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 Alabama Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research
(formerly The Alabama Learning Styles Center)
Professor Annie M. Wells, PhD, Founder and Director
Founded and established in 1992
The Founder and Director of the Center has engaged in research, grantsmanship, publication, and the participation in the development and data collection to develop the norm for two tests (a non-verbal test of intelligence and a quality of life instrument) for National Computer Systems. Both instruments are on the market. The Director's doctoral training is in Experimental Psychology, and her post-doctoral training is in applied psychology (which spans both the scientific and practical aspects of education in the area). She received eight (8) years of federal funding to train students in research which totaled approximately one million dollars over the eight-year period. The last three years were here at Alabama A&M University. Educational and psychological research and grantsmanship can be strong activities in the School; this Center can enhance such effort.
The Alabama Center for Teaching, Learning, and Psychological Research is an affiliate of the International Learning Style Network (ILSN), which comprises 27 centers: National centers of the ILSN are located at St. John's University, New York; George Mason University, Virginia; Ohio State University, Ohio; Aquinas College, Michigan; State University College at Buffalo, New York; Alabama A&M University, Alabama; North Carolina Teacher Academy, North Carolina; Northeastern State University, Oklahoma; St. Joseph's College, New York; Dowling College, New York; the Center for Creative Learning, Florida; Performance Concepts International, Connecticut; Molloy College, New York; Bacone College, Oklahoma; and Tarleton State University, Texas.
International centers of the ILSN are located in the Philipines, New Zealand, England, Singapore, Bermuda, Australia, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Malaysia. There are several centers that are pending approval based on two years of qualifying activities or requirements.
Learning-Styles Network Belief Statements:
- Each person is unique, can learn, and has an individual learning style.
- Learning style is a complex construct for which a comprehensive understanding is evolving.
- Individual learning styles should be acknowledged and respected.
- Learning style is a function of heredity and experience, including strengths and limitations, and develops individually over the lifespan.
- Teaching individuals through their learning-style strengths improves their achievement, self-esteem, and attitudes toward learning.
- Learning style is a combination of affective, cognitive, environmental, and physiological responses that characterize how each person learns.
- Individual information-processing is fundamental to a learning style and may be strengthened over time.
- Learners are empowered by a knowledge of their own and others' learning styles.
- Effective curriculum and instruction are learning-style based and personalized to address and honor diversity.
- Effective teachers continually monitor activities to ensure compatibility of instruction and evaluation with each individual's learning-style strengths.
- Every individual is entitled to counseling and instruction that respond to his/her style of learning.
- A viable learning-style model must be grounded in theoretical and applied research, periodically evaluated, and adapted to reflect the developing knowledge base.
- Implementation of learning-style practices must adhere to accepted standards of professional ethics.
- Eventually, each center should have at least two certified trainers in whichever model it provides training.
The Mission of the Center is to address diversity in learning and teaching, provide seminars, workshops, and short courses to educational schools and universities, provide technical service to educational institutions, to engage in educational and psychological research.
The purpose/goal is to provide workshops, seminars, short courses, conferences, and other continuing education activities for educators and mental health professionals at various institutions of higher learning and throughout the state with emphasis on teaching, learning enhancement, skill development, and research. Research stimulation is a main focus for university faculty , as well as teaching university faculty how to obtain grants, do research, and improve teaching and learning.
Activities: Since its inception, it has sponsored university-wide workshops for Alabama A&M University faculty by Dr. Rita Dunn, Director of the ILSN; learning-style conferences for K-university teachers throughout Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia (583 attendees); an international conference on drug prevention in youth; continuing education workshops for mental health professionals; a conference on Creativity; workshops on Brain-based learning; workshops on reading disabilities; and a national reading-style conference (350 attendees). Other activities include providing workshops on and the assessment of learning styles for the entire faculty and staff at Alabama A&M University, workshops presented to various departments, and programs on Alabama A&M University's campus. Future activities include workshops and conferences on diversity, teaching style, creativity, and giftedness, and research in the areas of psychology, learning, and teaching. A "How to Do Research and Get Published" is planned for individuals in the School of Education who desire such refresher training.
Teaching Styles Inventory (PDF)
CTLR Workshops
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