my preferred learning style essay

Discover Your Learning Style – Comprehensive Guide on Different Learning Styles

Each person has different learning preferences and styles that benefit them. Some may find they even have a dominant learning style. Others that they prefer different learning styles in different circumstances. There is no right or wrong answer to which learning style is best for you – or mix of learning styles.

By discovering and better understanding your own learning styles, you can employ techniques that will improve the rate and quality of your learning.

There has been a big push in education in recent years on how teachers can better meet the needs of the students, and a very effective way to do that is to learn about different learning styles. The more teachers understand their students and the way their brains work, the better they can be at helping them learn.

Even if you’ve never heard the term “learning style” before, it’s likely you already have an idea of what your learning style is. You probably know if it’s hard for you to learn by listening, but if you get your body up and moving around, things click instantly. Or maybe you love listening to audiobooks, but nothing seems to make sense when you sit down to read a paper book. What you’re describing when you talk about yourself in this way is your learning style.

This guide will help you understand what each learning style is, as well as how teachers can alter their instruction to help students of each learning style.

For teachers who already have a lot on their plate, it can seem like a lot to add in adjusting instruction for different learning styles. The great benefit teachers will find though is that once they master ways to appeal to all learners, their lives actually become a lot easier.

Catering to different learning styles can improve classroom management, and it makes for happier students in the classroom. The chatty student who is constantly interrupting will finally have a positive place in the classroom. The quiet girl who knows all the answers but never raises her hand will feel confident in sharing her knowledge.

Understanding your learning style and that of those around you isn’t only helpful in educational settings. It can also help you understand yourself and others in work, families, relationships, and other settings. If you’re a parent, knowing the learning style of your child can be extremely beneficial as you help them with their schoolwork and as you just relate to them in daily life. Maybe there actually is a valid reason they zone out every time you tell them what to do.

With so many studies on learning styles, there are a lot of theories about how many learning styles there are and what each one should be called. One of the most influential studies found three learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. This was called the VAK model. Since that study, another dominant style has been identified as reading/writing, and the model was expanded to become VARK.

The VARK Model

The most widely accepted model of learning styles is called the VARK model, which stands for visual, aural/auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. In brief:

• Visual (spacial) learners learn best by seeing
• Auditory (aural) learners learn best by hearing
• Reading/writing learners learn best by reading and writing
• Kinesthetic (physical) learners learn best by moving and doing

According to Neil Fleming and David Baume, it’s important for teachers to understand how their students learn, but it’s even more important for students to understand how they, themselves learn. By understanding your own process of learning and thinking, you can be more efficient in studying and learning.

It can be really frustrating to sit in a classroom and not understand why you just don’t get it. You know you’re not dumb, but you just can’t seem to make the information click. It can also be frustrating to be able to learn perfectly well from one teacher, but struggle to learn from another.

If you’ve experienced feelings like this, it likely all comes back to your learning style. Once you understand how and why you learn the way you do, your education can vastly improve. You can stop feeling dumb and getting frustrated, and you can start to advocate for yourself and your education.

According to Fleming and Baume,

“VARK above all is designed to be a starting place for a conversation among teachers and learners about learning. It can also be a catalyst for staff development- thinking about strategies for teaching different groups can lead to more, and appropriate, variety of learning and teaching.”

This type of thinking, called metacognition , helps you understand who you are and how you learn. It would be impossible to discover your own learning style without engaging in metacognition.

It’s very common for people to have one dominant learning style, but it is highly unlikely that any one person will strictly have one learning style. Most people are a combination of many. This guide and the research talks about each learning style with different labels, but the label isn’t what’s important. What is important is understanding your brain and the way you learn. Try not to get caught up in labels or classifying yourself or others.

It’s obvious that the labels aren’t important when you realize that there are many different theories of learning styles, and each theory uses different terms. Another theory that takes into account some additional learning styles is called memletics. This theory takes the basics of the VARK model and adds in a few different categories. Memletics includes visual, auditory, and kinesthetic that is seen in the VARK model, and also adds in the following types of learners:

• Verbal learners who learn best by speaking
• Logical (mathematical) learners who learn best by using logic and reasoning (these learners are typically mathematically inclined)
• Social (interpersonal) learners who learn best in groups
• Solitary (intrapersonal) learners who learn best alone

Note that it does not include the reading/writing addition that was added when VAK expanded to VARK, however it does include the four above mentioned categories. Within memletics, there is a lot of overlap between learning styles due to the nature of the categories. Take, for example, two solitary learners. They both learn best in solitary situations, but one learns best by using logic while the other learns best by seeing.

In a study about learning styles , Aranya Srijongjai noted that

“According to the Memletics model, everyone has a mix of learning styles, and learning styles are not fixed (Advanogy.com, 2003), so instructors should also accommodate other types of learning styles by providing diverse learning environments. McCarthy (1980) points out that instructors should vary activities so that students learn in their own preferred style and also can have a chance to develop other styles as well. As a result, matching and mismatching learning styles and instructional methods will complement the students’ learning performance and create more flexible learners in the long run.”

As Srijongjai suggests, students and teachers should not think of learning styles as a box to be placed into. Learning styles are just one small piece in the overall puzzle of student learning.

No matter what theory your dominant learning styles fall under, knowing your style can help make your learning easier and more successful. Most learners fall into at least one of the styles in the VARK theory.

This guide will offer information and advice to teachers, students, and parents, as it is important for everyone in the educational environment to understand why and how people learn the way they learn. With each learning style, there are also suggestions included for career choices.

These suggestions are in no way meant to be limiting, but they can be helpful. If you are a visual learner, but feel pulled toward one of the fields listed in the auditory learner section, by all means pursue your passion. The career suggestions merely show what careers that style might gravitate towards as well as careers they are likely to excel in with minimal effort.

Understanding your learning style is really helpful, but again, you should also be careful not to put yourself in a box and to define yourself by your learning style. Take what insight you can, but don’t let it overcome your thoughts about yourself.

Visual Learners

Do you ever remember taking a test in school and thinking “I don’t remember the answer, but I remember I had it highlighted pink in my notes”… then you might be a visual learner.

That’s because visual learners remember and learn what they see the most. This could include videos and pictures, but it doesn’t have to. Visual learners do well with spatial reasoning, charts, graphs, etc. Often, visual learners “see” words as pictures or other objects in their head, and they often use their right brain to process information.

One of the many benefits of being a visual learner is that the human brain processes visual information much faster than plain text. As a visual learner, you can take in and retain a lot of information really quickly because you prefer this processing method that humans are already very good at.

When studying and learning, visual learners prefer the use of maps, outlines, diagrams, charts, graphs, designs, and patterns. When taking notes, these students are more likely to organize their notes into visual patterns. They might use charts or diagrams; they might separate their page of notes into different sections. Many visual learners also do well with color coding their notes with different colored pens or highlighters.

Careers for visual learners:

Visual learners are often pulled toward, and do well in, STEM fields. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Specifically, some careers include photography, construction, graphic design, interior design, architecture, physics, advertising, engineering, and surgery.

A note for teachers of visual learners:

Sometimes these students might stare out the window or doodle in their notes. If this is the case, let them. Locking their eyes on you constantly might be too much visual stimulation, and that flower they’re drawing next to their notes might help them remember that point by connecting it to their visual drawing.

It’s also easy for visual learners to get overwhelmed by a lot of visual input. If the classroom setting is chaotic with a lot of students moving around, it might be too much for them to take in. The design of your classroom is also very important to visual learners. If there is a lot of clutter or too many posters adorning the walls, this can overwhelm the mind and processing of a visual learner.

For some visual learners, it also could actually be helpful for them to pay careful attention to your movements. They might remember the silly hand motion you made or the way you pointed to a country on the map. Keeping that in mind when delivering your lessons can be very helpful.

