Learning styles - What to do

Have you tried to learn something fairly simple, yet failed to grasp the key ideas? OR tried to teach people and found that some were overwhelmed or confused by something quite basic? If so, you may have experienced a clash of learning styles: Your learning preferences and those of your instructor or audience may not be aligned. When this occurs, not only is it frustrating for everyone, the communication process breaks down, and learning fails.

Learning Style: Theory proposes that different people learn in different ways and that it is good to know what your own preferred learning style is. Learning styles refer to an individual’s preferred manner of processing material or characteristic style of acquiring and using information when learning.

Common learning styles include –

1.      Visual (Learn through seeing)

2.      Auditory (Learn through listening)

3.      Kinesthetic (Learn through moving, doing and touching) 

Visual Learner Learn through seeing. Use strong visual associations. You often use lists to organize your life and your thoughts. Plus, when spelling, you recognize words by how they look. You remember faces but forget names. You usually learn best by associating pictures with the words or concepts being used. You benefit when visuals are used as part of the lecture (Whiteboard, transparencies, Powerpoint, films, videos, maps, charts, posters, graphs, etc.)

Demonstrations by the professor are helpful, as are textbooks with pictures and diagrams. You often have a well-developed imagination and are easily distracted by movement or action in the classroom. However, noise will probably not distract you. You may not prefer to learn in study groups. Rather when studying, you tend to like to work alone in a quiet room.

Visual Learner may tend to use phrases like these –

·        Let’s look at it differently

·        See how this works for you

·        I can’t quite picture it

·        Let’s draw a diagram or map

·        I’d like to get a different perspective

·        I never forget a face 

Auditory Learner Learn by listening to verbal instructions; remember by forming the sounds of words. You find it easy to remember names but forget faces. You often do well working out solutions or problems by talking them out. In most circumstances, you need to hear yourself say it in order to effectively commit to memory. You may find yourself reading aloud instead of reading silently, talking to yourself, or repeating instructions to make sure you understand them. Ask questions to the professor in order to gain understanding. Ask follow-up questions if necessary.

The discussion cements the information for you. You are easily distracted by noise and often need to work where it is relatively quiet. However, you benefit from listening to lectures, dialogues, and plays; using audio recordings and videos, etc,: participating in a group discussion, interacting listening/ speaking exchanges.

Auditory learner may tend to use phrases like these –

·        That sounds about right

·        That rings a bell

·        It’s coming through loud and clear

·        Tune in to what I’m saying

·        Clear as a bell

·        That’s music to my ears

Kinesthetic Learner Learn by becoming physically involved and actually doing something with what’s being learned. “Hands-on” activity is needed to get the learning to stick! “Being on the move” helps your memory to work. In the classroom, you benefit from physical activity, in-class demonstrations, “hands-on” student learning experiences, and professors who give real-life examples. Using large diagrams, floor/ Wall puzzles and large maps on the wall or floor are helpful. Charades, acting, interviewing, pantomiming, skits, and role-playing enhance learning. Laboratories, field trips, Trial and error assignments, and fieldwork done outside the classroom promote more interest.

Kinesthetic learner may tend to use phrases like these

·        That feels right to me

·        I can’t get a grip on this

·        Stay in touch

·        Get in touch with

·        That doesn’t sit right with me

·        I have good feelings about this

·        My gut is telling me

·        I follow your drift