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LEARNING MODALITIES

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LEARNING MODALITIES

Learning modalities are the sensory channels or pathways through which individuals give, receive, and store information

A typical classroom contains 25-30% visual, 25-30% auditory, 15% tactile kinesthetic, & the rest have mixed modalities

Knowing these modalities and the make-up of your classes is important to accommodate all learners – this is part of “differentiation.”

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Visual Learners

Remember 75% of what they SEE and READ

Enjoy “decorating” their learning, living areas

Looking at a person speaking helps them “focus”

Learn best alone

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Characteristics of Visual Learners

Mind wanders during verbal instructions

Trouble following or remembering verbal instructions/directions

Does more observing during group discussion

Usually neat, quiet, at times shy

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To Help a Visual Leaner

Make flash cards Highlight when reading Use color coding when reading, organizing Re-copy notes, information trying to learn Develop and use diagrams, charts, maps,

etc. Use films, movies, TV, power points, etc. Find ways to distract auditory with “white

noise” to help visual focus

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Auditory Learners

Must HEAR things to learn Represents about 30% of general school

age population Remember up to 75% of what they hear

in a lecture Most difficult to learn new material or

reading oriented learning – on line, large amounts of content, large reading assignments

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Characteristics of Auditory Learners

Easily distracted by about any noise Not interested in visual demonstrations Active in group activities and discussions Likes being read to Listens to music, TV while studying Often outgoing

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To Help an Auditory Learner

Read aloud (to, or even aloud while studying)

Record notes, material to be learned on a recording device

Lectures, sound presentations, discussions

Use/create poems, stories, songs, rhythmic patterns and sounds, word association, mnemonics

Repetition of ideas, information

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Tactile-Kinesthetic Learners

Must DO things for the best chance to learn

Tactile learners remember best when experience with hands/body - movement/touch

Kinesthetic learning requires whole body movement

Motor memory enables remembering what they have done

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Tactile-Kinesthetic Characteristics

Taps feet, pencils, fingers while writing/thinking, etc.

Likes experiments, handling objects, hands on projects

Uses hand gestures and body language Likes problem solving related to physical

items Outgoing, expresses emotions

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To Help a Tactile-Kinesthetic Learner

Field Trips Props, labs, experiments, hands on

demonstrations, physical examples Plays, role playing, performing Making lists, posting the lists, checking

items off when done Problem-solving as a physical activity

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Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Other Learning Strengths

Verbal/Linguistic Logical/Mathematical Visual/Spatial Bodily/Kinesthetic Musical/Rhythmic Interpersonal Intrapersonal Naturalist

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Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence Written and spoken words/language Understanding meaning of words Humor, jokes, debate Memory and recall

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Logical/Mathematical Intelligence

Scientific thinking Inductive (parts to whole) and deductive

(whole to parts) reasoning Numbers Abstract patterns Problem solving Complex calculations

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Visual/Spatial Intelligence

Sense of sight Internal mental images/pictures (see the

page or object in your mind) Colorful designs, patterns, shapes Active imagination, pretending Graphic representations Finding your way in space

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Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence Physical movements Body – muscle awareness Expression of self through body (drama,

body language, gestures, dance) Improved body functioning i.e.

conditioning, muscle memory Sports, dance, acting, physical exercise

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Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence Recognition of tonal patterns, sensitive

to rhythm and beats Sensitivity to sounds Effects of music and rhythm on the brain Human voice/sounds, sounds of nature,

musical instruments, percussion

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Interpersonal Intelligence

Person to person relationships and communication

Verbal and non-verbal communication Sensitivity to others moods, feelings,

non-verbal behavior, motivations Notice distinctions and characteristics of

others Prefer to be – study with others

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Intrapersonal Intelligence

Aware of inner states of being, self reflection

Awareness and expression of different feelings by self

Awareness of feelings, thinking processes, and spirituality of self

Higher order thinking and reasoning with regards to self improvement if can remain positive about self (wants to study alone)

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Naturalistic Intelligence

Nature lover - “save the .....” Observes and remembers from

environment Like animals and learns about and from

them Notices patterns in nature Collects, classifies Keen senses especially when in nature

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END

J. Jackson, Ph.D. EDUC 110