Learning Styles
A learning style indicates the modality or modalities that make learning most successful for an individual. Students may prefer a visual modality over an auditory modality; other students may prefer a kinesthetic modality. When students work in their preferred modality, concentration improves and the effectiveness of study and review increase.
Often the initial processing of information may occur in a non-preferred modality. For example, students who prefer a visual modality may have an instructor who employs an auditory modality for teaching (i.e., lecture). In such a case, reorganization of the material using the preferred modality can increase learning and memory. Using the same example, students who prefer a visual modality would benefit from reorganizing lecture notes into charts, maps, or outlines.
Take the following test to find out your learning style. Then read on to learn certain strategies for tutoring different types of learners.
I learn best when I
Watch someone show me how
Hear someone tell me how
Try to do it myself
When I read, I often
See what I'm reading in my head
ead out loud or hear the words in my head
Fidget and move to get a sense of the contents
When asked to give directions, I
See the places in my mind or draw them as I give directions
Have no trouble giving them verbally
Have to point or move my body to give them
If I'm unsure how to spell a word, I
Write it on order to see if it looks right
Spell it aloud to see if it sounds right
Write it in order to determine if it feels right
If I had to remember a list of items, I'd remember them best if I
Wrote them down
Said them over and over to myself
Moved around and used my fingers or body to name and practice the items
When I write, I
Worry about how neat my words look
Often say the words and sounds to myself
Push hard on my pen or pencil to feel the flow of the letters & words
I prefer teachers who
Use the board, overhead or powerpoints when they talk
Talk with a lot of expression
Use hands-on activities
When trying to concentrate, I have trouble when
There's a lot of clutter or movement in the room
There's a lot of noise in the room
I have to sit still for a length of time
When solving a problem, I
Write or draw diagram to solve it
Talk myself through it
Use my body or objects to think
When given written directions on how to make or build something, I
Read them silently and try to visualize how the parts will fit or look
Read them aloud as I try to put the parts together
Try to put the parts together and read the directions later
To keep occupied while I'm waiting, I
Look around, stare, read
Talk or listen to others talking
Walk around, manipulate things with my hands, wiggle my feet
If I had to verbally describe something to someone else, I'd
Be brief because I don't like to talk a lot
Go into great detail because I like to talk
Gesture and move around while I talk
If someone was verbally describing something to me, I'd
Try to visualize what he/she was saying
Enjoy listening, but want to interrupt and talk myself
Get bored if the description was long and detailed
When trying to recall names, I remember
Faces, but forget names
Names, but forget faces
The situation when I met the person, but may not remember the name or face
According to your responses, here are your scores. See which of the four learning types you may be.
- Visual Learner:
- Auditory Learner:
- Tactile/Kinesthetic Learner:
- Multi-sensory Learner: Look at the three boxes above. If the difference between the two highest numbers is either 0, 1, or 2, you may be a multi-sensory learner.
If the difference is not 0, 1, or 2, then the largest number refers to the type of learner you may be.
Strategies for Visual Learners
- Watch non-verbal clues (instructor body language, gestures, physical deportment) signifying important information during a lecture.
- Pay special attention to repeated information and underlined or starred material on the board.
- Be aware when the instructor changes the volume of his or her voice.
- Make lists, charts, matrices, maps, outlines, and webs of information as study aids.
- Draw or sketch to add visual images to main ideas.
- Use color-markers to highlight information.
- Write everything down: write, copy, rewrite.
- Color coordinate study materials: Green for Geography, Blue for Business, Purple for Psychology.
- Integrate tactile and visual learning techniques by taking notes and writing down as much information as possible.
Strategies for Auditory Learners
- Study out loud in a place where privacy will be ensured.
- Read text out loud, especially complex material.
- Repeat directions for assignments and tests out loud or by silently mouthing the words.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions. Rephrase instructions and ask if your understanding is correct.
- Rephrase information in your own words.
- Use a tape recorder to tape a lecture, or read your notes out loud for later review.
- Integrate auditory and visual learning styles by making mind pictures as you recite.
- Join a study group or find a study buddy and work out loud with them.
- Teach a concept to someone else.
Strategies for Tactile or Kinesthetic Learners
- Use your hands: Gesture often to emphasize points to remember when studying.
- Watch instructor for emphasis: Take note when the instructor points, underlines, sweeps arm, makes a punching movement with hand, nods head vigorously, or stars important information.
- Make flashcards: Play a game with vocabulary cards. Put the word on one card and the definition on another. Turn all the cards face down, picking a single card and one-by-one turning the other cards over to find a match.
- Type notes and lectures into word processor or rewrite notes.
- Walk while studying: Combine exercise and review.
Assignment:
What are the results of your learning style test score? What advice would you give to a visual learner who is having difficulty in a purely lecture class?