Preferred Learning Style

When learning our students take in information through all their senses. Understanding their personal best ways to learn will benefit their progress considerably. The following explains this to students and enables them to identify their preferred learning styles.

 Visual

• relates to Visual/Spatial Intelligence and 35% of people learn this way
• they learn best by seeing, picturing, reading and imagining, watching facial expressions and prefer making posters and diagrams

Auditory

• relates to Linguistic Intelligence and 25% of people learn this way
• they learn best by discussing, talking, understanding things in their own words, listening for emphasis and voice tone and prefer conversation

 Kinesthetic

• relates to Physical Intelligence and 40% of people learn this way
• they learn best by doing things themselves, watching body language, remembering activities, meeting people and prefer direct involvement.

Which of these do you prefer?

If visual, when studying

• read notes and create mental pictures
• draw diagrams, flowcharts
• make up summaries of material
• watch videos/DVD’s on the topic
• put up posters in your room of the material

If auditory

• tape the material and replay it when travelling
• recite it aloud
• discuss ideas with teachers and friends
• listen for emphasis and voice tone

 If kinesthetic

• be active in all lessons
• do extra essays, practical classes and problems
• be engaged and participate fully
• watch for signals through body movements

 

A combination of all three will yield the best results.

The greater your sensory imagery

• the more you "feel" the material
• the more your senses are involved
• the better your understanding

You remember

• 10% from reading
• 25% from hearing
• 35% from seeing
• 50% from both seeing and hearing
• 75% from discussion
• 85% from experiencing something yourself
• 95% from teaching someone else

To be effective in your learning it is essential that you approach your learning in a strategic manner. This means that you should use your personal strengths at every opportunity. As you discovered when you identified your preferred Multiple Intelligence, you do possess individual "best ways" to do things. 

Below is an exercise that will prompt you to reflect on what you do when you are confronted with a task. Tick the boxes that would best describe your approach; when you have finished there may be ticks in every column but there is likely to be one with more - this corresponds to your preferred learning style. 

What you prefer to do

Task		Visual		Auditory		Kinesthetic
When discussing an issue		Imagine mental pictures of the situation		Listen well to others		Communicate through body language and movement
		Tire of listening and talking		Are keen to express your opinion		Want to get on with it
When reading		Picture what is occurring		Enjoy the characters discussing things		Enjoy the characters being involved in action
		Enjoy descriptions of the story line		Form views through dialogue		Not a willing reader
When beginning an assignment		Draw a flowchart of things to be done		Want it explained to you		Just get started
		"Brainstorm" what you know using idea maps, diagrams		Discuss what’s required		Plan as you go
When contacting people		Meet them in person directly		Ring, text or email them		Meet them while doing something
		Visualise what they will look like		Converse with them electronically		Talk while walking, exercising
When assembling something		Look at the instructions and diagrams		Ask someone to explain how to do it		Just get started
		Identify each part from the directions		Assemble it with someone else		Don't pay much attention to instructions till something goes wrong
When in class and your teacher introduces new topic		Prefer visual presentations		Prefer to listen for understanding		Prefer activities to begin class
		Picture connections to what you already know		Keen for class discussion		Start doing and learning as you go
When trying to stay focussed in class		Daydream about things		Listen for emphasis and cues		Get distracted by movement around you
		Picture what needs to be done		Ask yourself questions about the topic		Play with pens, books
When meeting people		Have trouble remembering names		Remember their names but not so much their face		Remember what you did when you last met
		Remember their faces and where you last met		Remember things about them		Think about what you can do this time
When solving a problem		Use pictorial strategies to create a vision of it		Listen and discuss approaches and options		See possible solutions immediately
		Doodle and draw what if's		List and discuss logically your what if's		Try things rather than planning an approach
When encountering computer problems		Look at the "Help" options for guidance		Ask someone else for help		See possible solutions immediately
		Look for other ways		Get frustrated because the computer can't talk		Try things when planning an approach

 My Preferred Leaning Style is ..........................................................

"The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows". S.J.Harris