Learning styles

How do you learn?

Every student has a strategy they use to remember information more efficiently
while studying. Some of them take notes, some make diagrams, and some
prefer to listen to lectures, etc. Since no single learning style suits all students,
scientists have researched to understand how students learn new information
most effectively.
 What are learning styles?

Different methods of learning or understanding new

information.
Learning styles are the way a person takes in, understands,
expresses and remembers.
 VAK Learning styles
VAK learning, also known as Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic
learning, is a popular model that recognizes three primary
learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.

VAK learning style

Visual Auditory Kinesthetic

 Visual learning style

Visual learners are individuals who prefer to take in information

visually, be that through maps, graphs, diagrams, charts, and
other visual aids. However, they don’t necessarily respond well to
photos or videos; instead, they need their information presented
using different visual aids, such as patterns and shapes.
 Visual learners
• Learn through seeing.
• Sit in the front of the classroom. (to see the nonverbal
movements of the teacher).
• Difficult to concentrate during long lectures.
• Prefer working with images to working with words.
• Enjoys looking at maps, charts, videos and watching movies,
completing puzzles, reading and writing, sketching…
 Visual learning stratigies
For teachers:
-The best way to present to visual learners is by showing them the relationship
between different ideas visually. For instance, when explaining a scientific process, it
can be done by using a flow chart.
- Use visual aids like diagrams, charts, learning-style quizzes, and images to convey
information effectively.
- Encourage learners to create visual representations, such as mind maps or concept
maps, to help organize their thoughts.
- Apply color coding and highlighting techniques to emphasize important points.
 Visual learning stratigies
Learner should:
- When taking notes, rewrite words with symbols or initials.
- Try different spatial arrangements with his notes.
- Read passages, then close his eyes to visualize the information he just read.
- Underline and use different colors and highlighters.
Tools:
Diagrams, charts, pictures,
 Auditory learning style
• Auditory learners are individuals who learn better when they take in
information in auditory form when it is heard or spoken. They are
prone to sorting their ideas after speaking rather than thinking ideas
through before. Since, to them, saying things out loud helps them
understand the concept.
• If they are learning a second language or a new theory, auditory
learners learn best when information is presented to them via
strategies that involve talking, such as lectures and group discussions.
They can benefit from repeating the lessons, utilizing technology for
recordings of the lectures, doing group activities that require
classmates to explain ideas, etc.
 Auditory learners
• Auditory learners learn through listening.
• Think in words rather than pictures.
• Prefer receiving written directions for assignments.
• Generally good at speaking and presenting.
• A good listener, a good writer, a good story teller.
• Likes to listen to audiobooks.
• Lectures and discussion groups are important for this type of learners.
 Auditory learning stratigies
Teacher should:
• Incorporate lectures, discussions, and audio recordings
to deliver information.
• Encourage learners to read aloud or explain concepts to
others.
• Utilize mnemonic devices, rhymes, or songs to aid in
memorization.
 Auditory learning stratigies
Learner should:
• Record your summarized notes on tape and listen to them later.
• Attending lectures and tutorials is very important, as you want
to hear how the professor will explain a concept
• Discuss the concepts being taught with another person.
Tools:
• Read texts out loud, pay attention to the tone of the speaker,
and discuss concepts with others in study groups
• Use storytelling.
 Kinesthetic learning style
(hands on learners)
• Kinesthetic learners are individuals who prefer to learn by
doing. They enjoy a hands-on experience. They are usually more
in touch with reality and more connected to it, which is why they
require using tactile experience to understand something better.
• The best way to present new information to a kinesthetic
learner is through personal experience, practice, examples, or
simulations. For instance, they can remember an experiment by
recreating it themselves.
 Kinesthetic learner
• Learn through moving, doing, and touching.
• Expresses through movements and have a good sense of balance and
hand-eye coordination.
• Remember and process information by interacting with the world,
space, and objects around him.
• Has a hard time sitting still.
• Rather demonstrate than explain.
• Prefers group work.
 Kinesthetic learning strategies
Teacher should:
• Engage learners in hands-on activities, experiments, or
simulations.
• Encourage physical movement during learning, such as role-
playing, optimal learning-style quizzes, or acting out scenarios.
• Provide opportunities for learners to manipulate objects or
materials related to the subject matter.
• Go on field trips.
 Kinesthetic learning strategies
Learner should:
• Use all of his senses – sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing.
• Take breaks, get a nap and move around which helps him use his
extra energy to easily return to the task in hand.
• Walk and talk out loud to help memorize information.
Tools:
• Incorporate examples into notes (see if you can come up with your
own real-life examples for your notes), attend labs or tutorials, and
use of practice exams or questions would be helpful.
 Example

The four types of personalities in a

team
 Example

Auditory
Remembers the words
 Example
Visual
Personality types in a team

Leader Creator Executor Harmonizer

Comes up with Makes things Keeps everyone

Takes charge
new ideas happen getting along
 Example

Kinesthetic
Needs to reimagine the activity
 Activity
• Glasp you hands
• Which thumb is on top?
• Switch thumbs
• Awkward, strange, uncomfortable
• What can you do? How can you adjust?
• Still not the best way for you to glasp your hands
Analogy: You have a preferred style.
 How do you know?

A test designed to help you identify

your own learning style:
www.learningstylequiz.com
 Final thoughts

• Learning styles can and do change over

time.
• Some people are multimodal learners.
• Leaning towards one learning style doesn’t
mean you can’t learn through other styles.
 For the whole week:
Keep track of your daily activities
a list of them with the time spent
Tasks Time slot Completed
…. From XX to YY Yes / no

For next week