“If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach them the way they learn”
-Ignacio Estrada
Do you ever ask yourself what kind of learning/thinking styles you use? Maybe you learn better by seeing something: or just by listening and still by manipulating something? Let’s find out what kind of learner are you?
Individuals think and learn in distinct ways. In any group of learners there will always be different learning characteristics, particularly in the learners’ manner of processing information. Some would about absorb the lesson better when they work with their hands than when they just listen. Other would prefer in which a video about a topic. Students likewise have preferred ways of expressing their thoughts feelings and ideas. Some would prefer to write, others would draw or even dance and sing. These preferences involve learning/thinking styles.
Learning/Thinking Styles refer to the preferred way an individual processes information. They describe a person’s typical mode of thinking, remembering or problem solving. Furthermore, styles are usually considered to be a bipolar dimension. For instance you’re particular learning/thinking style.
Here are some types of learning/thinking styles;
- 1. Visual Learning
These learners must see their teacher’s actions and facial expression to fully understand the content of lesson. They tend to prefer sitting in front so no one would block their view. They may think in pictures and learn best from visual aids, videos, flipchart, and hand-outs. During a lecture or classrooms discussion, visual often prefer to take detailed notes to absorb information.
*Visual Iconic
Those who prefer this form of input are more interested in visual imagery such as film, graphic displays, or pictures in order to solidify learning.
*Visual Symbolic
Those who prefer this form of input feel comfortable with abstract symbolism such as mathematical formulate or the written word. They would prefer to read a book than a map and would like to read about things than hear about them.
2. Auditory Learners
They learn best through verbal lectures, discussion, talking, and things through listening to what others have to say. Auditory learners interpret the underlying meanings of speech through listening to tone of voice, pitch, speed and other nuances.
Auditory learners also fall into two categories:
*Learners
Most likely do well in school. Out of school too, they remember things said to them and make the information their own. They may even carry on mental conversations and figure out how to extend what they learned by reviewing in their heads what they heard other say.
*Talkers
They are the ones who prefer to talk and discuss. They often find themselves talking to those around them. In a class setting when the instructor is not asking questions, auditor verbal processors tend to whisper comments to themselves.
3. Tactile / kinaesthetic Learners
Persons benefit much from a hands – on approach, actively exploring the physical world around them. They may find it hard to sit still for long periods. They may not benefit so much from the discussion or the written materials, and may become distracted by their need for activity and exploration.
4. Analytic
Analytic thinkers tend toward the linear, step by step processes of learning. They tend to see finite elements of patterns rather than the whole; they are “tree seers.” they are more comfortable in a world of details and hierarchies of information.
5. Global
Thinkers lean towards non – linear though and tend to see the whole pattern rather than particle elements. They are the “forest seers” who give attention only to the overall structure and sometimes ignore details.
*Successive processor
Prefers to learn in a step by step sequential format, beginning with details leading to a conceptual understanding of a skill.
*Simultaneous processor
Prefers to learn beginning with the general concept and then going on to specifics.
There are many kinds of learner, we should observe who are the visual learners, auditory learners, tactile/kinesthetic learners, analytic and global learners. As a future educator, I love teaching kids at their younger age because I want to help them to develop critical thinking skills, learn to solve problems and understand abstract ideas and enforce classroom rules to teach them proper behavior. Being a teacher in the future, I must know different kind of strategies that will help me to know the different learning/thinking styles of my future students.
Recently in our Prof Ed subject we watch a movie which entitled “Every Child is Special”, this is about a boy named Ishaan Awasthi who has a difficulty in reading and writing. His teacher Nikumbh help him and he discover that Ishaan is good at painting. Ishaan is a visual learner because he tends to see visual imagery and express it through painting. I was really amazed in this movie because I think every child is great. One of the things I learned that we should understand that every child has strength and weaknesses. It also tells that we should improve ourselves and emphasizes that child has their own talent and capabilities. Don’t compare children because the fact that they are different so they are not same but they are unique with each other.
I remember that when I was a child, my learning/thinking style is being an auditory learner because I was so talkative that I talk everywhere. I learn through verbal lectures and discussion of my teachers. So always remember that every child has their own way of learning we just need to help them to discover it.
Let me ask you my question again “What kind of learning/thinking styles you use?”
Source:
Facilitating Learner-Centered Teaching (3rd Edition)
Eca's Blog 