Learning Styles

  

 

Learning styles are various approaches or ways of learning.  They can be described as a set of factors, behaviors, and attitudes that facilitate learning for an individual. 

 

We each are complex individuals with different learning preferences, cognitive styles, personality types, aptitudes, and attitudes toward learning.  Therefore, different people learn in different ways.  Each learner has distinct and consistent preferred ways of perception, organization and retention.  These differences are based on preferences and personality types.  Some people tend to pick up information better when it is presented verbally, others when it is presented visually through pictures.  

 

These learning styles serve as a good indicator of how learners perceive, interact with, and respond to the learning environment.  People do not exclusively have one single way to learn, but they usually have a preference.  By understanding his or her particular learning style, the learner can use his or her style to understand the strengths and limitations of each style.  There are several resources that can help assess an individual’s learning style. 

 

Flemings VAK Model

Kolb’s Learning Style Model

Honey and Mumford 

Felder-Silverman Model

 

 

These learning style models are all used to better understand individual strengths and weaknesses.  By utilizing this knowledge, it is possible for people to learn in ways that fit their type, and which enhances their performance.

 

 

 

Understanding Learning styles

 

By understanding your particular learning style, you can use your style to understand the strengths and limitations of each style.  There are several resources that can help assess an individual’s learning style.  Among these are the VAK, Kolb Learning Style Inventory and Honey Mumford.

  

Learning styles refer to the characteristic strengths and preferences in the ways people take in and process information.  Due to personality and environment factors, individuals have different ways of perceiving and processing information.  By understanding your particular learning style, you can better understand the strengths and limitations of that style.  Additionally, by utilizing this knowledge, it is possible for people to work in ways that fit their type, which benefits their performance.

 

Different people learn in different ways.  People have different learning styles based on personality types.  Some people tend to understand information better when it is presented verbally, others when it is presented through pictures.

 

 

 

Learning Strategies

 

A person learning style cannot easily be changed.  However, learning strategies can be employed to enhance learning in various situations.  Learning strategies are dynamic and adaptable to different circumstances and conditions.  It is not enough to develop an awareness of one’s learning style.  This awareness must be translated into the development of learning strategies.  Learners should develop a repertoire of strategies that favor their preferred learning style as well as strategies that help them deal with situations where the preferred learning style is not the method of delivery. 

 

VAK learning styles

 

The Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic (VAK) learning styles model provides a simple way to explain and understand learning styles. The VAK learning Style uses the three main sensory receivers (Vision, Auditory, and Kinesthetic) to determine a person’s dominate or preferred learning style.

 

No-one has exclusively one single style or preference. Learners use all three methods to receive information.  However, one or more of these receiving styles is normally dominant.  This preferred style defines the best way for a person to learn new information by determining what is to be learned.

 

This style may not always to be the same for some tasks.  According to the VAK model, most people possess a dominant or preferred learning style. However, some people have a mixed and evenly balanced blend of the three styles.   Additionally, a learner may prefer one style of learning for one task, and a combination of others for another task.

 

LEARNING STYLE	DESCRIPTION
Visual	seeing and reading
Auditory	listening and speaking
Kinesthetic	touching and doing

 

 

Visual learning style involves the use of seen or observed things, including pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, films, flip-chart, etc.

 

Auditory learning style involves the transfer of information through listening: to the spoken word, of self or others, of sounds and noises.

 

Kinesthetic learning involves physical experience – touching, feeling, holding, doing, practical hands-on experiences.

 

The VARK (Visual Auditory Reading Kinesthetic) is another related model.