1. HC-1 childhood and growing
up
TOPIC: LEARNING STYLES

2. Introduction of learning styles
Many people recognize that each person prefers different learning
styles and techniques. Learning styles group common ways that
people learn. Everyone has a mix of learning styles. Some people
may find that they have a dominant style of learning, with far less
use of the other styles.
Others may find that they use different styles in different
circumstances. There is no right mix. Nor are your styles fixed. You
can develop ability in less dominant styles, as well as further
develop styles that you already use well. Perhaps the most simple
way of describing ‘learning styles’ is to say that they are different
methods of learning or understanding new information, the way a
person takes in, understand, expresses and remembers information.
There are 4 predominant learning styles: Visual, Auditory,
Read/Write, and Kinesthetic.
While most of us may have some general idea about how we learn best,
often it comes as a surprise when we discover what our predominant
learning style is.

3. IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING STYLES
• Your learning styles have more influence than you may
realize. Your preferred styles guide the way you learn. They
also change the way you internally represent experiences, the
way you recall information, and even the words you choose.
• Research shows us that each learning style uses different parts
of the brain. By involving more of the brain during learning,
we remember more of what we learn. Researchers using
brain-imaging technologies have been able to find out the key
areas of the brain responsible for each learning style.

4. Types of learning styles
There are many models and theories about learning styles.
This particular system about an individual’s learning
preference is known as VARK—Visual, Auditory, Read/Write,
and Kinesthetic (hands-on) Know your tutee’s learning style.
Why?
To find out if he or she processes, learns, and retains
information most effectively by seeing, listening,
reading/writing, or through movement/touch. Each
individual has a preferred learning style, and many have
multiple learning styles.
One particular style is not better than the others and a
preferred style does not mean you cannot learn in other ways;
it is simply what may work best to process, learn and retain
information. Students may become better learners if they
know their learning style and use the respective strategies.

5. VISUAL LEARNING STYLE
They generally prefer to sit at the front of the classroom. These individuals think in pictures
and may learn best from visual displays including: diagrams, illustrated textbooks,
overhead transparencies, videos, flipcharts, use of interactive whiteboards, and handouts.
During a lesson or classroom discussions, visual learners often prefer to take detailed notes
to absorb the information.
• Learning strategies:
· Limit amount of words/information; allows for mental imagery
· Convert notes and translate words into symbols, diagrams, and/or pictures
· Highlight important points in text; key words
· Create flashcards for key information; be concise
· Create visual reminders of information
· Practice turning visuals back into words
· Color-code, underline
. Be creative with charts, diagrams, mind maps

6. AUDITORY LEARNING STYLE
• These individuals learn best through verbal lessons, discussions, talking things through, and listening to
what others have to say. Auditory learners interpret the underlying meanings of speech through listening
to the voice tone, pitch, and speed. These learners often benefit from reading the text and notes out loud
and/or listening to recorded notes and information from texts.
• Learning strategies:
· Work in groups or with a study partner; i.e. discussions: listening, talking
· Review assignments and text reading before class
· Read notes and text out loud
· Recite information that is important to remember
· Record notes, key information, and lectures; listen to recordings regularly
· Use books-on-tape
· Mathematical/technical information:
o State the problem out loud
o Think through a process or sequence of steps: write out, then read out loud
o Discuss questions/problems in a group or with a study-buddy

7. READ/WRITE LEARNING STYLE
Individuals with this preference prefer information displayed as words. Emphasis is placed on text-based
input and output; i.e. reading and writing in all its forms. People who prefer this modality love to work
using PowerPoint, the Internet, lists, dictionaries, thesauri, and words.
• Learning strategies:
· Rewrite notes
· Read/review notes every day
· Rewrite ideas and principles into other words
· Organize diagrams/graphs into statements
· Turn reactions, actions, charts, etc. into words
· Write exam answers
· Practice with multiple choice questions
· Write paragraphs, beginnings and endings
· Write lists (a,b,c,1,2,3,4)
· Arrange words into hierarchies and points

8. KINESTHETIC LEARNING STYLE
Kinesthetic learners learn best through a hands-on approach. Sometimes, it can be difficult
for individuals with this learning preference to sit still for long periods. Kinesthetic
learners can become distracted by their need for movement
and activity.
• Learning strategies:
· Skim through reading material first to understand the theme or main idea
· Move around as you read aloud or study; walk and read; work in a standing position
· Record notes and listen to them while exercising
. Take frequent study breaks
· Listen to music while studying
· Sit in the front of the classroom
· Stay actively engaged in class: take notes, write key points, draw charts
· Create hands-on learning when possible:
o Use models, extra lab time
· Create cards for processes:
o Color code like information
o Limit information: use key words
o Arrange in order; shuffle and repeat
· Type over notes from text and class
· Create spreadsheets, tables, charts to organize material.

