Dr. Arnel Banaga Salgado LEARNING STYLES Dr. Arnel Banaga Salgado Asst Professor, RAKCON RAKMHSU, UAE

What are Learning Styles? Information enters your brain three main ways: sight, hearing and touch, which one you use the most is called your Learning Style Visual Learners learn by sight Auditory Learners learn by hearing Tactile Learners (kinesthetic) learn by touch

What is YOUR LS? Please answer the following question by marking the letter representing the description that best expresses how you usually handle each situation:

1. When you SPELL Do you try to see the word? Sound out the word, or use a phonetic approach? Write the word down to find if it feels right?

2. When you TALK Talk sparingly, but dislike listening for too long? Do you favor words such as see, picture, and imagine? Enjoy listening, but are impatient to talk? Use words such as hear, tune, and think? Gesture and use expressive movements? Use words such as feel, touch, and hold?

3. When you VISUALIZE Do you see vivid, detailed pictures? Think in sounds? Have few images, all involving movement?

4. When you CONCENTRATE Do you become distracted by untidiness or movement? Become distracted by sounds or noises? Become distracted by activity around you?

5. When you MEET someone again Do you forget names, but remember faces? Remember where you met? Forget faces, but remember names? Remember what you talked about? Remember best what you did together?

6. When you CONTACT people on business Do you prefer direct, face-to face, personal meetings? Prefer the telephone? Talk with them while walking or participating in an activity?

7. When you RELAX Do you prefer to watch TV, a play, or movie? Prefer to listen to the radio, music, or read? Prefer to play games or work with your hands?

8. When you TRY to interpret someone’s mood Do you primarily look at facial expressions? Listen to tone of voice? Watch body movement?

9. When you READ Do you like descriptive scenes? Pause to imagine the action? Enjoy dialogue and conversation, or hear the characters talk? Prefer action stories or are not a keen reader?

10. When you DO something new at work Do you like to see demonstrations, diagrams, slides or posters? Prefer verbal instructions or talking about it with someone else? Prefer to jump right in and try it?

11. When you PUT something together Do you look at the directions and the picture? Like to talk with someone or find yourself talking out loud as you work? Ignore the directions and figure it out as you go along?

12. When you NEED help with a computer application Do you seek out pictures or diagrams? Call the help-desk, ask a neighbor, or yell at the computer? Keep trying to do it or try it on another computer?

13. When you TEACH someone Do you prefer to show them? Prefer to tell them? Do it for them and let them see how it’s done or ask them to try it?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS YOU LEARNING?

Visual Learners Let me see it! Prefer to see information such as pictures, diagrams, cartoons, demonstrations Picture words and concepts they hear as images Easily distracted in lecture with no visual aids Overwhelmed with intense visuals accompanied by lecture Benefit from using charts, maps, notes, and flash cards when studying Let me see it!

Auditory Learners Let me hear it! Prefer to hear information spoken Can absorb a lecture with little effort May not need careful notes to learn. Often avoid eye contact in order to concentrate May read aloud to themselves Like background music when they study Let me hear it!

Tactile or Kinesthetic Learners Prefer touch as their primary mode for taking in information In traditional lecture situations, they should write out important facts Create study sheets connected to vivid examples Role-playing can help them learn and remember important ideas May benefit by using manipulatives Okay, I get it now. Let me experience it!

Kolb’s learning styles model According to Kolb (1984) "learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. Knowledge results from the combination of grasping experience and transforming it."

Kolb's learning model Is based on two continuums that form a quadrant: Processing Continuum: Our approach to a task, such as preferring to learn by doing or watching: Mechanism by which we grasp the experience. Perception Continuum: Our emotional response, such as preferring to learn by thinking or feeling: Mechanism by which transform the experience.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                              

LE: Riding a bicycle: Reflective observation - Thinking about riding and watching another person ride a bike. Abstract conceptualization - Understanding the theory and having a clear grasp of the biking concept. Concrete experience - Receiving practical tips and techniques from a biking expert. Active experimentation - Leaping on the bike and have a go at it.                                                                                                                                  

