What's YOUR Learning Style?
Learning styles are various approaches or ways of learning[1]. They involve educating methods,
particular to an individual, that are presumed to allow that individual to learn best. Most people prefer an
identifiable method of interacting with, taking in, and processing stimuli or information. Based on this
concept, the idea of individualized "learning styles" originated in the 1970s, and acquired "enormous
popularity".[2]
Look at Visual Learners:
A typical visual learner uses visualization techniques to remember things. They often have a good sense of direction because they
visualize maps and directions in their mind. Many prefer to read information in a textbook or on the whiteboard rather than listen
to the teacher lecture. They also enjoy doodling and drawing. Visual learners typically use sight words in their everyday
terminology. For example, they might say "Let's take a look at this." or "Let's look at this from a different perspective." They
remember details including colors and spatial arrangements.
Auditory learning is a learning style in which a person learns through listening. An auditory learner
depends on hearing and speaking as a main way of learning.[1] Auditory learners must be able to hear
what is being said in order to understand and may have difficulty with instructions that are written. They
also use their listening and repeating skills to sort through the information that is sent to them. [2]
Purpose:
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To learn about learning styles.
To understand the differences between auditory, visual and kinesthetic
learners
To identify your own learning style
There are three basic types of learning styles. The three most common are visual,
auditory, and kinesthetic. To learn, we depend on our senses to process the
information around us. Most people tend to use one of their senses more than the
others. Today's lesson will help you determine which of these learning styles you rely
on the most.
There is a series of 16 questions that are related to the three main learning styles. Read
the question and select the answer that closest fits your answer. Don't think about the
questions too much. Go with your first choice. After you answer each of these
questions, just click on the submit button at the bottom of the page. If you are
connected to the internet, the computer will evaluate the results and display how many
of each answer you selected.
Once the computer has evaluated your answers, it will show your primary learning
style. Sometimes people have two or three that all have about the same number of
choices. Some people depend on two or more types of learning styles.
It is not unusual to use different learning styles for different tasks. That's why people
can respond so differently to the same thing.
Three Different Learning Styles
If you scored mostly a's you may have a visual learning style. You learn by seeing and
looking.
Visual Learners
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take numerous detailed notes
tend to sit in the front
are usually neat and clean
often close their eyes to visualize or remember something
find something to watch if they are bored
like to see what they are learning
benefit from illustrations and presentations that use color
are attracted to written or spoken language rich in imagery
prefer stimuli to be isolated from auditory and kinesthetic distraction
find passive surroundings ideal
If you scored mostly b's, you may have an auditory learning style. You learn by
hearing and listening.
Auditory Learners
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sit where they can hear but needn't pay attention to what is happening in front
may not coordinate colors or clothes, but can explain why they are wearing
what they are wearing and why
hum or talk to themselves or others when bored
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acquire knowledge by reading aloud
remember by verbalizing lessons to themselves (if they don't they have
difficulty reading maps or diagrams or handling conceptual assignments like
mathematics).
If you had mostly c's, you may have a kinesthetic learning style. You learn by
touching and doing.
Kinesthetic Learners
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need to be active and take frequent breaks
speak with their hands and with gestures
remember what was done, but have difficulty recalling what was said or seen
find reasons to tinker or move when bored
rely on what they can directly experience or perform
activities such as cooking, construction, engineering and art help them perceive
and learn
enjoy field trips and tasks that involve manipulating materials
sit near the door or someplace else where they can easily get up and move
around
are uncomfortable in classrooms where they lack opportunities for hands-on
experience
communicate by touching and appreciate physically expressed encouragement,
such as a pat on the back
Understanding and Identifying
Auditory, Visual and Kinesthetic
Learning Styles
Auditory
Visual
Kinesthetic
Identify sounds related to
an experience
Have a sharp, clear picture
of an experience
Develop a strong feeling
towards an experience
I hear you clearly,
Do you make pictures in
your head
I want you to listen . . .
This sounds good
Do you have visual
images in your head as
you are talking and
Do you feel what you are
saying?