9. DATA FOR EXAMPLE
• Who?: I surveyed 10 students to learn what their learning style was and how technology
helps them. I surveyed students because I wanted to learn more about how technology
influences different learning styles. I asked university students because I felt that at this
point they would have an understanding of their own learning style and would feel
comfortable with technology. I asked two multiple choice questions and one short answer
question. I asked: "What best describes your learning style?", "Does technology help or
hinder your learning style?", and "Why?".
How?: To collect my data, I created a Google Forums with the previous mentioned
questions. I sent this survey through email to 10 of my friends that are university students.
Data: I decided to only include the three main learning styles.

10. MY PERSONAL OPINION
However, since starting teaching ‘properly’ this term
I have found a few things.
1.) AUDITORY: Quite apart from any other theories
a range of ‘teaching approaches’ creates more novelty
in the classroom and more likely to jolt a memory
response from learners. i.e. I played ‘Miami’ as my
AS level class walked in last week as we were learning
about pressures on the Florida Coast. The following
lesson they asked me if I could find a song for every
case study to help them remember. This was regardless
of them being auditory learners. Its just a more novel/
memorable moment in their day.
2.) VISUAL: My preference for visual information isn’t all that unusual. I have found that most people
find say, a mind map, a useful way of grappling with information and sorting information in their
minds, regardless of a VAK preference.
3.) KINAESTHETIC: My year 7 form had to fill in a questionnaire of what VAK learner they are so that
the school can make this info available to teachers (it may be my school is a little behind the
times). Anyway, almost all kids were a pretty even spread across all three. And in fact more had a
kinesthetic bias. When I asked why this was they said responses along the lines of “it's more fun”,
“we don’t often get to do stuff like that very often”. Again, possibly quite apart from them being
better at learning that way, it may be the novelty.
So anyway….I think I agree with you!

11. LEARNING STYLES' IMPLICATIONS TO
LEARNING AND TEACHING
Something has not been learned, then it has not been taught.
Educators have taken ownership of the process and, in today's
world, they accept that their teaching has not reached its objective,
and they have not met their obligation, if all students have not
learned the material at hand.
• This approach to teaching and learning has forced
educators to focus on how individual students learn.
• Educators normally refer to fundamental learning styles
as auditory, visual, and tactile.
• Auditory instruction is by far the weakest in terms of
reaching teaching-learning objectives.
• Visual perception is an essential component of the
learning process for most people.
• Learning styles are an important consideration to any
teacher who is determined to succeed.

12. SUGGESTIONS
visual
• Use maps, flow charts, or webs to organize materials
• Highlight and color code books/notes to organize and relate material
• Have students pick out key words and ideas in their own writing and highlight them in different colors to clearly reveal
organizational patterns
• Write out checklists of needed formulas, commonly misspelled words, etc.
• Write out and use flash cards for review of material
• Draw pictures or cartoons of concepts
• Write down material on slips of paper and move them around into proper sequence. (Can be done on PC too)
• Use the chalkboard (them and you) to note important information
• If using the computer, have the student experiment with different font sizes and styles to enhance readability.
Auditory
• Engage the student in conversation about the subject matter
• Question students about the material
• Ask for oral summaries of material
• Have them tape lectures and review them with you
• Have them tape themselves reviewing material and listen to it together
• Read material aloud to them
• Use a talking calculator
• Have them put material to a rhythm or tune and rehearse it aloud
Kinesthetic or Tactile
• Write out checklists of materials to be learned or looked for
• Trace words and diagrams on paper
• Use textured paper and experiment with different sizes of pens, pencils, and crayons to write down information
• Use role play or dramatize concepts. Students can move objects around to dramatize a concept or act out the concept
themselves.
• Ask the student to envision a scene in which the material to be learned is being used or acted out somehow. For example: a
student could imagine being a character in a novel.
• Have the student take notes (on paper, word processor, in textbooks) while reading or listening.
• Use some form of body movement (snapping fingers, pacing, mouthing ideas) while reciting material to be learned.

13. CONCLUSION
I feel that I learned a lot about the different learning styles. I knew the
three basic learning styles, but I was surprised to learn that the learning
styles can be broken down into more styles than the three basic. I also
learned that knowing your learning style can help guide you to what
teaching style would be most suitable. I was surprised by some of my
findings. I was expecting for most people to be visual learners but I did not
expect it to be close between technologies being helpful or a hinderment to
the different learning styles. I thought that overall visual learners would feel
that technology is helpful but there were some that did not feel technology
is helpful to them.
In conclusion to what I learned from my research, technology should be a
part of the classroom. Technology can help students of learning styles such
as visual learning and can benefit creating personalized learning. However,
technology needs to be utilized and adapted in a way that will be beneficial
to all students because technology is not as helpful to some learning styles
such as auditory learning.