Lesson ideas to help visual learners

• Use colors. Just like these learners tend to color code things themselves, it can be really helpful for them if you color code your notes as you write them or post them. As a homework or in class assignment, you could have students annotate/read actively, and use different colors for different things you want them to look for. For example, they could highlight dates in blue and names in yellow.
• Draw reasoning. In math, teach students how to draw out their reasoning (rather than verbally explaining).
• Use gestures. As you’re teaching, be aware of your body language. If you include gestures and hand motions when you speak, it will help your visual learners pay attention and make connections.
• Posters. As a project or class assignment, students can make posters illustrating key concepts. Once finished, they could even present their posters to the class, which would appeal to auditory learners. You can also hang these posters on the wall when students are done as decorations and to help drive home important topics. Just remember to cover them up or take them down during assessments if they give away too much information.
• Charts and graphs. Use technology to help students visually see information by creating charts and graphs. This is often used in a math and science setting, but can be used in other disciplines as well. For example, in gym class, students could keep track of how many push ups, sit ups, etc. they can do and then you can create a class chart or graph with the data.
• Draw the text. In the language arts classroom, pick out a portion of the text with especially vivid imagery. Instruct students to draw a picture of what the writing describes. This helps students with close reading and understanding of the text.

Auditory Learners

Do you sometimes talk to yourself when you’re thinking really hard, studying, or trying to organize something? If that sounds like you, you’re likely an auditory learner.

Auditory learners learn best by hearing and carefully listening. This can include hearing things from external sources, as well as hearing themselves talk. They are very likely to volunteer to answer questions and to actively participate in classroom discussions.

Auditory learners have a great advantage in the classroom because they’re not afraid to speak their mind and get answers to their questions. While reading/writing learners might not even realize they have a question until they’ve had time to go back and process their notes, auditory learners learn by listening and speaking, so they process through information very easily right there in the classroom.

Any form of listening or speaking is going to be the most efficient learning method for this category. Some popular methods include lectures, audiobooks, discussion, and verbal processing. These learners are typically good at storytelling and giving speeches as well. A lot of these students often prefer studying and working in groups because they can talk through the information. This often makes them social learners when looking at the theory of memletics.

Careers for auditory learners:

Any job that requires a lot of listening and/or speaking is likely going to be a great fit for an auditory learner. Some careers to consider include radio or TV broadcasting, law, teaching, speech-language pathology, and counseling.

A note for teachers of auditory learners:

Just like the visual learners, these students also might stare off into space, but for a different reason. Since they process information best by listening to it, they don’t need to look at the notes or the PowerPoint very often. It might seem like they’re zoning out or not paying attention. If you’ve ever caught a student staring off into space and asked them a question, thinking you’ve caught them off guard, only to get the perfect answer, you’ve likely found a very auditory learner.

These students might also tend to get chatty during class. This can be great when you’re trying to get a lively class discussion or debate going, but not so great when you need the class to listen intently to you. Instead of getting frustrated and angry, remember that this is how their brain works and how they learn. As much as you can and as much as is practical for your subject matter, try to facilitate discussions and play into this rather than squashing it.

You should always keep in mind that these learners might really struggle with written and visual information. Auditory learners are those students who can answer every single question you ask in class, and then get a 60 on an exam that’s testing the same information. If you have a hunch that a student who bombed a test actually knows the information, give them a chance to verbally answer the test questions.

Lesson ideas to help auditory learners

• Audiobook. Give students the option to listen to an audiobook- this can be effective with novels as well as textbooks.
• Socratic Seminar. This is a type of discussion where the students lead the discussion. The teacher provides some topics to talk about, and then the students take over. By sitting in a circle and having a more laid back atmosphere, more students are likely to join in the conversation. Often auditory learners tend to lead these discussions, and it gives them a chance to shine and be rewarded for their talking that can get them in trouble in other situations. Teacher Kelly Gallagher offers a great handout called trace the conversation that can help auditory and visual learners with Socratic seminars. There are many ways to conduct socratic seminars; the National Council of Teachers of English has a great explanation .
• Speeches. The often hated, but necessary, school assignment that many students dread is actually often a favorite of auditory learners. This type of assignment is where auditory learners feel in their element. Speeches can be short and impromptu or long and planned, and they can be done in any subject.
• Record notes. You can either record yourself speaking or give your students permission to record during your lectures so that they can go back and listen. You can also encourage students to record themselves reading their own notes.
• Text to speech. This is something students can do on their own, but they might need your prompting or feel better about doing it if you give them permission. When writing essays, students can use speech to text to capture their thoughts. It can also be beneficial to then use text to speech to proofread and catch errors.
• Debate. A structured debate is a really beneficial way for auditory learners to get their ideas across. This can be done at all grade levels and in all disciplines. Here is a great resource for some debate ideas, as well as different debate formats for different grade levels.

Reading/Writing Learners

Do you tend to zone out when people are talking to you or you hear a lecture? Would you rather read the transcript or get the information from a book? Then you’re probably a reading/writing learner.

Reading/writing learners learn best by, well, reading and writing. They often relate to the famous Flannery O’Connor quote “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” Verbal input can often go in one ear and out the other for these types of learners. For them, seeing notes on the board or on a PowerPoint is really important, as is taking their own notes.

These students learn best from books, lists, notes, journals, dictionaries, etc. Some things these students might do to intuitively help themselves learn are rewriting their notes, using flash cards, adding notes to pictures or diagrams, choosing a physical book over an audiobook, and using closed captions on videos.

Careers for reading/writing learners:

A common and obvious career choice for reading/writing learners is writing, but if this is your learning style, you’re definitely not limited to writing. Editing, advertising, researching, translating, and economic advising are also great career choices that would be a good fit.

A note for teachers of reading/writing learners:

While these learners are often your typical “good student” they can really struggle to learn from lectures or completely auditory methods. They may not respond well to class discussions, and need some more time to process things that they hear. If you give them some time to write their thoughts down before asking them to share out loud, they will feel less stressed and will be able to process their thoughts.

Every teacher has had that student who needs more time before you move on to the next slide, even though you’re done explaining and all the other students are ready to move on. A reading/writing learner is most likely that student, and when you understand their learning style it’s easier to cut them a little slack. Sometimes they struggle to get all their notes down because they are trying to write down every single thing you say. You can really help them by working with them to pull out the most important parts of your lecture and to paraphrase what they hear.

Lesson ideas to help reading/writing learners

• Handouts. No matter what your lesson is about, one of the best things you can do to help reading/writing learners is provide handouts highlighting the most important information. It’s also important to give these learners enough time to write detailed notes. Providing handouts or guided notes can help these learners have enough time to get down all the information.
• Essays and reading assignments. These simple, traditional assignments often work best for reading/writing learners. This is why this learning style often thrives in the traditional classroom setting.
• Vocabulary stories. Have students create stories or plays to make their vocabulary words more fun and interesting. This can be done in any subject area that has vocabulary words. You can give students a topic or let them be creative, but all they have to do is write a story containing x number of their vocabulary words. You can also extend this activity to help kinesthetic learners by having students act out their stories for the class.
• Think, pair, share. Reading/writing learners often struggle with sharing their thoughts out loud. Those students who ace every test but freeze when you call on them in class are likely reading/writing learners. Think, pair, share can really help give them confidence to verbalize their thoughts. This, again, can be done with any age group and in any subject area. First, ask students an open ended question and give them time to silently think and write their answers. Then, have students pair up in small groups to share their answers. Finally, open the discussion to the whole class. Often when you just ask a question and want students to respond right away, you’ll only get answers from the auditory learners because they are the quickest at verbal processing. This method though gives the reading/writing learners time to process in their own way and gives them time and confidence to construct a verbal response.

Kinesthetic Learners

Are you the first one to get up and volunteer to demonstrate an experiment for everyone else? Do you need to actually change the oil, rather than look at a diagram, in order to learn how to do it? If so, it sounds like you’re a kinesthetic learner.

