across the pond to the USA. Litchborough Brewery founded by Bill Urquhart in 1975 in the Northamptonshire village of the same name started commercial beer brewing, training courses and apprenticeships were offered. Many of the movement’s early pioneers passed through Litchborough’s courses to setting up their own breweries in time. After a lot of growth the concept “Craft Brewing” as we know today came to replace the term Microbrewing but is essentially the same practice. (source)

In order to be spotted down the beer aisle at your local shop, they need to stand out, below are some example of bottles and their relative designs to distinguish them from the rest of the herd.

Brew Dog examples:

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