Different Learning Styles

For more information see the following link Learning Styles and You

All students do not learn material in the same manner. And although students often have no control over how the instructor presents material in class, if students can analyze how they learn best, then they can make a conscious effort to reinforce what is taught in the classroom by using their strengths.

  

Auditory learners

Auditory Learners use their voices and their ears as the primary mode of learning.

If you are an auditory learner, you remember what you hear and what you yourself say. When something is hard to under­stand, you want to talk it out. When you're excited and enthusiastic about learning, you want to verbally express your response. And when an assignment is given orally, you probably remember it without writ­ing it down. You love class discussion, you seem to grow by working and talking with others, and you appreciate a teacher's taking time to ex­plain something to you.

You are also easily distracted by sound because you attend to all of the noises around you, but ironically you may often interrupt a quiet moment by talking because you find silence itself dis­turbing. You find it difficult when a teacher asks you to work quietly at your desk for an extended period of time or when you try to study in a quiet room. When you want to remember something, you should say it aloud several times because the oral repetition will set it in your mind. For some auditory learners, their abilities serve them well in learning music, foreign languages, and in other areas that depend on good auditory discrimination.

Visual learners

Visual Learners want to see the words written down, a picture of something being described, a time line to remember events in history, or the assignment written on the board.

If you are a visual learner, you are attuned to all the physical things in the classroom and appreciate a pleasant and orderly physical environment. You probably carefully or­ganize your own materials and decorate your work space. You seek out illustrations, diagrams, and charts to help understand and remember in­formation. You appreciate being able to follow what a teacher is present­ing with material written on an overhead transparency or in a handout. You should review and study material by reading over your notes and by recopying and reorganizing in outline form.

 Kinesthetic learners

Kinesthetic learners learn better when they touch and are physically involved in what they are studying.

If you are a kines­thetic learner, you want to act out a situation, make a product, do a pro­ject, and, in general, be busy with your learning. You find that when you physically do something, you understand it and remember it. You may take lots of notes to keep your hands busy, but you probably never re­read the notes. You learn to use the computer by trying it, experiment­ing, and practicing. You learn concepts in social studies by simulating experiences in the classroom. You may become interested in poetry by becoming physically involved in the thoughts expressed. You want to be as active as possible during the learning experience. You usually express your enthusiasm by jumping up and getting excited when something is going well. And when asked to sit still for long periods, you fidget and may have been labeled as a behavior problem.

Mixed modality

Mixed modality learners are able to function in more than one mo­dality. In terms of achievement, students with mixed modality strengths often have a better chance of success than do those with single modality strength, because they can process information in whatever way it is presented.

 

To be successful, learners need to understand how they learn best and how to use their modality strengths to transfer learning from the weaker areas.

  

Finding an Effective way to study Through Your Modality Strengths

 

Auditory

If you learn best by hearing, you should listen carefully in class. You should ask your teacher's permission to tape-record the lesson. Listen to the tape several times if the material is new or difficult. Keep the tape to review for tests. Another study technique is to discuss the material with another student. If no one is available, turn on the tape recorder and dis­cuss the information as if you were explaining it to someone else. Then listen to the recording. Once you have listened to the lesson tape and your discussion tape, you should do some reading about the subject. Re­member to write down notes concerning important items to remember. Listening, reading, and writing will help strengthen your understanding of the material. If the teacher announces the new subject ahead of time, ask if there are any tapes, sound films, or filmstrips available on the new material. If so, use the available material before the material is taught in class.

 

Visual

If you learn best by seeing the material, you should read the material to be discussed in class before you get to class. When you are reading, remember not only to read the words but also to look at pictures, charts, maps, or graphs. You should take notes about the information while you are reading. You will probably benefit from mapping, cluster­ing, outlining, or even using flash cards. Writing and placing informa­tion into maps, graphs, or the margin of your book will help you remember what you have read. Be sure to take notes while you are lis­tening to class lectures and discussions.

 

Kinesthetic

If you learn best by doing something, you should write notes about what you are to learn. As you read, underline the important ideas after you have read a section, or write notes in the margin. It may also help you to make flash cards or maps, or to make charts, crossword puzzles, word bingo, picture puzzles, or mnemonic devices. Another effective way is to make a practice test about the material to be learned. Making a sample test will help point you to areas that are important and need to be studied more. You will learn best by using as many activities as possible.

Adapted from Pat B. Guild and Stephen Garger. Marching to Different Drummers