The root word “kines” means motion, and as such, a kinesthetic learner learns best by going through the motions or actually doing something. When they are actively moving their body and combining that with what they are learning, it’s much easier for them to internalize the information.

These students tend to shine in demonstrations and experiments. They also learn best from seeing something first hand, watching live videos, and going on field trips. Even just combining a physical motion with a piece of information can help them. They might fidget while they’re listening in class, and they are much more likely than those with other learning styles to talk with their hands.

Careers for kinesthetic learners:

Any career that allows you to be physically active and move your body is going to be right up the alley of a kinesthetic learner. Sometimes they say the phrase “I don’t sit well,” and they typically don’t thrive at a desk job. Kinesthetic learners typically feel in their element as professional athletes, farmers, carpenters, physical therapists, and mechanics.

A note for teachers of kinesthetic learners:

Just because you see a student fidgeting or being antsy, that doesn’t mean they aren’t paying attention or that they’re bored. Their brain just craves that movement to help them make connections. There’s no need to force students to sit completely still as long as they aren’t distracting others in the classroom. As much as you can, try to connect movement to the concepts you’re teaching.

Kinesthetic learners really just need to move and they can benefit from active brain breaks. Try to do your best to keep them active and to allow for movement in your classroom. If you look out to your students and see that glazed over look, pause your lesson for 30 seconds and have the whole class do jumping jacks. Or if you notice one of your kinesthetic learners just can’t take sitting in their seat any longer, ask them to run a quick errand to the office for you.

So often these students get punished for trying to move and follow their natural learning style. The more you can find ways to reward them for their learning style, the more engaged they will become.

Lesson ideas to help kinesthetic learners

• Labs and experiments. These types of lessons are common in science classes, but they can be successfully implemented in the curriculum of all different subjects. For example, psychology students could replicate the studies they are learning about. An elementary math lesson could involve measuring the height of each student and then creating problems based on the measurements.
• Field trips. When schools are cutting their budgets left and right, it can be really hard to plan educational field trips, and that’s understandable. Field trips don’t have to be major events, though. For an art project, you could take students outside and have them draw or photograph what they see. An English lesson could include a nature walk where students journal or write a story about what they see when they’re outside.
• Physical props. Whenever you can, use practical and/or memorable props. When teaching a history lesson, you could dress in the attire of the era you are teaching about. If you’re an anatomy teacher, bring in a skeleton or use your own body as a prop.
• Take a stand. This is an activity that is very easy to set up and appeals to kinesthetic as well as auditory learners. To prep, come up with a series of questions that students can either agree or disagree with. If your students are reading To Kill A Mockingbird, your questions could revolve around racism, for example. (Note: if tackling a sensitive subject such as racism, make sure you know your students and their maturity level) Hang signs on either side of your classroom indicating “agree” and “disagree.” Then, read through each question and have students move to the side of the room that fits their belief. Once there, they can discuss their thoughts with the group that follows their beliefs, and then you can open up the discussion to the whole class.
• Act it out. This works well for literature and history lessons. Instead of reading silently, assign students parts and have them act out the story.
• Tableaux Vivants. Again, this works well in literature and history classrooms, and is a great review activity. It’s very similar to charades. Break students into groups and assign each group a “scene”- this could be from a work of literature or a scene from history. Each group works together to create a silent re-enactment consisting of “snapshots” of the scene. Students pose and pause for 5-10 seconds, and then move on to their next pose. Once they have moved through their poses, the rest of the class guesses what scene they were re-enacting.
• Demonstration speeches. As the famous quote attributed to Einstein says, “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Demonstration speeches give students a chance to explain something they understand really well in a simple manner so their peers understand. Students pick a topic, for example, how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They then give a speech explaining the process while simultaneously demonstrating the process. The demonstration portion of this is what really appeals to kinesthetic learners, and it appeals to all learners because students have a lot of freedom in choosing their topic.

Logical Learners

Individuals who excel at math and possess strong logical reasoning skills are usually logical learners. They notice patterns quickly and have a keen ability to link information that would seem non-related by others. Logical learners retain details better by drawing connections after organizing an assortment of information.

Maximize your ability to learn by seeking to understand the meaning and reasoning behind the subject you’re studying. Don’t depend on rote memorization. Explore the links between related subject matter and make sure to understand details. Use ‘systems thinking’ to help you better understand the relationship between various parts of a system. This will not only help you understand the bigger picture, it will help you understand why each component part is important.

Social Learners

Social learners usually have excellent written and verbal communication skills. These individuals are at ease speaking with others and are adept at comprehending other people’s perspectives. For this reason, people frequently seek counsel from social learners. Social learners learn best working with groups and take opportunities to meet individually with teachers. If you like bouncing your ideas off others, prefer working through issues as a group, and thoroughly enjoy working with others, there’s a good chance you’re a social learner.

If you’re a social learner, you should seek opportunities to study with others. If the class you’re in doesn’t have formal groups, make your own group.

Solitary Learners

Solitary learners usually prefer working by themselves in private settings. They do not rely on others for help when solving a problem or studying. Solitary learners frequently analyze their learning preferences and methods. Since solitary learners prefer to work alone, it is possible for them to waste time on a difficult problem before seeking assistance. However, solitary learning can be a very effective learning style for students.

Tips to Simultaneously Help Learners of All Types

Lessons that can combine multiple learning styles are often the most effective, as they can reach the most students. Also, since most people are a combination of learning styles, it makes sense that activities that combine learning styles are some of the most effective.

Many of the activities already provided give opportunities for learners of all types to reap some benefit. If you try to be creative, you can make little tweaks in any lesson to reach different learning styles. Following are some ideas of ways to reach all four learning styles in one lesson or activity.

• Centers. The way this works is you have multiple different stations or centers throughout the classroom and you break your students into groups so there is a group at each center. Then, you provide different activities at each center and students rotate with their groups to each center. There are many benefits of this in addition to reaching students of all learning styles. Even if you don’t have a center that caters to kinesthetic learners, the simple act of getting up and moving to different places throughout the classroom will help them. The same goes for auditory learners as well; being in small groups and rotating throughout the room naturally invites discussion.
• Write an essay (appeals to reading/writing learners)
• Record a podcast or TED talk (appeals to auditory learners)
• Film a video (appeals to kinesthetic learners)
• Create a poster or multimedia project (appeals to visual learners)
• Headphones. Allow students to use headphones while working independently in class. For most learning types, this can help cut out distractions around them, and for auditory learners, this can help them make connections between what they hear and what they’re learning. This can be very helpful for them during times when they need to work silently.
• Technology. Technology has come a long way and there are so many apps and websites available that can help students. For example, here is a list of apps for elementary math that appeals to all four learning styles. Games that include pictures and sound help visual and auditory learners. Reading explanations and lessons on the apps helps reading/writing learners. Physically manipulating and touching a device helps kinesthetic learners. A quick Google search will reveal beneficial websites and apps for any discipline.

Final Words

There is nothing right or wrong with any of the learning styles; they are simply names and categories for the ways different brains process information. Sometimes it is easier for those with a dominant reading/writing learning style to succeed in a traditional academic setting, thus landing those students with a “good student” label. Education has come a long way and schools and teachers are now catering to a variety of learning styles.

It’s always important to remember that every single student is unique and even two students who are both visual learners might still differ very much in what works best for them. The best way to approach education is to learn about and understand each student. By remembering that all students are human beings who have needs and feelings, teachers can approach them in an empathetic way.

If you’re interested in learning which learning style you are, you can take the VARK questionnaire . If you’re a teacher, it is a good idea to have all of your students take the questionnaire to help their learning. Not only will you be able to see what type of learners you have in your classroom, but your students will also be able to learn more about which ways to study and learn work best for them.

Remember, a learning style is only one explanation of a student’s preferred way of learning. This style can change over time, and every student matches with each style to differing degrees. No matter what facet of education you’re coming from, you can benefit from understanding the learning style of yourself and those around you.