Are you in touch with
what I am saying?
listening to me?
Can you see what I am
saying?
How do you hear this
situation going?
What do you hear that is
stopping you?
Sounds heavy.
How do you see the
situation?
What do
you seestopping you?
This looks good.
Do you see what I
amshowing you?
How do you feel about this
situation?
I'm getting a handle on
this material.
Let's move together.
Does what I am putting
you
in touch with feelright?
Sounds heavy.
Word Selections
Word Selections
Word Selections
tinkling silent squeal blast
screaming choking
color clear spiral showed
vivid notice
felt body sensations feel
pain touch
Fantasies
Lecture
Do you love me?
Auditories complain:
Kinesthetics don't listen.
Visuals complain:
Auditories don't pay
attention to them
because they don't make
eye contact.
Kinesthetics complain:
"Auditory and visual people
are insensitive."
LEARNING STYLES
Students preferentially take in and process information in different ways: by seeing
and hearing, reflecting and acting, reasoning logically and intuitively, analyzing and
visualizing, steadily and in fits and starts. Teaching methods also vary. Some
instructors lecture, others demonstrate or lead students to self-discovery; some focus
on principles and others on applications; some emphasize memory and others
understanding.
When mismatches exist between learning styles of most students in a class and the
teaching style of the professor, the students may become bored and inattentive in
class, do poorly on tests, get discouraged about the courses, the curriculum, and
themselves, and in some cases change to other curricula or drop out of school.
Professors, confronted by low test grades, unresponsive or hostile classes, poor
attendance and dropouts, know something is not working. They may become overly
critical of their students (making things even worse) or begin to wonder if they are in
the right profession. Most seriously, society loses potentially excellent professionals.
To overcome these problems, professors should strive for a balance of instructional
methods (as opposed to trying to teach each student exclusively according to his or
her preferences.) If the balance is achieved, all students will be taught partly in a
manner they prefer, which leads to an increased comfort level and willingness to
learn, and partly in a less preferred manner, which provides practice and feedback in
ways of thinking and solving problems which they may not initially be comfortable
with but which they will have to use to be fully effective professionals.
This site contains resources for a model of learning styles generally referred to as the
Felder-Silverman model. The model was originally formulated by Dr. Felder in
collaboration with Dr. Linda K. Silverman, an educational psychologist, for use by
college instructors and students in engineering and the sciences, although it has
subsequently been applied in a broad range of disciplines.
This chart helps you determine your learning style; read the word in the left column
and then answer the questions in the successive three columns to see how you respond
to each situation. Your answers may fall into all three columns, but one column will
likely contain the most answers. The dominant column indicates your primary
learning style.
When you..
Visual
Auditory
Kinesthetic & Tactile
Spell
Do you try to see the word?
Do you sound out the
word or use a phonetic
approach?
Do you write the word
down to find if it feels
right?
Talk
Do you sparingly but dislike
listening for too long? Do you
favor words such as see,
Do you enjoy listening but Do you gesture and use
are impatient to talk? Do expressive movements?
you use words such
Do you use words such
Concentrate
picture, and imagine?
as hear, tune, and think?
as feel, touch, and hold?
Do you become distracted by
untidiness or movement?
Do you become distracted Do you become distracted
by sounds or noises?
by activity around you?
Do you forget faces but
Do you forget names but
Meet someone
remember names or
Do you remember best
remember faces or remember
again
remember what you talked what you did together?
where you met?
about?
Contact people Do you prefer direct, face-toon business
face, personal meetings?
Read
Do something
new at work
Do you prefer the
telephone?
Do you like descriptive scenes Do you enjoy dialog and
or pause to imagine the
conversation or hear the
actions?
characters talk?
Do you like to see
demonstrations, diagrams,
slides, or posters?
Put something Do you look at the directions
together
and the picture?
Need help with a
Do you seek out pictures or
computer
diagrams?
application
Do you prefer verbal
instructions or talking
about it with someone
else?
Do you talk with them
while walking or
participating in an activity?
Do you prefer action
stories or are not a keen
reader?
Do you prefer to jump right
in and try it?
