HOW DO YOU LEARN? Learning Styles

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HOW DO YOU LEARN?Learning Styles
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Definition

• Learning styles are various approaches or ways of
  learning1. (Wikipedia)

• Learning styles is the way students begin to
  concentrate on, process, internalize, and
  remember new and difficult academic information
  (Dunn Griggs 2000)

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Variety of learning styles
There are several approaches to identifying
learning styles. Some that are commonly applied
are
Left Brain
Right Brain
Activist, reflector, theorist or pragmatist
Honey and Mumford
Concrete, Reflective, Abstract, Active. (Kolb)
Auditory, Visual, or Kinaesthetic
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What side of your brain do you use more?
Left brain Learners for whom the left side of the
brain is dominant tend to specialise in language,
sequential tasks, logic and mathematical
processes. Activities structured in a linear way
work well for these learners.
Right brain Learners for whom the right side of
the brain is dominant specialise in visual and
creative activities. They look for global
patterns and focus on relationships. Visual,
creative and experimental tasks work well, as do
tasks which offer alternative paths through the
information.
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What is your learning style?
Physical Some learners learn best through
activities which involve physical movement.
Visual Learners who respond well to visual aids.
Auditory Some learners prefer to learn through
hearing.
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Visual Learner Characteristics

• Is good at spelling but forgets names.
• Needs quiet study time.
• Has to think awhile before understanding lecture.
• Is good at spelling.
• Likes colors fashion.
• Dreams in color.
• Understands/likes charts.
• Is good with sign language.

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Learning Suggestions for Visual Learners

• Draw a map or picture.
• Make outlines of everything!
• Copy whats on the board.
• Ask the teacher to diagram.
• Take notes, make lists.
• Watch videos.
• Color code words, research notes.
• Outline reading.
• Use flashcards.
• Use highlighters, circle words, and underline.

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Types of Test

• Best Test Type for Visual Learners
• Diagramming, reading maps, essays (if youve
  studied using an outline), and showing a process
  
• Worst test type
• Listen and respond tests

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Auditory Learner Characteristics

• Likes to read to self out loud.
• Is not afraid to speak in class.
• Likes oral reports.
• Is good at explaining.
• Remembers names.
• Notices sound effects in movies.
• Enjoys music.
• Is good at grammar and foreign language.
• Reads slowly.
• Follows spoken directions well.
• Cant keep quiet for long periods.
• Enjoys acting, being on stage.
• Is good in study groups.

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Auditory Learners Can Benefit from

• Recording lectures.
• Watching videos.
• Repeating facts with eyes closed.
• Participating in group discussions.
• Using audiotapes for language practice.
• Taping notes after writing them.
• Using word association to remember facts and
  lines.

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Types of Test

• Worst test type Reading passages and writing
  answers about them in a timed test.
• Best test type Auditory Learners are good at
  writing responses to lectures theyve heard.
  Theyre also good at oral exams.

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Kinesthetic Learner Characteristics

• Is good at sports.
• Cant sit still for long.
• Is not great at spelling.
• Does not have great handwriting.
• Likes science lab.
• Studies with loud music on.
• Likes adventure books, movies.
• Likes role playing.
• Takes breaks when studying.
• Builds models.
• Is involved in martial arts, dance.
• Is fidgety during lectures.

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Kinesthetic Learners Can Benefit from

• Studying in short blocks.
• Taking lab classes.
• Role playing.
• Taking field trips, visiting museums.
• Studying with others.
• Using memory games.
• Using flash cards to memorize.

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Types of Test

• Worst Test Type
• Long tests, essays
• Best Test Type
• Short definitions, fill-ins, and
• multiple choice

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Contact/Questions
Person Leila Winther Place Career
Center Student Union East Room 54 Phone
[phone] Email lwinther_at_gulfcoast.edu