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Your Preferred Learning Style

A learning style is a way of learning. YOUR preferred learning style is the way in which YOU learn best. Three learning styles that are often identified in students are the Auditory Learning Style , the Visual Learning Style , and the Tactile/Kinesthetic Learning Style . Read about each of these learning styles to identify YOUR preferred learning style.

Are you an Auditory Learner?

Auditory Learners learn best when information is presented in an auditory language format. Do you seem to learn best in classes that emphasize teacher lectures and class discussions? Does listening to audio tapes help you learn better? Do you find yourself reading aloud or talking things out to gain better understanding? If YES, you are probably an Auditory Learner.

Are you a Visual Learner?

Visual Learners learn best when information is presented in a written language format or in another visual format such as pictures or diagrams. Do you do best in classes in which teachers do a lot of writing at the chalkboard, provide clear handouts, and make extensive use of an overhead projector? Do you try to remember information by creating pictures in your mind? Do you take detailed written notes from your textbooks and in class? If YES, you are probably a Visual Learner.

Are you a Tactile/Kinesthetic Learner?

Your learning style is your strength. Go with it whenever you can. When you can choose a class, try to choose one that draws heaviest on your learning style. When you can choose a teacher, try to choose one whose teaching method best matches your learning style. When you choose a major and future career, keep your learning style firmly in mind.

2.4 Learning Preferences

Questions to Consider:

• What are learning styles, and do they really work?
• How do I take advantage of learning in a way that works for me?
• How can I combine learning preferences and styles for better outcomes?
• What opportunities and resources are available for students with disabilities?

Several decades ago, a new way of thinking about learning became very prominent in education. It was based on the concept that each person has a preferred way to learn. It was thought that these preferences had to do with each person’s natural tendencies toward one of their senses. The idea was that learning might be easier if a student sought out content that was specifically oriented to their favored sense. For example, it was thought that a student who preferred to learn visually would respond better to pictures and diagrams.

Over the years there were many variations on the basic idea, but one of the most popular theories was known as the VAK model. VAK was an acronym for the three types of learning, each linked to one of the basic senses thought to be used by students: visual, aural, and kinesthetic. What follows is an outline of each of these and the preferred method.

• Visual : The student prefers pictures, images, and the graphic display of information to learn. An example would be looking at an illustration that showed how to do something.
• Aural : The student prefers sound as a way to learn. Examples would be listening to a lecture or a podcast.
• Kinesthetic : The student prefers using their body, hands, and sense of touch. An example would be doing something physical, such as examining an object rather than reading about it or looking at an illustration.

The Truth about Learning Styles

In many ways these ideas about learning styles made some sense. Because of this, educators encouraged students to find out about their own learning styles. They developed tests and other techniques to help students determine which particular sense they preferred to use for learning, and in some cases learning materials were produced in multiple ways that focused on each of the different senses. That way, each individual learner could participate in learning activities that were tailored to their specific preferences.

While it initially seemed that dividing everyone by learning styles provided a leap forward in education, continued research began to show that the fixation on this new model might not have been as effective as it was once thought. In fact, in some cases, the way learning styles were actually being used created roadblocks to learning. This was because the popularization of this new idea brought on a rush to use learning styles in ways that failed to take into account several important aspects that are listed below:

• A person does not always prefer the same learning style all the time or for each situation. For example, some learners might enjoy lectures during the day but prefer reading in the evenings. Or they may prefer looking at diagrams when learning about mechanics but prefer reading for history topics.
• There are more preferences involved in learning than just the three that became popular. These other preferences can become nearly impossible to make use of within certain styles. For example, some prefer to learn in a more social environment that includes interaction with other learners. Reading can be difficult or restrictive as a group effort. Recognized learning styles beyond the original three include: social (preferring to learn as a part of group activity), solitary (preferring to learn alone or using self-study), or logical (preferring to use logic, reasoning, etc.).
• Students that thought they were limited to a single preferred learning style found themselves convinced that they could not do as well with content that was presented in a way that differed from their style. 8 For example, a student that had identified as a visual learner might feel they were at a significant disadvantage when listening to a lecture. Sometimes they even believed they had an even greater impairment that prevented them from learning that way at all.
• Some forms of learning are extremely difficult in activities delivered in one style or another. Subjects like computer programming would be almost impossible to learn using an aural learning style. And, while it is possible to read about a subject such as how to swing a bat or how to do a medical procedure, actually applying that knowledge in a learning environment is difficult if the subject is something that requires a physical skill.

Knowing and Taking Advantage of Learning in a Way That Works for You

The problem with relying on learning styles comes from thinking that just one defines your needs. Coupling what you know about learning styles with what you know about UGT can make a difference in your own learning. Rather than being constrained by a single learning style, or limiting your activities to a certain kind of media, you may choose media that best fit your needs for what you are trying to learn at a particular time.

Following are a couple of ways you might combine your learning style preference with a given learning situation:

• You are trying to learn how to build something but find the written instructions confusing so you watch a video online that shows someone building the same thing.
• You have a long commute on the bus but reading while riding makes you dizzy. You choose an aural solution by listening to pre-recorded podcasts or a mobile device that reads your texts out loud.

These examples show that by recognizing and understanding what different learning styles have to offer, you can use the techniques that are best suited for you and that work best under the circumstances of the moment. You may also find yourself using two learning styles at the same time - as when you watch a live demonstration or video in which a person shows you how to do something while verbally explaining what you are being shown. This helps to reinforce the learning as it utilizes different aspects of your thinking. Using learning styles in an informed way can improve both the speed and the quality of your learning.

Get Connected

Finding content related to a subject or topic can be relatively easy, but you must use caution and rely on reputable sources. Relatively little of the material on the Web provides a way to ensure accuracy or balance.

Below are descriptions of common informational sites with varying degrees of reliability:

• Khan Academy : This site is full of useful tutorials and videos on a wide range of subjects.
• Wikipedia : Wikipedia is often frowned upon in some academic circles, because review of its content takes place after publication, potentially resulting in inaccurate or misleading information being available. But Wikipedia can provide a brief overview of a topic, and its lists of references is often quite extensive. You probably shouldn’t rely Wikipedia as your only source, but it can be useful.
• Government website:. Most items that governments administer are referenced on informational websites. In the United States, these include educational statistics , economic data , health information , and many other topics.

When choosing alternate content, it is imperative to compare it to the content that is being provided to you as a part of your course. If the alternate content does not line up, you should view it with a healthy skepticism. In those cases, it is always a good idea to share the content with your instructor and ask their opinion.

In this activity you will try an experiment by combining learning styles to see if it is something that works for you. The experiment will test the example of combining reading/writing and aural learning styles for better memorization.

To begin, you will start with a short segment of numbers. You will read the numbers only one time without saying them aloud. When you are finished, wait 10 seconds and try to remember the numbers in sequence by writing them down.

After you have finished you will repeat the experiment with a new set of numbers, but this time you will read them aloud, wait 10 seconds, and then see how easy they are to remember. During this part of the experiment you are free to say the numbers in any way you like. For example, the number 8734 could be read as eight-seven-three-four, eighty-seven thirty-four, or any combination you would like.

Did you find that there was a difference in your ability to memorize a short sequence of numbers for 10 seconds? Even if you were able to remember both, was the example that combined learning styles easier? What about if you had to wait for a full minute before attempting to rewrite the numbers? Would that make a difference?

What about Students with Disabilities?

Students with disabilities are sometimes the most informed when it comes to making decisions about their own learning. They should understand that it is in their best interest to take ownership of their own approach to education, especially when it comes to leveraging resources and opportunities. In this section, you will learn about the laws that regulate education for students with disabilities as well as look at some resources that are available to them.

