Download Article: Learning Styles

Article: Learning Styles
Summary
This article looks at what learning styles are and why it's useful to know which style or combination of styles suit you
best.
What are learning styles?
Learning styles are simply different ways in which people learn things. We'll be looking at three styles in this article:
visual, auditory, (this basically means listening) and practical (often known by the more difficult word, 'kinaesthetic').
This set of styles is sometimes grouped under the title VAK.
Researchers have come up with further styles, but the three we'll be looking at are a good place to start.
Generally, we all have a mixture of the styles, with one being stronger than the others. Also, we may favour one of the
styles for a certain kind of activity. People who are able to respond well to a mixture of styles are often very effective
learners.
It's important to remember that no set of styles is the correct one. It's also important to note that the styles that suit
you best may change over time.
The styles
A good way to think of learning styles is to look at a few simple situations and imagine how you would respond.
For example, if you were trying to learn and remember how to spell a word, would you say it out loud, or write it
down? An auditory (someone who responds well to sounds) learner would have more chance of remembering the
word if they said it out loud, while a practical learner would be better off writing it down.
Another example would be someone writing a word several times to see which spelling looked right. This approach
would more than likely be used by someone who's a visual learner.
In the next section, you'll find some more examples of how different learners approach a study situation. Read
through them and try to work out which is your strongest learning style.
Visual learners
Visual learners like to learn things by:
Looking at information.
Taking detailed notes, often using coloured highlighter pens to help them remember.
Drawing pictures or diagrams.
Watching videos.
Visual learners may struggle to remember spoken instructions as their minds tend to wander.
Auditory learners
Auditory learners like to learn things by:
Talking about things with other people.
Listening closely to what a teacher says, and making notes later.
Reading aloud any information they need to remember.
Asking family members to question them about their work.
Auditory learners might play music while doing homework, as this can often help them. However, for some people,
listening to music while working would stop them concentrating.
© CASCAID 2017
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Kinaesthetic/practical learners
Kinaesthetic learners do best when:
Seeing practical demonstrations of work.
Doing something, making mistakes and learning from their own actions.
Moving around while they are studying.
Learning in a relaxed position, such as not in an upright chair.
Kinaesthetic learners are often not suited by traditional lessons and ways of teaching. This can mean they are
sometimes falsely labelled as disruptive or slow.
Conclusion
By thinking about how you learn best, you should be able to come up with better ways for you to remember what
you're studying. Of course, these ideas don't only apply to the things you're taught in school or college. We all need to
remember and learn things in our lives outside of education, so the ideas discussed should be useful in all areas of
your life.
Away from school or college, you could use the methods covered in this article to help you with coursework
assignments. For example, if you think you're mainly a visual learner, try using colour in your notes to help you
remember key points from a handout. If you think you're an auditory learner, try talking about things you've learnt
with other people in your lesson.
There are quite a few websites with sections on learning styles. Many have questionnaires that will give you a much
more in-depth idea of what style you are, but remember, no one style is correct, and no combination of styles is the
right one.
© CASCAID 2017
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