Learning Styles Your brain has a mind of

Learning Styles: Your brain has a mind of its own

Learning Styles-Utilize Your Potential Learning styles are the way in which each individual learner begins to concentrate on, process, absorb, and retain new and difficult information. Everybody learns in his/her individual way, but without knowing this way, without knowing your preferences, you can’t learn efficiently and sometimes you can’t learn at all.

What Learning Style is the Best? There are no good and no bad learning styles. All profiles are totally equal. There is no right way to study. Your learning profile is relatively stabile—thus, it is not going to change radically, and should change occur, it will be in cycles of 2 -3 years.

Three Types of Learning Styles Auditory Learners: Remember best when they LISTEN to a lecture, a presentation, or an audiotape. Visual Learners: Remember best when the SEE (create) mental images of what they hear or read. Tactile (Kinesthetic) Learners: Remember best by DOING rather than sitting and listening, reading, or thinking about the information.

Visual Learners Visual learners usually: Like to read. Are good spellers. Memorize things by seeing them on paper. Are organized. Would rather watch, than talk or do. Have good handwriting. Notice details. Remember faces better than names. Have trouble following verbal directions. Are easily distracted by noise. Doodle on their paper.

Auditory Learners Auditory learners usually: Enjoy talking. Talk aloud to themselves. Like explaining things to others. Remember names. Recognize variations in a person’s tone of voice. Understand concepts better by talking about them. Are distracted by background noise. Have difficulty following written directions. Read slowly. Have difficulty being quiet for extended periods of time. Like being read to. Memorize things by repeating them aloud. Enjoy music. Whisper the words on the page as they read. Hum or sing often. Like being around other people. Enjoy the performing arts.

Tactile (Kinesthetic) Learners Tactile learners usually: Move around a lot. Like to touch people they’re talking to. Tap their pencil or foot while doing schoolwork. Enjoy physical activities. Take frequent breaks when studying. Do not spend a lot of time reading. Have difficulty spelling correctly. Like to solve problems by physically working through them. Like to try new things. Are coordinated and agile. Are considered hyperactive. Express their feelings physically (hugging, hitting). Move their hands when they talk. Dress for comfort, instead of style. Lay on the floor or bed when studying. Enjoy touching things. Have difficulty sitting still for extended periods of time. Excel in athletics and the performing arts.

Strategies That Help Visual Learners Succeed in School Use index cards/flash cards when studying. When listening to the teacher write down key words or phrases. Use colored pens and pencils when taking notes. Use color cues, framing and symbols to highlight key information. Use dry erase boards with colored markers. Include pictures, graphics, images, charts outlines, story maps and diagrams with verbal or written information. Watch others demonstrate key ideas and information. Write down and highlight key information. Provide visual activities, including maps, videos, models, puzzles, matching activities, computers, and word searches.

Strategies That Help Auditory Learners Succeed in School Read out loud, even when reading independently. Have material/test read out loud. Use video, audio, and books on tape. Study putting material to melodies, rhythms and beats to reinforce information. Answer questions orally. Give oral reports. Repeat facts out loud with eyes closed. Use repetition to memorize. Recite information out loud when studying (facts, spelling words). Use tape recorders to record and play back lessons. Participate in small and large group discussions before working independently. Study in groups.

Strategies That Help Tactile Learners Succeed in School Use hands on learning tools—number lines, models, drawing materials, globes, maps, computers. Experiment with information when possible. Role play Do projects when possible. Make a game out of studying. Study for short blocks of time. Look for concrete examples for class information. Memorize information while moving (walk, jump rope, skip). Clap out sounds or syllables they hear in words. Add appropriate movement into your school day. Stand while doing work.

Remember If learning is fundamental to everything we do, then understanding one’s unique learning style is fundamental to learning.