Just like anyone else, under the law, qualified students with disabilities are entitled to the same education colleges and universities provide to students without disabilities. Even though a particular disability may make attending college more difficult, awareness on the part of the government, learning institutions, and the students themselves has brought about a great deal of change over the years. Now, students with disabilities find that they have available appropriate student services, campus accessibility, and academic resources that can make school attendance and academic success possible.

Due to this increased support and advocacy, colleges have seen an increase of students with disabilities. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2012, 11.1 percent of the total undergraduate population in the United States was made up of people with disabilities. 9

The Legal Rights of Students with Disabilities

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects students “with a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities.” 10 Learning definitely falls within the definition of major life activities.

In addition to Section 504, another set of laws that greatly help learners with disabilities is the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (also known as ADA). Both of these acts have been driving forces in making certain that students with disabilities have equal access to higher education, and they have been instrumental in helping educators looking for new ways and resources to provide services that do just that.

What follows is a list of services that schools commonly provide to help students with disabilities. These are often referred to as ADA accommodations and are named after the American with Disabilities Act:

• Recordings of class lectures or lecture transcription by in-class note takers
• Text readers or other technologies that can deliver content in another format
• Test or assessment accommodations
• Interpreter services and Braille transcriptions
• Physical access accommodations
• Accommodations of time and due dates

Most colleges will have policies and staff that are designated to help arrange for these types of accommodations. They are often found within the Department of Student Services or in related departments within your college campus. If you are a student with disabilities protected under these acts, it is in your best interest to contact the person responsible for ADA accommodations at your school. Even if you decide that you do not need accommodations, it is a good idea to find out about any services and policies the school has in place.

Organizations

In addition to the accommodations that schools commonly provide, there are also a number of national and local organizations that can provide assistance and advice when it comes to being a student with a disability. If you fit into this category, it is recommended that you make contact with one or more of these organizations in order to find out how they can help. These can be tremendously beneficial resources that offer everything from information and support to simple social connections that can make pursuing a formal education easier.

• 8 Harold Pashler, Mark McDaniel, Doug Rohrer and Robert Bjork. Learning Styles: Concepts and Evidence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, Vol. 9, No. 3 (December 2008).
• 9 U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2019). Digest of Education Statistics, 2017 (2018-070), Chapter 3.
• 10 U.S. Department of Education. Protecting Students with Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/504faq.html

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Laerning Styles Essay

• December 7, 2022

Personal Learning Style

Learning Styles Essay: Introduction

Learning styles are essential variables in the learning process, and learner who knows their learning style are more successful than others because those individuals are already familiar with their learning styles and organizing their learning process accordingly. In this assignment, a summary of my learning style, according to the VARK questionnaire, has been presented. The paper also includes my preferred learning style, individual learning styles, and understanding of different learning styles, along with their interrelation and possible impacts. After all, rather than counting merely on a single learning style, a combination of different styles may lead to success in the long run.

The VARK Questionnaire

The Vark questionnaire is an essential website that provides a chance for individuals to learn their learning styles. According to my test result of the Vark questioner: “People with your preference like different formats, graphs, diagrams, maps, interesting layouts, space, listening, discussing, talking, questioning, notes, handouts, print, text, practical exercises, experiences, examples, case studies, trial and error, things that are real” (“Vark Learning,” 2020, para. 7). Moreover, my scores are the same in every category, and my learning style includes visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic, so one can infer that I adapt to almost all learning strategies that are proved by educators.

According to my test result, I prefer every learning style the same, but to support my learning process, I prefer to read examples, articles, and other sources on the topic. Also, I can infer that I am learning better when educator uses graphics, visual examples, and listening to the educator motives my learning process. Furthermore, the Vark questionnaire results have shown that I can be more successful if I try to improve other learning styles, such as aural and kinesthetic. The aural learning style in education demands to take summarized notes in order to create a better learning process, but I am not particularly eager to take summarized notes because I prefer taking long notes and summarized them in my mind. Also listening to educator during the lesson make my learning process more memorable than taking notes while I am listening to the educator. More specifically, seeing charts, graphics, visual examples during the lessons makes my learning process more effective than other times.

Learning Styles & Strategies

One can infer that learning styles affect the learning process during the education, and it is an essential variable to perform educational activities because every learning style demands different variable, and when educator plans educational activities, these learning styles help the learning process. Also, most of the time, educational activities can benefit the learner, but when learners perform an educational activity that is inadequate to its learning style, the educational activity can harm its learning process because learners should be motivated with such educational activities. In other words, inadequate educational activities might give those learners hard times during the activity, and the learner becomes unmotivated when they experience hard times during the educational activity. On the other hand, if an educator knows the learner's learning styles, this can be prevented because educators can plan educational activities according to the learner's learning styles, and this point of view can motivate learners to perform in the educational activities in the degree that they are studying.

Moreover, the importance of knowing learner's learning styles can lead to positive or negative outcomes in education but knowing the learner's learning styles can be ineffective if the educator does not know how to provide adequate activities to the learner, and on the contrary circumstances, learners can motive their learning process, and they may come up with good outcomes (Jackie, 2020).

Health Promotion Teaching

In health promotion teaching, it is critical to learn participants learning styles for desired outcomes. Also, in the patient teaching education, there are several strategies for a more effective learning process, and the most important perspective in these strategies is that educators should learn their patient's or family member's education level in order to reach the desired outcome. More specifically, learner's educations level affects their learning process and motivation in the learning process (Jackie, 2020). Moreover, when an educator learns their learning styles or education level, it is more likely to provide them a better learning process, and before teaching, education level is an important variable. In other words, assessing learning needs, or the gap between what patients know and need to learn is a priority.

“Asking about patients' or caregivers' level of formal education is important but may not in and of itself describe their capacity to learn new information at the point the clinician encounters them” (“Patient Education,” 2020, para. 11). One can infer that high educated learners are more close to the learning process, and other learners who have lower degrees are more open, and more motivated in the learning process. Also, the educator's teaching strategies are an important variable for learners. More specifically, educators should provide related materials to the learner in the learning process, such as using visuals, models, dolls, and realistic medical equipment in teaching (Jackie, 2020). Also, the learning environment is a critical variable because noise makes communication harder.

Furthermore, for achieving desired outcomes, educators should provide learners to use different strategies according to their learning styles, motivations in order to reach the desired outcome in the learning process. More specifically, for patient learners, it can be difficult to stay motivated in the learning process, but when educator uses all these strategies with adequate activities, learning styles will affect learners to positive behavioral change.

Learning Styles Essay: Conclusion

In conclusion, one can readily infer that learning styles are critical variables in the learning process, and learners who know their learning styles are more successful than others because those individuals are already familiar with their learning styles and organizing their learning process accordingly. In this assignment, a summary of my learning style, according to the VARK questionnaire, has been presented. The paper also presented my preferred learning style, individual learning styles, and understanding of different learning styles, along with their interrelation and possible impacts. After all, rather than counting merely on a single learning style, a combination of different styles may lead to success in the long run.

Jackie A. Smith is a professor (clinical) and Helen Zsohar is a professor emerita (clinical) at the University of Utah College of Nursing in Salt Lake City. (n.d.). Patient-education tips for new nurses : Nursing2020.

Patient Education in Home Care: Strategies for Success. (n.d.). Nursing Center

VARK Learning Style Questionnaire. (2020). Retrieved June 20, 2020, from https://vark-learn.com

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The Vark Questionnaire: Learning Styles Essay

People differ in terms of how they acquire knowledge because there are individual variations in information perception, understanding, and memorization. If both students and teachers are aware of their learning styles, the effectiveness of education increases (Chaudhry et al., 2020). Based on such sensory modalities that humans use to interact with the world, Neil Fleming developed a questionnaire known as VARK, which stands for visual, auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic (Chaudhry et al., 2020). I took this questionnaire and received the result that my learning strategies are multimodal, and my scores in all four domains were almost even. In fact, according to the VARK website, it is the most prevalent type of learning in the general population, and these individuals can switch between modalities depending on the situation (VARK, n.d.). Indeed, the test accurately reflected my current learning style because I use various methods to study, but neither approach is superior since it is based on distinct sensory preferences.

