WHAT ARE LEARNING STYLES?

Information enters your brain three main ways: (1) sight

(2) hearing (3) touch The way a person prefers to learn is called

his/her “Learning Style. ” There is no right or wrong, good or bad

learning style.

TEACHING AND LEARNING STYLES • A person’s learning style has nothing

to do with intelligence or skills. • It has everything to do with the way a

person’s brain works to learn and store information efficiently.

• Since everyone learns differently, understanding learning styles can help you become a better student.

LEARNING STYLES • By examining learning styles, you will

become aware of how your brain learns best.

• This awareness gives you the chance to study effectively and be more successful in and out of school.

THREE TYPES OF LEARNING STYLES Visual Learners – learn by sight. Auditory Learners – learn by hearing. Tactile Learners (kinesthetic) – learn by

touch.

CHARACTERISTICS OF VISUAL LEARNERS • Prefer to see information such as pictures,

diagrams, cartoons, and demonstrations. • They picture words and concepts they hear

as images. • They are easily distracted in lecture with no

visual aids. • Overwhelmed with intense visuals

accompanied by lecture. • Benefit from using charts, maps, notes, and

flash cards when studying.

Let me see it!

VISUAL LEARNERS SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDYING • Take lecture notes. • Underline, highlight, or circle printed

material. • Borrow others’ notes, compare to own. • Draw pictures in notes to illustrate

concepts. • Use a variety of colors – in pens, pencils,

markers, highlighters, paper, etc. for different categories or concepts.

• Write it out! • Draw out ideas. • Work with many colors. • Use outlines, pictures, graphs, charts, and

diagrams.

CHARACTERISTICS OF AUDITORY LEARNERS • Prefer to hear information spoken. • Can absorb a lecture with little effort. • May not need careful notes to learn. • Often avoid eye contact in order to

concentrate. • May read aloud to themselves. • Like background music when they study.

Let me hear it!

AUDITORY LEARNERS SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDYING • Study in groups and talk things out. • Work out problems aloud. • Record lectures, teaching and study

group sessions, etc. • Read texts out loud (into recorder). • Listen to lecture/text tapes while

driving, walking, etc. • Dictate papers, to be typed later. • Read questions aloud. • Use word association.

TACTILE OR KINESTHETIC LEARNERS

• Prefer touch as their primary mode for taking in information.

• In traditional lecture situations, they should write out important facts.

• Create study sheets connected to vivid examples.

• Role-playing can help them learn and remember important ideas.

Let me experience it!

TACTILE LEARNERSUGGESTIONS FOR STUDYING • Trace letters of words with finger (to

memorize spelling, for example) • Use finger as a guide while reading

material. • Take, and type out or rewrite class notes. • Get hands-on in science or computer

labs, for example – don’t just watch someone else do it.

• Write out everything. • Use models – of the human brain, DNA,

etc. • Draw charts or diagrams of

relationships.