Many people recognize that each person prefers different learning
styles and techniques. Learning styles group common ways that people learn.
Everyone has a mix of learning styles. Some people may find that they have a
dominant style of learning, with far less use of the other styles. Others may
find that they use different styles in different circumstances. There is no
right mix. Nor are your styles fixed. You can develop ability in less dominant
styles, as well as further develop styles that you already use well.
Using multiple learning styles and �multiple intelligences�
for learning is a relatively new approach. This approach is one that educators
have only recently started to recognize. Traditional schooling used (and continues
to use) mainly linguistic and logical teaching methods. It also uses a limited
range of learning and teaching techniques. Many schools still rely on classroom
and book-based teaching, much repetition, and pressured exams for reinforcement
and review. A result is that we often label those who use these learning styles
and techniques as �bright.� Those who use less favored learning styles
often find themselves in lower classes, with various not-so-complimentary
labels and sometimes lower quality teaching. This can create positive and
negative spirals that reinforce the belief that one is "smart" or
"dumb".
By recognizing and understanding your own learning styles, you can
use techniques better suited to you. This improves the speed and quality of your
learning
The Seven Learning Styles
If you use the visual style, you prefer using images, pictures,
colors, and maps to organize information and communicate with others. You can
easily visualize objects, plans and outcomes in your mind's eye. You also have
a good spatial sense, which gives you a good sense of direction. You can easily
find your way around using maps, and you rarely get lost. When you walk out of
an elevator, you instinctively know which way to turn.
The whiteboard is a best friend (or would be if you had access to
one). You love drawing, scribbling and doodling, especially with colors. You
typically have a good dress sense and color balance (although not always!).
If
you use the aural style, you like to work with sound and music. You have a good
sense of pitch and rhythm. You typically can sing, play a musical instrument,
or identify the sounds of different instruments. Certain music invokes strong
emotions. You notice the music playing in the background of movies, TV shows
and other media. You often find yourself humming or tapping a song or jingle,
or a theme or jingle pops into your head without prompting.
The verbal style involves both the written and
spoken word. If you use this style, you find it easy to express yourself, both
in writing and verbally. You love reading and writing. You like playing on the
meaning or sound of words, such as in tongue twisters, rhymes, limericks and
the like. You know the meaning of many words, and regularly make an effort to
find the meaning of new words. You use these words, as well as phrases you have
picked up recently, when talking to others.
If the physical style is more like you, it's likely that you use
your body and sense of touch to learn about the world around you. It's likely
you like sports and exercise, and other physical activities such as gardening
or woodworking. You like to think out issues, ideas and problems while you
exercise. You would rather go for a run or walk if something is bothering you,
rather than sitting at home.
You are more sensitive to the physical world around you. You
notice and appreciate textures, for example in clothes or furniture. You like
'getting your hands dirty,' or making models, or working out jigsaws.
You typically use larger hand gestures and other body language to
communicate. You probably don't mind getting up and dancing either, at least
when the time is right. You either love the physical action of theme park
rides, or they upset your inner body sense too much and so you avoid them
altogether.
When you are learning a new skill or topic, you would prefer to
'jump in' and play with the physical parts as soon as possible. You would
prefer to pull an engine apart and put it back together, rather than reading or
looking at diagrams about how it works.
The thought of sitting in a lecture listening to someone else talk
is repulsive. In those circumstances, you fidget or can't sit still for long.
You want to get up and move around.
If you use the logical style, you like using your brain for
logical and mathematical reasoning. You can recognize patterns easily, as well
as connections between seemingly meaningless content. This also leads you to
classify and group information to help you learn or understand it.
You work well with numbers and you can perform complex
calculations. You remember the basics of trigonometry and algebra, and you can
do moderately complex calculations in your head.
You typically work through problems and issues in a systematic
way, and you like to create procedures for future use. You are happy setting
numerical targets and budgets, and you track your progress towards these. You
like creating agendas, itineraries, and to-do lists, and you typically number
and rank them before putting them into action.
Your scientific approach to thinking means you often support your
points with logical examples or statistics. You pick up logic flaws in other
peoples words, writing or actions, and you may point these out to people (not
always to everyone's amusement).
You like working out strategies and using simulation. You may like
games such as brainteasers, backgammon, and chess. You may also like PC games
such as Dune II, Starcraft, Age of Empires, Sid Meier games and others.
If you have a strong social style, you communicate well with
people, both verbally and non-verbally. People listen to you or come to you for
advice, and you are sensitive to their motivations, feelings or moods. You
listen well and understand other's views. You may enjoy mentoring or counseling
others.
You typically prefer learning in groups or classes, or you like to
spend much one-on-one time with a teacher or an instructor. You heighten your
learning by bouncing your thoughts off other people and listening to how they
respond. You prefer to work through issues, ideas and problems with a group.
You thoroughly enjoy working with a 'clicking' or synergistic group of people.
You prefer to stay around after class and talk with others. You
prefer social activities, rather than doing your own thing. You typically like
games that involve other people, such as card games and board games. The same
applies to team sports such as football or soccer, basketball, baseball,
volleyball, baseball and hockey.
If you have a solitary style, you are more private, introspective
and independent. You can concentrate well, focusing your thoughts and feelings
on your current topic. You are aware of your own thinking, and you may analyze
the different ways you think and feel.
You spend time on self-analysis, and often reflect on past events
and the way you approached them. You take time to ponder and assess your own
accomplishments or challenges. You may keep a journal, diary or personal log to
record your personal thoughts and events.
You like to spend time alone. You may have a personal hobby. You
prefer traveling or holidaying in remote or places, away from crowds.
You feel that you know yourself. You think independently, and you
know your mind. You may have attended self-development workshops, read
self-help books or used other methods to develop a deeper understanding of
yourself.
You prefer to work on problems by retreating to somewhere quiet
and working through possible solutions. You may sometimes spend too much time
trying to solve a problem that you could more easily solve by talking to
someone.
You like to make plans and set goals. You know your direction in
life and work. You prefer to work for yourself, or have thought a lot about it.
If you don't know your current direction in life, you feel a deep sense of
dissatisfaction.
Why Learning Styles? Understand the basis of
learning styles
Your learning styles have more influence than you may realize.
Your preferred styles guide the way you learn. They also change the way you
internally represent experiences, the way you recall information, and even the
words you choose. We explore more of these features in this chapter.
Research shows us that each learning style uses different parts of
the brain. By involving more of the brain during learning, we remember more of
what we learn. Researchers using brain-imaging technologies have been able to
find out the key areas of the brain responsible for each learning style.
For example:
·
Visual: The occipital lobes at the back of the brain manage the
visual sense. Both the occipital and parietal lobes manage spatial orientation.
·
Aural: The temporal lobes handle aural content. The right
temporal lobe is especially important for music.
·
Verbal: The temporal and frontal lobes, especially two specialized
areas called Broca�s and Wernicke�s areas (in the left hemisphere of these
two lobes).
·
Physical: The cerebellum and the motor cortex (at the back of the
frontal lobe) handle much of our physical movement.
·
Logical: The parietal lobes, especially the left side, drive our
logical thinking.
·
Social: The frontal and temporal lobes handle much of our social
activities. The limbic system (not shown apart from the hippocampus) also
influences both the social and solitary styles. The limbic system has a lot to
do with emotions, moods and aggression.
·
Solitary: The frontal and parietal lobes, and the limbic system, are
also active with this style.
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