My actual and calculated learning styles coincide since I used the multimodal approach in different situations. For example, it is easier for me to use the map to explore a direction or new location. Still, I may consider written instructions and diagrams when assembling a piece of furniture. In my studies, I acquire new knowledge faster if it is presented in written format and contains visual support, like schemes or videos. Overall, this learning model has worked well for me since high school, allowing me to be more efficient in my classes.

The division of learning modalities in the VARK questionnaire was made based on the dominant senses people use. Specifically, visual learners absorb knowledge better with figures, charts, and schemes, while auditory strategy is preferred by people who learn better by hearing information (Hernandez et al., 2020). Read/write learners, as the name suggests, favor reading and taking notes (Hernandez et al., 2020). Kinesthetic learners are those who need to see a real-world application to make valuable connections between ideas and concepts (Hernandez et al., 2020). Mixed strategies, like in my case, imply using different senses for knowledge acquisition. Notably, concept maps that include both visuals and written information were found to be helpful to learners with all of the abovementioned modalities (Wong et al., 2020). Indeed, the dominant senses often determine how a person studies because it means that choosing the learning method that aligns with one’s strongest modality will lead to better outcomes.

Educators should assess their students’ learning styles to know how to improve teaching efficiency by using additional resources that may be helpful for the class. For instance, if most learners prefer the visual method, the teacher should consider including more pictures, schemes, and graphs. However, identifying individual modalities should never be done to show that one is superior to another (Chaudhry et al., 2020). Instead, it allows teachers to know what learning styles are present in a group to use supplementary tools to maximize outcomes.

Learning modalities are essential not only in educational settings but also in health promotion among the general population. This information is needed to influence people’s choices related to their physical and emotional well-being. According to Hubley and Copeman (2018), the target audience’s perception of the presented data about health depends on one’s background knowledge about the field as well as on the dominant senses of individuals. Still, using images, stepwise explanations, schemes, and connections with real-world examples is recommended to ensure an understanding of complex medical topics among non-professionals.

It is possible to use people’s learning styles to influence and motivate them for behavioral change. For instance, if a person with alcohol use issues is identified as a visual learner, showing one all the negative consequences of substance abuse using visual aids may have a greater impact than providing them with written information. People with the dominant auditory system will be more influenced by a discussion in a podcast or lecture (Chaudhry et al., 2020). Kinesthetic learners would likely prefer seeing these health promotion and behavioral change campaigns to be more related to their personal experiences (Chaudhry et al., 2020). Since most people have mixed strategies for knowledge acquisition, these programs have the luxury of including various sets of data to have an impact. Notably, the influence can be enhanced if promotors of a healthy lifestyle obtain data about the audience’s dominant senses using the VARK questionnaire before the meeting or lecture. In that case, this information will help them adjust the methodology of delivering health-related knowledge.

In summary, the VARK questionnaire is a valuable tool that allows determining students’ learning styles based on the assessment of the dominant senses they use for interacting with the world. Five main strategies are described by this method: visual, auditory, read/write, kinesthetic, and multimodal. The test accurately revealed that I use the latter approach in my education, allowing me to adapt to various situations by switching between modalities. This information is critical not only for students but also for educators so that they optimize their teaching techniques to improve learners’ results. Lastly, the VARK tool can be used in traditional educational settings and health promotion.

Chaudhry, N. A., Ashar, A., & Ahmad, S. A. (2020). Association of visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic (VARK) learning styles and academic performances of dental students. PAFMJ , 70 (1), 58-63.

Hernandez, J. E., Vasan, N., Huff, S., & Melovitz-Vasan, C. (2020). Learning styles/preferences among medical students: Kinesthetic learner’s multimodal approach to learning anatomy . Medical Science Educator , 30 (4), 1633-1638.

Hubley, J., & Copeman, J. (2018). Practical health promotion . John Wiley & Sons.

VARK. (n.d.). Multimodal strategies .

Wong, J. S., Anderson, B., & Gough, M. (2020). Is concept mapping favorable for undergraduates with different learning styles? Journal of Nursing Education and Practice , 10 (12), 7-13.

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IvyPanda. (2023, June 13). The Vark Questionnaire: Learning Styles. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-vark-questionnaire-learning-styles/

"The Vark Questionnaire: Learning Styles." IvyPanda , 13 June 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/the-vark-questionnaire-learning-styles/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'The Vark Questionnaire: Learning Styles'. 13 June.

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Preferred Learning Style and Strategies Essay Example

• Pages: 5 (1135 words)
• Published: September 29, 2021

Learning is one of the major processes that help many students to grasp important concepts that are elucidated by the teacher while in class and when reading. There are different learning styles that are used by different students although the most common forms of learning include visual, aural, read and write, and kinesthetic. The learning style that is adopted by the student depends on personal abilities of the learner, subject being studied, and the teaching strategy that is used by the teacher. This paper seeks to examine the learning style that I prefer and also compare my it with the identified learning styles.

Summary of The Preferred Learning Style

The most preferred style of learning is reading while taking notes. This style acts as one of the best ways of ensuring that the learner grasps

the most important contents as elucidated by the author. In this case, the learner only considers the most relevant ideas in the book. The major objective of learning is to ensure that the student understands what he or she is reading and at the same time recall and apply the core ideas when they are needed. This objective is better fulfilled when the learner uses the reading-note taking technique as this process improves the comprehension of the reader. When reading, the learner must ensure that he links the points and at the same time recognize the snippets of the information in the book. Writing notes in one’s words also ensure that the learner is forced to reflect on the ideas that are elucidated in the given text (Clarke & Chesher, 2014). By doing so, the learner is able to explain what has been

learnt coherently. Furthermore, reading while making few notes enhances memorization of the key academic and professional knowledge. This is based on the fact that the student is able to capture the key issues as part of the objective of learning. It is also important to note that the student ought to keep his or her notes in an organized and well-structured manner. This ensures that one can easily find the topic of interest from the notes. For example, this can be done by using notebook or creating folders on the computer. Apart from taking notes, the learner can also highlight and underline various sections of the text. Even if highlighting texts is not a process of note-taking, it is always a significant step.

The Preferred Learning Strategies

The learning strategies that are preferred include taking few notes while reading, continuous reading and analysis of other books and materials on the same subject, rewriting the key ideas, and drawing diagrams and charts.

Taking few notes while reading; this is the first strategy that is used when learning. It serves an important purpose of ensuring that the learner is able to grasp key issues that are elucidated in the text. According to Tennent (2015), the effectiveness of this strategy can be enhanced by ensuring that every point is summarized and does not exceed fifteen words.

• Continuous reading and analysis of other related materials; this strategy ensures that the learner gets more information on the topic from other authors. In some cases, the book that the student is using might not have enough information and this will require the student to search for more information from related materials.
• Drawing diagrams and charts; this is the last strategy that is used in the learning technique identified above. Diagrams play an important role of summarizing the content and also act as the simplest way of enhancing memory. It is easier to remember diagrams that notes.

The above strategies help in ensuring that every part of the relevant information is noted and recorded for current and future use. For example, taking notes from the relevant materials such as text books and manuals is the best way of getting an in-depth information concerning the issue in a simple way. It is also a way of revealing concealed information and this serves as a way of knowledge acquisition.

Comparison of Preferred Learning Strategies

As compared to the other forms of reading, reading while taking notes serves a better purpose because it engages the learner to the maximum. Visual learning works by creating images that students can easily remember while auditory learners thrive well in classes that enhance knowledge through verbal communication. Unlike these forms of learning, reading while taking notes allows the student to critically analyze the contents and grasp important ideas from the text. Furthermore, human beings tend to understand more when their senses work in unison (Willon, 2014).  It is the connection in the brain that allows human beings to make sense out of their world. Therefore, embracing individual forms of learning as suggested

in the VAK (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic) learning model tends to separate the human senses and this can be detrimental.

