Learning Styles
Everyone has their own preferred way of learning e.g.
some people learn best reading about a subject
where as others learn best by trying things out for
themselves.
The Accelerated Learning website has a free test to
determine which ways you learn best. When you have your
profile the Learning Styles website has good descriptions
of what it all means and the Ldpride website gives examples
of how some styles can be used to help you learn.
This can be especially useful when studying for exams.
Your profile is NOT set in stone – it will change over time.
You can always develop learning skills in areas of your profile
that don’t score as highly as others.
When choosing a course or training opportunity, it may help to
think about your preferred learning styles when choosing.
You can ask the course tutor(s) what the course involves
to see if it fits you
The VAK ( Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic) learning styles model
When you know your preferred learning style(s) you understand the type of learning that best suits you.
This enables you to choose the types of learning that work best for you.
There is no right or wrong learning style. The point is that there are types of learning that are right for your own preferred learning style.
The VAK ( Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic) learning styles model suggests that most people can be divided into one of three preferred styles of learning.
These three styles are as follows, (and there is no right or wrong learning style):
- Someone with a Visual learning style has a preference for seen or observed things, including pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, films, flip-chart, etc. These people will use phrases such as 'show me', 'let's have a look at that' and will be best able to perform a new task after reading the instructions or watching someone else do it first. These are the people who will work from lists and written directions and instructions.
- Someone with an Auditory learning style has a preference for the transfer of information through listening: to the spoken word, of self or others, of sounds and noises. These people will use phrases such as 'tell me', 'let's talk it over' and will be best able to perform a new task after listening to instructions from an expert. These are the people who are happy being given spoken instructions over the telephone, and can remember all the words to songs that they hear!
- Someone with a Kinaesthetic learning style has a preference for physical experience - touching, feeling, holding, doing, practical hands-on experiences. These people will use phrases such as 'let me try', 'how do you feel?' and will be best able to perform a new task by going ahead and trying it out, learning as they go. These are the people who like to experiment, hands-on, and never look at the instructions first!
People commonly have a main preferred learning style, but this will be part of a blend of all three. Some people have a very strong preference; other people have a more even mixture of two or less commonly, three styles.
Want to find out your learning style click here to do the self assessment questionnaire