Your Intelligence Profile created by Howard Gardner A theory of “multiple intelligences,” suggesting abilities seem to cluster in eight different areas: Verbal-Linguistic Skills Logical-Mathematical Skills Bodily-Kinesthetic Skills Visual-Spatial Skills Interpersonal Abilities Intrapersonal Abilities Musical Abilities Naturalistic Abilities

Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory (MBTI) Extraversion/Introversion Sensing/Intuiting Thinking/Feeling Judging/Perceiving

Extraversion/Introversion (Social Orientation) Extroverts Like talking with others and taking action. Prefer active learning and group projects. Introverts Prefer to have others do the talking. Prefer lectures and structured tasks.

Sensing/Intuiting (Information Processing) Sensors Are most at home with facts and examples. Are drawn to realistic and practical applications. Prefer memorizable facts, and concrete questions. Intuiters Prefer concepts and theories which can give greater play to imagination and inspiration. Prefer interpretation and imagination.

Thinking/Feeling (Decision Making) Thinkers Like to take an objective approach and emphasize logic and analysis in their decisions. Prefer objective feedback, and thrive when there is pressure to succeed. Feelers Prefer emotion to logic. Give greater weight to the impact of relationships in their decisions. Prefer positive feedback and individual recognition.

Judging/Perceiving (Achieving Goals) My mind is made up! Don’t confuse me with facts. Judgers Prefer clearly defined strategies to achieve goals. May jump to closure too quickly. Prefer orderliness, structure, and deadlines. Perceivers Like to consider all sides to a problem and may be at some risk for not completing their work. Prefer spontaneity and flexibility. Let’s think this through

Surface Learning Studying the minimum of what needs to be learned Relying primarily on rote memorization, often exercised at the last minute [Cramming] Motivation comes from grades In a hurry to get it over with. Risky – no real learning occurs Much less likely to lead to college success Risky Business

Deep Learning Goal is to truly understand course material Fascinating! I need to know more… Goal is to truly understand course material Involves actively constructing learning experiences Leads to better memory retention Deep learners enjoy the process of learning for its own sake Deep learners use more thinking skills

Discovering Your Own Learning Style ideas... Take a Learning Styles test. Think about your favorite classes in high school or college so far. What do they have in common? Did you like… mastering facts? discussion? or working on your own? lecture? or pairing or grouping? hands-on activities? Do some self-analysis (called metacognition). How do you think you learn?

Using Knowledge of Your Learning Style Knowing your learning style, both your strengths and your weaknesses, can help you study more effectively. Hear it! See it! Experience it!

Build Strengths across the Learning Styles Make the best use of your learning style. Work harder in skills that don’t come easily to you. Be flexible and adaptable, try new things and new ways. Keep growing! Don’t be easily satisfied!

Really important - be adaptable! Different Teaching Styles Are they compatible with your learning style? Lecture – teacher talks all period Group discussion – teacher talks but encourages discussion Small groups – teacher aids (facilitates) group interaction Visual focus – teacher uses lots of visual aids Verbal focus – words, words & more words Logical sequence – teacher presents material in a step-by-step, reasonable format Random sequence – teacher jumps all over the place Really important - be adaptable!

Making the Most of the Student-Instructor Relationship Make it a point to attend class regularly, and on time. If you have a question, ask it. Save your “cuts” for emergencies. Sit near the front. See your instructor outside class when you need help. Share one or more “one minute papers” and your ideas with your instructor. Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!

All life is learning - it never stops! REMEMBER! No matter what your Learning Style is it’s very important to- Be involved in class – participate! Link classroom experience to the outside world Relate class concepts to your own life. Ask questions and offer criticism. Stimulate further relevant discussion. Don’t get distracted – stay “on-task” Keep an open mind: there are many ideas beyond your own. Different instructors have different goals regarding student participation. Some expect students to concentrate on listening, thinking, and taking notes. Others want you to be actively involved in other ways as well. Participating in various ways will develop your academic skills. Asking or responding to questions can make a class more worthwhile for you and your classmates. All life is learning - it never stops!