Awareness of Individual Learning Styles

The awareness of the above learning styles plays an important role to the educator and the learner. The educator is able to understand the problems that the student may be experiencing and focus on establishing the procedure that favors the student. This makes the learning process effective. Secondly, the awareness on the learning styles plays an important role to the student. The student is able to understand the learning style that suits him or her and the strategies that can be embraced in that learning style.

As indicated above learning style is an important process that affects education. There are different learning styles that are embraced by different student. The selection of the style depends more on the abilities and needs of the student. The strategy that I have been using is reading while taking notes. As discussed above, the strategies that are embraced in this style include taking few notes while reading, continuous reading and analysis of other books and materials on the same subject, rewriting the key ideas, and drawing diagrams and charts. As compared to VAK style, this technique is better because it engages the student’s senses. The awareness on the learning style allows the teacher to meet the needs of the student. The student also gets an opportunity to determine the learning style that better suits him or her.

• Clarke, P. J., & Chesher, D. (2014). Developing reading comprehension. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell, 2014.
• Tennent, W. (2015). Understanding reading comprehension: Processes and practices. Los Angeles: SAGE.
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preferred learning style

Updated 08 June 2023

Subject Marketing ,  Learning

Downloads 53

Category Business ,  Health ,  Education

Topic Strategy ,  Memory ,  Learning Styles

Each individual has a favorite learning style or strategy

Each individual has a favorite learning style or strategy for analyzing and memorizing information. Some people use these styles entirely or in combination, with one style serving as the primary learning approach, whereas others choose their learning style based on the situation. It should be noted, however, that there is no single ideal learning style blend or fixed learning style. Everyone, at any time, can change his or her learning style(s) to better suit the scenario (Schmeck, 2013). According to the VARK results, the multi-modal learning method was favoured.

Multimodal learning technique

Multimodal learning refers to the use of many learning strategies to better understand an idea. Visual, Aural, Read/Write, and Kinaesthetic are the four ways of studying the Multimodal style consists on. This learning technique is based on the notion, that "the more you learn a concept in many different ways, the more you will understand and remember it" (Sankey, Birch & Gardiner, 2010). This style is a combination of all the perceptive systems to accept information presented in various forms. Such preference implies amount of strategies preventing several advantages over those who utilize a single learning style only. A multimodal student can comfortably shift between different roles whenever necessary.

Preferred leaning strategies

As for preferred leaning strategies, they are:

- Listening and watching audio-visual materials. - Laboratory experimentation. - Storytelling. - Extensive book reading. - Interviewing. - Designing models and blueprints. - Demonstrations.

Cooperative learning and combination of different learning models

Multimodal learning technique utilizes two main strategies: the first one is cooperative learning, while the other one is to combine different leaning models. Cooperative learning entails the creation of an interpersonal relationships between students and other people. Storytelling, conducting interviews and demonstrations are learning strategies to improve these relationships. It is said and proved that students' ability to comprehend and understand a concept improves when they "pass and receive" information during the learning process. Collaboration eliminates the boredom and anxiety created by the repetitive nature of studying. Similarly, it generates a positive feeling of being members of the same team.

Learning strategies and learning styles

The learning strategies listed above fall under different learning styles. Watching a video is a strategy for Visual style while interviewing falls under Aural one. These strategies relate to multimodal learning model. The primary objective of combining different learning models is to trigger neural activity leading to retention of information relayed in the brain.

Influence of learning strategies on teaching

Teachers who get to understand the diversity of learning styles of their students often design their teaching approaches to suit each student. A teacher can include drawing or watching a graphic video to clarify and make students understand the concept. Currently, there is the extensive use of Differentiated Instructions in the learning systems. This has come into being after realization that students receive information and knowledge differently. Every student has his preferences and needs. Having known this, the education system therefore necessitates existence of individualized learning method. Learning strategies influence teaching in the sense that it dictates the channel to be followed. Learning through filming and observation, for example, means getting out of the classroom and taking a road trip to the area of study. The strategies to be used also determine resources and facilities required to ensure a smooth learning process.

Impact of learning strategies on students

On the other hand, students can request a teacher to use a different approach while explaining a concept. Some students follow teachers after the lesson in order to get a more personalized approach to the matter. Being aware of learning style preference creates a conducive environment for such a student to learn. Personal preference of something leads to being attracted to it. The same case applies to students. If a teacher uses a more friendly and personalized approach to the task, students will develop preference towards it, and this will facilitate and promote learning. Learning strategies influence the learning process in that a student can get annoyed if the strategy being used is not friendly. This eventually leads to a poor understanding and consequently to a poor performance (Hawk&Shah, 2007).

Great diversity exists in student's ability to understand and comprehend concepts in the classroom environment. They also differ according to their motivations, inspirations and attitudes. The better an educator understands this diversity- the higher the students' chances to get in learning what is taught in the classroom will be. Educators are challenged to develop instructional lessons utilizing and combining a variety of tools to cope with an immediate problem brought by diversity in learning style preferences.

Schmeck, R. R. (Ed.). (2013). Learning strategies and learning styles. Springer Science & Business Media.

Sankey, M., Birch, D., & Gardiner, M. (2010). Engaging students through multimodal learning environments: The journey continues. In Proceedings ASCILITE 2010: 27th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education: Curriculum, Technology and Transformation for an Unknown Future pp. 852-863.

Hawk, T. F., & Shah, A. J. (2007). Using learning style instruments to enhance student learning. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, 5(1), 1-19.

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Free Essay About Preferred Learning Style

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Learning , Strategy , Knowledge , Style , Acquisition , Output , Teaching , Information

Words: 1000

Published: 11/23/2021

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The Read/Write (R) Learning Style- Summary

The Read/Write is a convenient learning style that bases on the transmission of information and knowledge through words (Nilson, 2010, p. 232). Students, teachers, and academicians prefer the Read/Write method of learning to the Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic methods. The Visual style incorporates the transmission of information in graphs, diagrams, and charts, while the auditory style entails depicting information through speaking and audios. On the other hand, the kinesthetic style of learning incorporates transmission of knowledge by using practice and experience (Blerkom, 2009, p. 24). However, the Read/Write method majorly focuses on individuals’ ability to read widely and write well in order to effectively communicate or grasp the message in question. Therefore, graduates and employers widely seek to use the R mode for its effectiveness in the determination of professional qualifications. In addition, the R preference focuses on text-based output and input that includes writing and reading in various forms such as assignments, essays, reports, and manuals (Nilson, 2010, p. 234). A wide population that prefers the R mode of learning is therefore addicted to the use of quotations, thesauri, dictionaries, diaries, lists, the internet, and PowerPoint. Moreover, the mode is convenient owing to its incorporation and attachment of visual symbols to its message or information in the internet and google media, a characteristic that is seldom on the other learning preferences.

Preferred Learning Strategies

Learning entails acquisition of skills and knowledge, and the effectiveness of result or the achievement of the goal of learning rests on the preferable learning method and strategies of an individual. Therefore, various strategies of learning dictate the achievement of its goal, which entails a successful acquisition of information. Ensuring efficiency in the media of knowledge transmission, focusing on the effectiveness and the method of acquisition, and incorporating effective methods of producing the best output are reliable learning strategies (Blerkom, 2009, p. 27). In addition, addressing the issue of forgetting by making records of the necessary information is paramount for the achievement of quality output. Moreover, consulting from various media and persons such as teachers would ensure adequacy in knowledge acquisition and offer diversity that would help in effective comprehension. Consequently, the Read/Write learning style offers effective learning strategies that would embrace the realm of the general strategies of learning.

