Saturday, April 25, 2015


Learning Styles

Understanding of the brain and how people learn has been growing over the last 20 years. The role of the senses - ‘see it, hear it, do it’ is now formalised as Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic learning styles. Also included is ‘interpersonal’ and ‘intrapersonal’ because reflection and collaboration have always been an important part of learning.

When finding out about your preferred style of learning, it is probably more helpful to think of learning as a range of styles we all have to some degree - ‘having a strength in auditory learning’, for example, rather than ‘being an auditory learner’.

The idea of a person having only one learning style is incorrect, especially as our learning styles can be adapted to suit the task we are given.

Following is a summary of the three different forms of learning. Which one are you?

Visual Learners ... Learn through seeing...

You need to see the teacher’s body language and facial expression to fully understand the content of a lesson.

Try sitting at the front of the classroom to avoid visual obstructions (e.g. people’s heads).

You think in pictures and learn best from visual displays including: diagrams, illustrated text books, overhead transparencies, videos, flipcharts and hand-outs. During a lesson or revision session taking detailed notes will help you to absorb the information.

Try using topic webs or memory maps, like this one about global warming, to organise your ideas.

Auditory Learners ... Learn through listening ...

You learn best through verbal explanations, discussions, talking things through and listening to what others have to say. You learn by interpreting the underlying meanings of speech through listening to tone of voice, pitch and speed.

Written information may have little meaning until it is heard.

Try hearing the sentence in your head before writing, and try learning spellings through saying words in rhyme or in an exaggerated way (e.g. en-vi-RON-ment).

When revising, you will often benefit from reading text aloud and using a tape recorder to record important points for revision. Why not use your iPod!

Kinaesthetic Learners... Learn through moving, doing and touching...

Science Revision Cards – don’t buy them – make them!

You learn best through a hands-on approach, actively exploring the physical world around you - you might think better with something in your hands to fiddle with!

You may find it hard to sit still for long periods and may become distracted by your need for activity and exploration.

You will benefit from regular breaks where you get up, stretch and breathe deeply.

Sorting and ranking cards with key words or images, or manipulating symbols or props will help to focus your revision.

Try learning spellings by writing them out several times.