Do you ignore the
directions and figure it out
as you go along?
Do you call the help desk, Do you keep trying to do it
ask a neighbor, or growl at or try it on another
the computer?
computer?
Understanding Different Learning Styles
What is the best way to learn?
The best way for a person to learn depends on the person, of course. It is well know
that people have different leaning styles that work best for them. The best approach
for an instructor to take is to address a variety of learning styles with their teaching
plan. It is also helpful to encourage students to understand their preferred leaning
style. By the time students reach the college level it is often assumed that they have
figured out the best and most productive way to study to retain information. Of
course, this is not a correct assumption. Teachers should make students aware of the
various learning styles and encourage them to consider their preferred style as they
complete their studies.
Providing the right environment conducive to learning
The classroom environment can also have a big effect on the amount of learning that
occurs. Here again, people are different and have different environmental
preferences. Nevertheless, understand what effects the learning process is important
to know. Some of the common learning styles and environmental factors that should
be considered when attempting to create the best learning conditions are listed
below.
(This following information was adapted from: Moore, Carol. (1992). Learning Styles - Classroom
Adaptation<based primarily on Carbo Learning Styles>.
Learning
Styles
DESCRIPTION
Structure of
Lessons
Most students learn best when there is a logical sequential,
delineated lesson that provides the objective and systematic
steps to do the assignment. This type of student benefits from
the use of rubrics so that they can better follow lectures and
assignments. However, some students do not like much
structure and appreciate being given choices and allowed to be
creative.
Sociological
Some students benefit greatly from group activities and other do
not. For those who are peer learners, pair them with another
student when possible. For those who are self learners, do not
force them into a group/peer-learning situation all the time.
Cooperative learning is an important learning tool but some
students are more introverted than others and may have
difficulty participating in group activities.
Auditory
Some students learn best by listening. Auditory learners do well
with lecture, class discussions, etc. While lecture is considered
the least effective teaching method, some students learn best by
simply listening. These students may also be more sensitive to
outside noises.
Visual
Visual learners benefit from a variety of ocular stimulation. One
example would be the use of colors. These students like images
and written information. They like to be able to read
instructions or the text on their own to increase their
understanding. When studying it is helpful for these student to
use different color highlighters or pens as they are reading and
taking notes. These students may also be more sensitive to
visual distractions.
Tactile
Most people learn best with hands-on activities, but some gain a
lot more from it than others. Some students really increase their
learn potential when they are give they opportunity to do
something by themselves Especially in a science classroom
there should be plenty of opportunities to learn by doing.
Environmental
Factors
Formal vs.
Informal
A formal setting would be the traditional desk and chair or
possibly a table. An informal setting would be the floor, a
couch, a beanbag, etc. Every student's brain will not function
the same in the same postural position. So when you see a
student slouching in a traditional desk or chair, it may simply
mean that they would learn better in more of a informal setting.
Some students find sound distracting and some find it calming.
It may be beneficial to have several study areas established. One
Noise vs. Quiet
where the noise level is kept to a minimum and one where some
background noise is present.
Temperature
Room temperature also plays a key role in learning. If a student
is too cold or too hot, they will have more of a hard time
concentrating on what their learning task is. It is recommended
that the classroom temperature be cool if possible. This way
those who do not like being cold can simply wear another layer
of clothing and be comfortable.
Everybody's eyes react differently to light. Some students may
need to sit by a bright reading lamp while others may get a
Bright vs. Dim
headache when too much light is present. A light level that all
students find comfortable should be sought.
Kinesthetic
Some people need to have continuous movement as they are
studying, such as tapping there fingers or foot on the floor,
fooling with their hair, using a stress ball, or chewing gum. This
is absolutely natural but if they are not alone studying, make
sure they do not distract others.
Mobility
The human body is built to move and it does particularly like to
sit still for long periods of time. Have students to stand, stretch,
and take short breaks as needed during studying. It is good to
study in 20-30 minute increments with a brief break between
each block of time. Research has shown that it only takes 30
seconds to rest and recharge the brain.
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