About Learning Styles

Linking e-learning Project 2012Debbie Whitehead

What is a learning style?

A learning style is the way in which an individual learner tries to learn.

It includes how they approach learning, experience learning and use the information.

What is a learning style?

How information is presented is often as important as what is said. It may determine whether it is understood at all.

VAK learning styles

Some students have a preferred learning style that is:

Visual - they learn mainly through seeing

Auditory - they learn mainly through hearing;

Kinaesthetic - they learn through doing

VAK learning styles

Some students will have a combination of two or sometimes all three of the learning styles.

Students learning styles can change and develop and do not necessarily stay the same.

VAK learning styles

Learning style Description Effective learning methods

Visual seeing and reading

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

Auditory listening and speaking 

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

Kinaesthetic touching and doing  

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

Your Personal Style.

Filling in questionnaires and quizzes to determine your preferred learning styles can be fun.

It can also help you to learn more easily and effectively when you know how you learn best.

Become an independent learner

When you understand your own personal preferences, you can then take responsibility for your own learning.

You can take the initiative to choose resources that suit your self!

Resources

A range of resources are available on the course website on the Lifelong Learning page.

http://linking4eliteracy4students.coonarahouse.org.au/Lifelong+learning

Amongst them is a learning style quiz that you could download to take for yourself.

You could also do a web search as there are a lot of online resources that explain learning style theories. Google ‘learning styles’ to find out more.