LEARNING STYLES Learning StylesCognitive Styles The habitual manner

LEARNING STYLES

Learning Styles/Cognitive Styles ü The habitual manner in which learners receive and perceive information, process it, understand it, value it, store it, and recall it. ü The way a person processes, internalizes studies, interprets, and changes new and challenging materials.

Memletic Learning Style Dunn and Dunn Learning Style Models Kolb’s Learning Style

Memletic Learning Style Model ü Recognizes that each of us prefers to learn in different ways.

Learning Style Other Term Description Area of the Brain Responsible Visual Spatial Prefers using pictures, images, graphs, charts, logic puzzles, and spatial understanding Occipital lobes and parietal lobes Aural Auditory-Musical Prefers using sound and music Temporal lobe Right (music) Verbal Linguistic Prefers using words, both in speech and in writing Temporal and frontal lobes Physical Kinesthetic Prefers using body, hands, and sense of touch Cerebellum and motor cortex Logical Mathematical Prefers using logic, reasoning, and systems Left parietal lobes Social Interpersonal Prefers to learn in groups or with other people Frontal and temporal lobes and limbic system Solitary Intrapersonal Prefers to work alone and use self-study Frontal and temporal lobes and limbic system

Dunn and Dunn Learning Style Model ü Most people can learn, and each individual has his own unique ways of mastering new and difficult subject matter. Psychological Environmenta l Physiological Emotional Sociological

Strand Examples Environmental Some people study in a cool and quiet room, while others cannot focus unless they have music playing Emotional Some people work best when motivated and encouraged, while some feel motivated when assigned to lead and assume responsibility Sociological A number of people need to work alone when tackling a new and difficult subject, while others learn best when working with colleagues Physiological Some people prefer to study at night, accomplishing more in a quiet environment; still others find it easier to complete tasks in the morning as apart of the daily routine. Psychological Global learners prefer to work in an environment with soft lighting and informal seating. Analytic learners prefer to work in an environment with bright lighting and formal seating.

Kolb’s Learning Style ü depicts learning as 4 stage cycle beginning with an intermediate concrete experience during which the person makes observations and reflections ü Then the person develops an abstract theory from which he or she develops ideas on how to proceed. ü Finally, the person actively experiments with actions to test them out. ü The four-stage learning cycle are : social or accommodating, creative or diverging, intellectual or assimilating, and practical or converging.

Kolb’s Learning Style

Kolb’s Learning Style Kolb then hypothesized that learners need 4 abilities to be effective: 1. Concrete Experience (CE) abilities: Leaning from actual experience 2. Reflective Observation (RO) abilities: Learning by observing others 3. Abstract Conceptualization (AC) abilities: Creating theories to explain what is seen 4. Active Experimentation (AE) abilities: Using theories to solve problems.

Social/Accomodator Learners ü Are leaders ü They learn best by analyzing and solving a problem as a group using their own intuition and information from other people rather than from books and lectures. ü They look for new experiences; often take risks and employ hands on methods to accomplish their goals. ü They actively accomplish things often using trial-anderror methods to solve problems. ü They may be impatient with other people and act on intuition and are a risk taker.

Creative/Diverger Learners ü Are imaginative. ü They have an open mind to new ideas and offer multiple perspectives. ü They value brainstorming with a group although they often listen and observe sharing their own ideas. ü They rely on concrete examples to learn, and trust their own feelings when making decisions. üThey excel in imagination and awareness of meaning. üTheir are feeling oriented and people oriented and likes working in groups.

Intellectual/Assimilator Learners ü Are organized, logical and precise. ü They like to learn from lectures, reading, and contemplation. ü They find facts, ideas, and information fascinating and challenging to people and emotions. ü More scientific than artistic. üTheir strengths are in inductive reasoning, creating theoretical models and integrating ideas ü They prefer playing with ideas to actively and applying it üThey are more concerned with ideas than with people.

Practical/Converger Learners ü Are both thinkers and doers. ü They are those who learn through experimentation, seeking out new ideas, and discovering practical applications for them. ü They can focus intently on selected subjects. ü They favor technical challenges to interpersonal matters. ü They are goal-oriented and make decisions easily. ü They are good at decision making and problem solving and likes dealing with technical work rather than interpersonal relationships.

Matching Learning Styles to Instructions • Some studies have shown increased levels of student achievement when learners with a strong preference for a certain style were matched with a similar teaching or testing style. • Some studies have shown more student satisfaction when the teacher matches the student’s learning style, but some have not.