LEARNING STYLES:
Lesson Outcomes
• At the completion of this lesson students
should be able to:
1. Define the concept of learning style
2. Discuss different types of learning stages
appropriate for application in Geography
3. Plan a Geography learning experience and
apply various types of learning styles
Definition of learning style(LS)
• “The complex manner in which, and conditions
under which, learners most effectively and most
efficiently perceive, process, store and recall what
they are attempting to learn” (James and
Gardener 1995:20).
• According to Chen (2010), learning style is an
individual’s natural, habitual and preferred way of
absorbing, processing and retaining new
information and skills.
ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF L.S
• Learners to be seen to have a preferred LS than a
sole LS
• Learners have a balance of LS and cannot be seen
as learning in one way
• LS are not fixed, they can be developed
• Geo provides some rich ways of learning using
various LS
• LS are not confined to VAK (Visual, auditory and
kinaesthetic) LS
https://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html
STAGES IN LEARNING STYLES
Kolb’s stages of LS (1984;2005)
• Together with Sutliff and Baldwin (2001), Kolb
gives a summary of the four different learning
cycle stages and styles
• Concrete experience stage of learning cycle
• Reflective observation stage of learning cycle
• Abstract conceptualisation stage and
• Active experimentation stage
Concrete experience stage
• Open-mindedness of learners is important
• Learners learn through feelings or emotions
• Learn from specific experiences related to
specific people and thereby become sensitive
• Encourage personalised class activities
• Example design a poster showing households
affected by Covid- 19
Reflective observation stage
• Learners group ideas and situations from different
perspectives
• rely on patience, objectivity and careful judgement
• Learn by watching and listening
• Carefully observe a phenomenon before making a decision
• Teacher may lead the discussion but learners do most of the
talking
• Example; carefully analyse a picture showing the movement
of people from rural to urban areas discuss your views
Abstract conceptualisation stage
•
•
•
•
Learners use logic and ideas
Rely on systematic planning
Develop different theories to solve problems
Learners must be given adequate time to
analyse the presented information
• Example: A topic on Drought (Gr 10) would
require thorough explanation by the teacher
and learners activity would involve ideas on
how to prevent it
Active experimentation stage
• Practical approach
• Concerned with what works rather than
observing a situation
• Learn best by doing
• Risk takers, influence people and events through
action
• Teacher must allow hands-on activities
• Example: interviewing local people about water
shortages
TYPES OF LEARNING STYLES
• Active experimentation and reflective
observation are opposite modes of the
learning cycle
• Abstract conceptualisation and concrete
experience are also opposite modes
• The cross combination of these stages brings
about the definition of learning styles:
• Convergers, divergers, assimilators,
accomodators
Ls cont….
• Convergers: sensors and feelers
• Learn by intuition, being sensitive to feelings
and atmosphere
• Combine seeing, hearing and feeling
• Value and want to know only what is useful
and relevant to the situation/question
• Learning preferences; practical, simulations
Divergers
•
•
•
•
Also referred to as watchers
Prefer to analyse logically
Prefer to work in groups
Learn better through conversation and
dialogue as well as listening to different views
Accomodators
•
•
•
•
•
•
Referred to as doers
Learn by active participation
Take risks
Prefer practise and theory
Enjoy team learning
Learning preferences: projects, tasks,
challenging discussions
Assimilators
• These are thinkers
• Analyse logically to create their own
understanding
• Prefer lectures, reading, research, and analysis
•
Summary
• A person’s learning style cannot be described
in a single mode, it varies according to what is
presented
• Each person’s learning style combines two or
more
• In Geo learning, a variety of learning styles
must be accommodated due to its diverse
nature
Characteristics of LS
Divergers
Convergers
Accommodators
Colourful
Organised&ordered Independent and
creative
Logical and
structured
Imaginative and
creative
Practical/hands-on
Reading and
research
Listen, observe, ask
Like to be in control Risk takers
Intellectual
Use insight
Make theories
Can be impulsive
Thinkers and
debators
flexible
Detailed and
accurate
Problem solvers
Avoid being
emotional
Involve others
Assimilators
References
• Best B. 2011. The Geography Teacher’s
Handbook. Continuum New York
• Department of Basic Education (2011) CAPS
SOCIAL SCIENCES SP. Pretoria
• Van Eeden, Warnich P. 2018 Teaching and
Learning History and Geography in the South
African Classroom. Van Schalk. Pretoria
• You Tube