Learning Styles: Recognition and Accommodation

The recognition and accommodation of the diverse learning styles exhibited by team members can lead to improved interaction and greater synergy online or face-to-face. The most commonly recognized learning styles are derived from the main sense used for sensory input. Commonly, the three most pertinent and all-encompassing learning styles are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. If the learning styles can be properly identified and accommodated in both the face-to-face and online environments, the result will be greatly empowered people and more effective teams.

Listening or speaking to facilitate the learning process characterizes the auditory learning style. It can be divided into two sub-categories: the listening learner who learns by hearing and the verbal learner who learns by discussion (Lamarche-Bisson, 2002). This individual thrives in environments primarily of lecture and discussion. A person of this style can demonstrate a profound listening ability or a talkative spirit, needing to repeat information in his/her own words for better understanding.

A visual learning style involves thinking in terms of picture or words; this style is divided into two sub-categories: the visual/verbal learner who learns best when information is presented visually and in a written language format and the visual/non-verbal learner who learns best when information is presented visually and in a picture or design format. “It’s as if he has a movie camera in his mind” (Lamarche-Bisson, 2002). The visual learning style naturally focuses his/her perception on the external qualities of visible objects, relating images to reasoning. Cognition is image-based and note-taking serves as a common mnemonic device, as conclusions are drawn based on imagined pictorial representations.

Fleming writes kinesthetic learners require “concrete, multi-sensory experiences in their learning. Although learning by doing matches their needs they can easily learn conceptual and abstract material provided it arrives with suitable analogies, real life examples, or metaphors. They learn theory through its application” (Fleming, 1995). The kinesthetic learning style is characterized by a need to experience ideas and information in order to better understand them. This type of learner uses all senses, in some given combination, to facilitate the learning process. Each sense, sight, touch, taste, smell,...

... middle of paper ...

... member involvement in idea-sharing, and the establishment of a more fluid and organic learning environment, a far cry from the fixed, regimented learning structures. The overall environmental, communicative, and performance enhancements will better emulate the natural state of organs or cells working in harmony towards the betterment and maintenance of an organism. This organic, living harmony is what is commonly known as synergy.

Ghose, D.,(2002/2003). Steps to smooth learning path. IT Training, 16-19. Retrieved from April 14, 2003 the EBSCO host database.

Fleming, N.D., (1995). I’m different; not dumb. Modes of presentation (VARK) in the tertiary classroom, in Zelmer, A., (ed.) Research and Development in Higher Eductation, Proceedings of the 1995 Annual Conference of the Higher Education and Research Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA), HERDSA, Volume 18, 308-313.

Lamarche-Bisson D., (2002). Learning styles: What are they? How can they help? World and I, 17(9), 276-286. Retrieved April 14, 2003 from the InfoTrac database.

Lamarche-Bisson D., (2002). There’s more than one way to learn. Canadian HR Reporter. Nov. 18. Retrieved April 14, 2003 from the ProQuest database.