#learning preferences

like to arrange their space and work

remember what they see rather than hear

often forget to relay verbal messages

need to see the “whole picture” before understanding

respond to color, art, and mapping

may know what to say but struggle with wording

like to have a plan

good organizers

good spellers

would rather show than tell

usually need verbal instructions repeated

There are a number of different models of learning styles such as sensory learning styles (visual, auditory and kinesthetic), active versus reflective learning  styles and several others.  Learning styles are actually preferences and are not unchangeable traits due to heredity.

Every few years some psychologists review the literature and conclude that learning styles in teaching have no merit and are debunked.

Richard Felder, professor at the University of North Carolina argues that, “The point is not to match teaching style to learning style, but rather to achieve balance, making sure that each style (or preference) is addressed to a reasonable extent during instruction.”

Professor Felder and Barbara Soloman designed an “Index of Learning Style Questionnaire” to help people access their learning styles or preferences. The Index has high reliability and validity and is free to take and provides feedback.  

I am copying you two links below, one is to an article by Professor Felder titled, “Are Learning Styles Invalid? Hint: No!” The other link is to the Index of Learning Style Questionnaire.

Article by Richard Felder

https://www.engr.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/drive/10S5mLkGElsN8NTsYgOe_f0taEdlSpbJD/2010-LS_Validity(On-Course).pdf

Index of Learning Style Index by Felder and Soloman ( No cost to take)

https://www.webtools.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/?Learning+Styles+Survey=

Reference: Felder, Richard M. Are Learning Styles Invalid? Hint: No! https://www.engr.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/drive/10S5mLkGElsN8NTsYgOe_f0taEdlSpbJD/2010-LS_Validity(On-Course).pdf

Taking Notes Effectively

Today’s post is more practical in application. This past week I was just visiting with a friend who homeschools her children about some resources for note taking. I thought it might be beneficial to share some resources here as well. After all, good note taking skills aren’t just important for students in school. It’s useful in our jobs during training, meetings,…

Multiple Intelligences—A Different Kind of Learning Preference

Multiple Intelligences—A Different Kind of Learning Preference

A couple of weeks ago we discussed learning styles—more specifically those styles of Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. I showed you how even Jesus taught in all three of those learning styles. This week I thought I would introduce you to a different type of learning style or learning preference that I use in my classes as well, and…

What Are Your Preferred Learning Styles?

What Are Your Preferred Learning Styles?

I love taking self-assessments. I’ve always found them fun and interesting. Many of my students over the years have seemed to enjoy them as well. Most people love to learn new things about themselves or confirm things they might already know. I thinklearning more about ourselves and getting some strategies to put into practice can help us to accomplish…

Per results from an online survey, VARK: a guide to learning styles, I have been described as a multimodal learner.  This means that various combinations of the four learning strategies (visual, aural, reading/writing, and kinesthetic) make up my personal learning preference.  My survey scores were:

Visual 11

Aural 8

Reading/Writing 12

Kinesthetic 10

*An important thing to note is that some people with a multimodal preference need to have some material presented in several of their modes in order to fully learn and understand the topic.  

 Visual

~symbolism, different formats, fonts, colors for emphasis of important points

Intake To take in information:

 prefer lecturers who use gestures and picturesque language

pictures, videos, posters, slides

flowcharts

underlining, different colors, highlighters

textbooks with diagrams and pictures

graphs

symbols and white space

Study To make a learnable package:

reduce notes

reconstruct images in different ways, try using different spatial arrangements

redraw pages from memory

replace words with symbols or initials

look over pages of notes

Output To perform well in any test, assignment, or examination:

draw

write exam answers

recall previously drawn images and diagrams

practice turning visual information into words

 Aural

~listening, discussing, talking, recalling, and most importantly questioning

Intake To take in information:

attend class

attend discussions and tutorials

discuss topics with others and your teachers

explain new ideas to people

use a tape recorder

remember interesting anecdotes

describe the visual information presented in class to someone who was not there

leave spaces in your notes from later recollection

Study To make a learnable package:

your notes may be poor because of your preference to listening – expand these by talking with others and collecting notes from a textbook

put summarized notes onto tapes and listen them to review

ask other to listen to you talk your way through a topic to evaluate your comprehension

read summaries of topics aloud

explain your notes to another

Output To perform well in any test, assignment, or examination:

imagine a conversation with the examiner – talk your way through the exam

spend time in a quiet place recalling the ideas

practice writing answers to old exam questions

Read/Write

~lists, notes and text with a preference for printed word

Intake To take in information:

lists, headings, dictionaries, glossaries, definitions

handouts

textbooks

reading in the library

notes

manuals

preference for teachers who use words well and hove a lot if information in sentences and notes

Study To make a learnable package:

write out notes repeatedly

read notes silently repeatedly

rewrite ideas and principles

organize graphs and visual aids into statements

imagine lists arranged in multiple choice questions and distinguish them from each other

Output To perform well in any test, assignment, or examination:

write exam answers

practice with multiple choice questions

write paragraphs

write lists

arrange words into hierarchies and points

Kinesthetic

~practical exercises, examples, trial and error, a preference for real life experiences

Intake To take in information:

utilize all senses

labs, field trips, tours

examples of principles

preference for lecturers who utilize real world examples

applications

hands on approaches

collections, exhibits, samples, photographs

solutions to problems, previous exam papers

Study To make a learnable package:

use plenty of examples

use case studies and applications to help with principles and abstract concepts

talk about notes with another person

use photographs and illustrations to illustrate an idea

refer back to labs and lab manual

recall field trips, experiments…

Output To perform well in any test, assignment, or examination:

write practice answers, perhaps utilize paragraphs

role play

Podcast 62 – Model of Natural Systems in Educational Design

“Interactive diversity leads to stability.” – Geoff Lawton, Concepts and Themes Video 7-Diversity Leads to Stability-Connections Between Elements-Positioning Elements, 2014 Online PDC

Just combining a bunch of ideas, techniques, or methods into education is the antithesis of the ethical, scientific design approach that we are…

Podcast 62 – Model of Natural Systems in Educational Design

“Interactive diversity leads to stability.” – Geoff Lawton, Concepts and Themes Video 7-Diversity Leads to Stability-Connections Between Elements-Positioning Elements, 2014 Online PDC

Just combining a bunch of ideas, techniques, or methods into education is the antithesis of the ethical, scientific design approach that we are…