When you are learning new information, you may prefer to see visual diagrams or a demonstration. Or, you may want someone to tell you how to do something, rather than show you. You may even have to do a task yourself to really understand it. The fact is, everyone learns differently. Researchers have categorized learning styles to describe how different students reach their learning potential.
Identification
A learning style can be thought of as the way that best helps you process, categorize and retain information. Your learning style is all about your individual strengths and the unique way you absorb the world. The SUNY Cortland Faculty Web Service notes that the way you learn is partly due to heredity, but it is also colored by your experiences, your culture and your upbringing. In children, maturity level and development also play a role. A child's learning style changes as she grows and matures. There is no right or wrong learning style, and no "best" way for everyone to learn.
History
The SUNY Web Service explains that in the early 1900s there was a distinct interest in the idea of different learning styles, and several theories were developed about how auditory and visual cues promoted memory differently in different people. Later, researchers shifted focus from individual learning styles to IQ and academic achievement. Since the mid-1900s, learning styles research has come back into the spotlight, with potential applications for both teachers and students.
Types
There are three main learning styles: visual, auditory and kinesthetic/tactile. The Tutoring and Academic Success Center, or T.A.S.C., at Three Rivers Community College outlines the three. T.A.S.C. states that visual learners learn best by seeing. They may think in pictures or in words and may struggle with phonetic spelling. They are often avid readers and tend to remember faces rather than names. Auditory learners learn by hearing. They tend to remember names but not faces, and have difficulty remembering written information if it is not also said out loud. Kinesthetic learners learn by doing. They tend to prefer figuring out how to do tasks themselves, as opposed to hearing instructions or seeing demonstrations. They tend to touch things to get a sense of them and enjoy puzzles and games. Kinesthetic learners may have difficulty sitting still and learn best if they can take frequent breaks to move around.
Significance
Knowing your learning style can make you a more effective student or a better employee, and can even help you better master everyday tasks. If you teach, understanding the different learning styles of your students can help you organize effective lesson plans, and be more sensitive to your students' individual needs.
Considerations
The University of Illinois Extension notes that although only 10 percent of junior high and high school students learn auditorily, 80 percent of their instruction is auditory. Kinesthetic students may have the most difficulty in this environment, as they absorb very little of what they hear and see. If your child is doing poorly in school, knowing his learning style can give you the tools to help him reinforce subject matter and build his confidence.
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