Learning styles
Introduction:
In this essay I will be describing various types of learning styles and stating the advantages and disadvantages of these learning styles. I will also inform you of the most commonly used method of finding out your own learning style, and I will inform you of the man who made this method. Finally, I will write about my own preferred learning styles and the strengths and weaknesses of the different learning styles.
What is a ‘Learning Style’?
“A learning style is a way of learning and refers to the way that you learn new information” (2). Most people have one preferred learning style and perform to a lesser standard when learning in a different style than what they’re used to. Nowadays, children are told to take a quiz in school to determine what their preferred learning style is, but after a few years, not many of these children remember what their preferred learning style is, or even if they do, they don’t apply it to their learning.
Pros of knowing your preferred learning styles:
It maximises your potential and could also save you a lot of time. For example, if you are a visual learner and you are trying to understand something by listening to a lecture, then you will be wasting hours of your time. Knowing your learning style can also help you to better understand your strengths and weaknesses and generally make studying easier and more efficient. Knowing your own learning style could reduce stress. This is because, usually, if you can’t understand something then generally you get more stressed. By using your preferred learning style to help you to understand a topic it reduces your amount of stress and may even boost your confidence!
What is the VARK model?
The VARK model is one of the most common methods that people use to categorise learning styles. It was made by a man named Neil Fleming. The VARK model “expanded on the Neuro-linguistic programming models” (16). It was launched by Neil Fleming in 1987, after he finished his work and studies at Lincoln University. Before Neil Fleming, the VAK model was the most commonly used method to categorise learning styles. The VAK model doesn’t include Read/Write. The Read/Write learning style was created by Neil Fleming after he realised that it was best to split the Visual learning style into Symbolic (Visual), and Read/Write.
Who is Neil Fleming?
And there is a four-type definition of learning styles: 1. Accommodators (CE/AE) 2. Divergers (CE/RO) 3. Assimilators (AC/RO) 4. Convergers (AC/AE)
patial learning style, should have a cognitive predisposition for learning American Sign Language as a second language.
The Learning Styles. What's Your Learning Style?
Learning is defined as a permanent change in attitude or behaviour that occurs as a result of repeated experience (Sims & Sims, 1995). Understanding one’s learning style has many advantages as it can help one to identify the learning method or activities that can help to optimise the learning experience. It has been suggested that the importance of one’s learning style has been identified through studies and research on how one can maximise the potential for success and further learning development (Honey & Mumford, 2006). Learning styles are unique to each individual and are developed in childhood (Chase, 2001). We all have different personalities; therefore we all have preferred learning styles that suit us best. The way one learns depends on preference. Some learn by observing, listening and imitating others and draw conclusions from their experience. There are several factors that affect our learning style; for example, background, culture, religion and environment can have a major influence on one’s learning.
I am writing this essay about learning styles. More notably I will write about my personal learning style. Also a quick idea of why I chose to go back to school to seek a degree. There are multiple learning styles out in the world audible, tactile, and visual. Audible learning style focuses on learning by listening and sound patterns. Visual learning focuses on learning by using pictures, drawings, shapes, paintings and sculptures. Tactile or kinesthetic learning style focuses on learning by a more hands on approach using gestures, touching, body movement, positioning and object manipulation. I am a tactile and visual learner and in the next paragraph I will discuss these findings.
Instead, it is more important to use all learning types than to focus on one. According to the learning styles theory, there are three main learning styles. The first is visual, a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
To determine the best way I learn, I carried out two different learning styles questionnaires online. One may find that they are not always categorised in a specific type rather they may have more than one learning preference. Firstly, the most commonly used Neil Fleming’s VARK model. Fleming believes that there are four different types of learner: Visual, Auditory, Reading/writing and Kinesthetic learners. The second model I tried out was Soloman-Felder Learning Styles and Strategies.
Lamarche-Bisson, Diane. “Learning Styles - What Are They? How Can They Help?” World and I Sept. 2002: 268. Academic OneFile. Web. 20 July 2011.
Hawk, T. F., & Shah, A. J. (2007). Using learning style instruments to enhance student learning. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, 5(1), 1-19.
Adjusting learning and studying strategies can be a fast easy way to improve a college grade from a B to an A. Through studies of learning styles I have been able to decipher my learning types. I am a visual learner, have an integrated brain, meaning I use both hemispheres, and ranked highest in bodily-kinesthetic and logic-mathematical intelligence.
Learning styles are how individuals approach learning new concepts based on their strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. Acquiring and being aware of your learning styles is beneficial to accurately processing information that could be used for intellectual growth. Furthermore, learning styles are a part of how humans function and receive information from their world, so not being properly informed about this concept could bloom confusion, dysfunction, and chaos in society. Each learning style has a different goal and approach in interpreting information based on each individual’s abilities and should be regarded as being such. Nonetheless, it is a complex system that is produced to simplify and make sense of our world. Read/write was the
Wow! I have a personal learning style! If I had given any thought to my learning style prior to this course, I would have said simply, “Some things are easy for me to learn, and some things are not.” Now I can say, “I am a grouper, a top-down learner, an owl, in the C-D quadrants, and my strong intelligences are linguistic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal”. What all this means, still, is some things are easy for me to learn, and some things are not. But there I go again, simplifying the matter.
Learning style is cognitive, emotional and the physiological factors can clearly define how a learner manages within a structured learning environment. Additionally, the different learning styles can provide a basic understanding for trainers on how learners prefer to learn. Nonetheless, learning styles should not be used to divide people into learning sub groups. Individuals can learn in any learning style, however may prefer one style over another.
There are seven learning styles and techniques. The first kind of learner is a visual learner also known as a spatial, this is when someone prefers using pictures and images to understand a topic. The aural learner also known as the auditory-musical person, is a person who prefers using music or sound. There is the verbal learner or the linguistic person who prefers using words, both in speech and writing. Next is the physical learner also known as the kinesthetic learner, the preference of this learner would be using the body, hands, and sense of touch to learn. Following that would be the logical thinker or the mathematical person, who prefers using logic, reasoning and systems to learn. The social learner also known as the interpersonal learner is someone who prefers to learn in groups and with other people. This type of learning style can be great for student in the traditional classroom setting. Last there is the solitary learner or the intrapersonal person. This is someone who prefers to work alone and use self-study methods. This type of learner would best be fit in the online classroom setting. Knowing what type of learner, you are can be important in helping to improve the speed and quality of learning. It can help avoid putting a student in an awkward position. Learning styles can have a great impact on students just as much as the
Thought out our lives, we are faced with many different learning experiences. Some of these experiences have made a better impact than others. This can be attributed to everyone’s different multiple intelligences or learning styles. A persons learning style is the method though which they gain information about their environment. As a teacher, it is our responsibility to know these styles, so we can reach each of our students and use all of the necessary methods.