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The reading is helpful because we need to remember that our brains work to traffic information in a bi-directional way. Different generational learners also mean different learning styles. In particular, millennial learners are digital natives and thrive in a multi-tasked environment. Without a doubt, learner characteristics vary and it is essential to design instruction with the 21st century learner in mind. Multimodal strategies activate different responses from different learners while knowledge acquisition occurs. If we consider a multimodal approach to instruction, we can position our learning environment to reach more learners. A learner can exercise flexibility to scaffold old and new knowledge in the learning process. This can be based upon individual preference, technical expertise, relevance, and cognitive skills.
In my personal experience, multimodal environments improve my acquisition of knowledge because different senses (auditory, visual, and verbal) are interactively stimulated. Observing, participating, and reflecting actively converts information into knowledge. When possible, actual experience of the information becomes experiential knowledge. I feel that my comprehension, retention, and critical thinking skills are better and produce higher quality results. All of this can be applied in a personal, professional, and academic context.
Whew! There is so much to learn and we are barely scratching the surface.