Learning Styles

What are Learning Styles?

Learning style is the way in which each learner begins to concentrate on, process, absorb, and retain new and difficult information. They define the way that information is processed. We must understand the different ways children learn, interact and process information to enable them to work up to their full potential. Without the correct learning style children get frustrated. Traditional learning techniques use general concepts, focusing on a groups needs. Modern learning methods focus on each and every child’s behaviour, strengths, weaknesses and skills.

The perceptual (basic) learning styles are:

· Auditory – learning through listening. Learn best from discussions, talking things through.

· Visual – Learning through seeing. Learning best from pictures, diagrams, visual representations.

· Kinaesthetic – Learning through doing, moving, touching. Learn best from a hand on approach.

Who are the leaders in Learning Styles?

Over the past few decades, learning styles have been extensively worked on. Leading thinkers such as Howard Gardner, Myers-Briggs, Dunn and Dunn and Ned Hermann have each developed very different but effective styles. Two styles that I would like to focus on are Howard Gardner’s and Dunn and Dunns.

Howard Gardner developed the Theory of Multiple Intelligences. He formulated a list of seven intelligences:

· Linguistic – using words

· Logical – using logic, reasoning systems

· Musical – using sound and music

· Bodily-Kinaesthetic – using your body, hands and touch

· Spatial – using pictures, images

· Interpersonal – prefer learning in groups, with other people

· Intrapersonal – prefer to work alone

If a teacher is having difficulty teaching a student in the traditional; linguistic or logical way, the theory of multiple intelligences suggests several other ways in which the information can be presented to the student. It enables seven different potential pathways of learning. However the seven intelligences rarely operate independently. They are used at the same time and compliment each other as skills develop.

To find what your strongest intelligence is, take the quiz: http://www.businessballs.com/freepdfmaterials/free_multiple_intelligences_test_young_people.pdf

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Dunn and Dunn’s theory focuses on setting up the environment to fit the learner. The model is complex. It includes five strands of 21 elements that effect individuals learning.

Learners are effected by:

1. Immediate environment – elements such as lighting, sound, temperature, seating arrangements.

2. Own emotionality – elements such as motivation, responsibility, persistence and structure.

3. Sociological needs – elements related to how individuals learn with other people.

4. Physical needs – elements such as time of day, intake, energy, mobility and basic learning style (auditory, visual, and kinaesthetic).

5. Psychological processing – elements in this strand correspond to the following types of processing: hemispheric – left and right brain processing, impulsive or reflective- describes how some people are quick to do something while others think about it, and global versus analytic – groups made up of the similar elements.

Do learning styles differ in predictable ways?

There are four factors that significantly differ between individuals:

1. Global versus analytic processing styles – when learning, people tend to have one of two processing styles: global or analytic. Global learners prefer to work in an informal environment, with soft lighting, informal seating, breaks, sound and snacks. Analytic learners prefer to work in a formal environment, with bright lights, formal seating, few to no interruptions and quiet.

2. Age – individual learning styles tend to alter as they grow older. Elements such as motivation, responsibility and sociological are all effected. As well for many people, auditory and visual perceptual elements strengthen.

3. Gender – males and females tend to learn differently. Males are often visual, kinaesthetic learners. They tend to need more mobility and are more peer motivated. Females tend to be more auditory. They work the best in a formal setting, need less mobility, and are frequently authority orientated and more conforming.

4. High versus low academic achievement – these students learn in completely different ways. Teaching strategies that are successful with one group will not be for the other.

While doing this assignment I have thought a lot about what my learning style is. In school I remember doing Howard Gardeners multiple intelligences. I also remember thinking about how much of a waste of time it seemed. Now, however, I can finally see the importance. If it wasnt for these learning styles many people would not be as academically advanced.

With my references for this blog, i can't find the link on the internet. If i do i will reference it.