A Comparison of the Preferred Learning Strategies with the Read/Write Learning Strategies

Efficiency in the media that transmit knowledge and information is necessary, and the R style ensures their adequacy by offering a variety of learning tools that include manuals, textbooks, handouts, definitions, glossaries, dictionaries, lists, notes, and headings. The tools ensure efficiency in acquisition, reference, and revision of the necessary knowledge. In addition, a learning strategy that provides for an effective method of knowledge acquisition is relevant, and the R style offers a variety. The R style, for instance, stresses on making short notes that would help in revision, reading the notes in a silent environment, and paraphrasing the principles and ideas in order to facilitate for comprehension (Blerkom, 2009, p.18). Moreover, the Read/Write learning style facilitates for quality output by providing an ambiance for learners to perform excellently in assignments, exams, or tests. The style therefore provides that learners should practice with several choice questions, arrange words in points and hierarchies, and write paragraphs, endings, and beginnings in order to achieve a quality output. The Read/Write style additionally addresses the issue of forgetting by stressing on making notes, providing manuals that would facilitate for revision of information, and making a summary of whatever one learns after the learning process to ensure comprehension. Furthermore, the method facilitates for diversity in knowledge acquisition and transmission, since it incorporates teacher’s notes that have good explanations and quality sentence constructions that would instill the relevant reading and writing skills to thee reader. The teacher’s notes also offer diversity of knowledge acquisition, since the notes are an additional manual to other references such as textbooks and handouts (Blerkom, 2009, p. 23).

How the Awareness of Individual Learning Strategies and Preferences Influence Teaching and Learning

An awareness of individual learning strategies, styles, and preferences would widely influence teaching, since teachers would be consequently aware of the effective teaching style to apply to a respective population of students. In addition, teachers would be able to revise their teaching strategies and methods in order to embrace preferable learning styles, or the styles that produces the best output. Teachers would additionally incorporate a variation of their teaching methods with respect to various topics and learners’ preferences in order to satisfy every learner and ensure the production of the best output. Furthermore, those in a position to teach would be able to understand the weaknesses and strengths of individual learners and therefore deduce the learning styles that best suits an individual learner (Tileston, 2010, p. 21). On the other hand, an awareness of individual learning preferences, styles, and strategies would influence learning, since it would facilitate for the best output from the learner. The learner is therefore able to apply his own style in the acquisition of knowledge, which would in turn lead to quality output. Additionally, the learner has freedom of choose from various choices of learning styles and acquire efficient knowledge using their own preferences. Learners would therefore be capable of identifying their weaknesses and strengths with respect to learning styles, and know the necessary strategy or style to apply when in great need of acquiring information (Tileston, 2010, p. 23).

In conclusion, an awareness of learning styles and preferences is relevant in teaching and learning, and a choice of learning strategies that would facilitate for efficient acquisition of knowledge is paramount. The Read/Write strategy is therefore convenient, since it incorporates strategies that facilitate for efficient learning.

Blerkom, D. V. (2009). Orientation to College Learning. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. Nilson, L. B. (2010). Teaching at Its Best: A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Tileston, D. W. (2010). Ten Best Teaching Practices: How Brain Research and Learning Styles Define Teaching Competencies. Thousand Oaks, NY: Corwin Press.

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Learning Styles Essay

Education is important. Learning is important. But what’s the best way to learn? That’s where learning styles come in.

There are three main learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. And each person tends to have a preferred learning style. Some people may even use a combination of all three learning styles.

Visual learners prefer to learn by seeing information. This could mean reading texts or watching videos. Auditory learners prefer to learn by hearing information. This could mean listening to lectures or taking part in conversations. Kinesthetic learners prefer to learn by doing things. This could mean participating in hands-on activities or simulations.

It might be difficult to learn for some. If you don’t understand how you learn and absorb information, that may be the case. Fortunately, contemporary educators are becoming more aware of their students’ learning styles and are able to adapt to meet them.

In this learning styles essay, we’ll look at the definition of learning styles and how educators can use them to benefit their students.

Most people learn using a combination of all three methods, but everyone has a preference for one particular style. The VARK model is a widely used way of determining an individual’s preferred learning style. This model identifies four main types of learners:

– Visual (V): These learners prefer to learn through seeing information, whether that be in the form of pictures, diagrams, or other visual aids.

– Auditory (A): Auditory learners take in information best when they can hear it. They often benefit from listening to lectures or recordings, or engaging in discussions.

– Reading/Writing (R): These learners prefer to learn through reading and writing. They often take extensive notes and like to have information in a written format.

– Kinesthetic (K): Kinesthetic learners prefer to learn through hands-on experience. They often benefit from activities, experiments, or other forms of active learning.

It’s important to note that everyone has a preferred learning style, but that doesn’t mean that other styles are ineffective for them. In fact, many people learn best when they combine all three methods. However, by understanding your preferred learning style, you can tailor your education to fit your needs and maximize your learning potential.

Some people may not be aware of their learning style category, and there are online surveys that can reveal their learning style strengths. I just took one myself, and my results are as follows; Visual: 7 Aural: 9 Read/Write: 4 Kinesthetic: 9. This basically implies that I am a good listener and hands-on learner. The survey also offered me with some educational options to help me improve my knowledge.

I now know that I should avoid long lectures, try to study in short spurts and take time for breaks, make use of post-it notes, and highlight key points. I also should focus on the main ideas and make connections to better understand the material. Breaking down the information and organizing it will help me process and learn the information quicker (Dunn & Dunn, 1993).

Take notes and record are my first methods of studying in class. In class, I frequently write down anything of key interest to the lectures. It may be beneficial when I can’t remember something. Take notes might help me improve my listening and writing abilities since I have to type and listen at the same time. Because we wrote it down, it will take longer for us to memorize it since we remembered it once and then read it again when we studied it.

I also use study groups as a method to study. It is more beneficial when it comes to studying for exams or understanding assignments. In a study group, we would discuss the concepts and try to explain it to each other in our own words. This helped me understand the material better since I had to explain it in simpler terms. It also helped me catch up on anything I missed in class. Study groups are a great way to improve your communication skills and socialize with others who are in your classes.

My last method of studying is by myself at home or in the library. I usually read over my notes and try to memorize them as best as I can. I also like to make flashcards to help me remember key terms or definitions. This method is more beneficial for me when I have to memorize a lot of information for exams. It is also good for when I want to focus on one particular subject.

I think that each learning style has its own benefits and drawbacks. It is important to find the right mix of methods that work best for you. Personally, I like to use a combination of all three methods depending on the situation.

Then there’s the subject of your record; I believe it’s accurate to say that we had a discussion, but then again – maybe not. Obviously, if you’re recording in class, this takes away the advantage of being able to eavesdrop on other students’ conversations. The fact that you may listen to them at any time, even while sleeping, is another feature I appreciate about them.

There are different ways of learning and people have their own preferences on how they want to learn new information. Some people learn better by listening to audio recordings, others prefer reading texts, and others prefer seeing visuals. This is what is known as learning styles.

Different learning styles require different approaches in order for the information to be effectively absorbed. For example, someone who prefers visual learning might benefit from using things like flashcards or diagrams when trying to memorize new information. Someone who prefers auditory learning might find it helpful to listen to audio recordings or have someone read aloud to them. And someone who prefers kinesthetic learning might find it helpful to physically write out information or act out scenarios.

It’s important to note that everyone has a preference for one particular learning style, but that doesn’t mean that other styles can’t be effective. It’s also important to keep in mind that different situations might call for different learning styles. For example, you might prefer visual learning when you’re trying to memorize new vocabulary words, but auditory learning might be more effective when you’re trying to understand a new concept in math.

The most important thing is to experiment with different approaches and find what works best for you. There is no “right” way to learn, so don’t be afraid to mix things up and try something new!

Remember, there’s no such thing as a superior learning style; each has benefits and drawbacks depending on your goals. And I just gave you some pointers in my own words to assist you. You may develop your own style to make studying easier and more enjoyable by adapting what you want to learn to your learning style.

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