Learning 101: Learning Styles

LEARNING 101Learning Styles

• Preference, not a strength• Can help you develop efficient study skills• No one style is better than others• Mat change with experience and age

What is Learning Style?

• Visual• Aural• Read/Write• Kinesthetic

Take the V-A-R-K here: http://www.vark-learn.com/english/index.asp

VARK

• use highlighters• color code• wear bright colors• like to read• good spellers• organized• would rather watch than talk• have difficulty following verbal directions• are easily distracted by noise• doodle on paper• remember faces better than names• remember details, but may not understand big picture

How to Spot a Visual Learner

• need to see it in order to learn• memorize things by seeing it on paper• learn with graphs, diagrams, and pictures• draw examples• use acronym’s • use color• doodle

Study Tips for Visual Learners

• talk aloud to themselves• remember names• read slowly• talk more in class; need discussion to learn• poor note takers because they do more

listening • is looking up at teacher’s mouth during class

How to Spot an Aural Learner

• learn through hearing • listen to music while studying• recognize variations in a person’s tone of voice• #1 study technique is to go to class (for discussion)• explain new ideas to other people• remember interesting examples, stories, jokes, etc.• need pictures and visuals explained to them• use rhyming• use video, audio, and books on tape• use a tape recorder for class• have them answer questions orally and give oral tests• study in groups

Study Tips for Aural Learners

• writes a lot of notes (often verbatim)

• looks down in class because they are always taking notes

• make lists• need to organize

graphs/charts into words• need to refrain ideas and

principles into their own words

How to Spot a Read/Write Learner

• like handouts• like to use manuals• do well with teachers who use words well • learn through textbooks more than what is

taught in class• learn by writing things over and over• learn by reading notes over and over

Study Tips for Read/Write Learners

• learns by doing• need to touch, feel, and handle

things (uses all five senses to learn)

• will say “let me try”• often fidgety people• needs to know why this matters• they jump from idea to idea

(spider webbing)

How to Spot a Kinesthetic Learner

• learn by teaching the material to others• need to try it themselves to learn how to do it• learn by acting out & role playing• need real world examples• word association• need to move their bodies to learn something new

ex: studying and bouncing a ball or walking• encourage to explore outside the classroom• learn well in labs, field trips, tours

Study Tips forKinesthetic Learners

• Extroverted Learners – likes learning in groups, processes externally

• Introverted Learners – likes learning alone, processes internally

Extroverted vs. Introverted

Have a proactive and positive attitude

Translate or transform the material into something you can understand

Be open to new ways of learning.

Find ways to effectively communicate with your instructor

Ask friends and classmates how they cope with different teaching

Learning Styles Mismatch