LEARNING MODALITIES 1

 Learning modalities are the sensory channels or pathways through which individuals give, receive, and store information  A typical classroom contains 25-30% visual, % auditory, 15% tactile kinesthetic, & the rest have mixed modalities  Knowing these modalities and the make-up of your classes is important to accommodate all learners – this is part of “differentiation.” 2

Visual Learners  Remember 75% of what they SEE and READ  Enjoy “decorating” their learning, living areas  Looking at a person speaking helps them “focus”  Learn best alone 3

Characteristics of Visual Learners  Mind wanders during verbal instructions  Trouble following or remembering verbal instructions/directions  Does more observing during group discussion  Usually neat, quiet, at times shy 4

To Help a Visual Leaner  Make flash cards  Highlight when reading  Use color coding when reading, organizing  Re-copy notes, information trying to learn  Develop and use diagrams, charts, maps, etc.  Use films, movies, TV, power points, etc.  Find ways to distract auditory with “white noise” to help visual focus 5

Auditory Learners  Must HEAR things to learn  Represents about 30% of general school age population  Remember up to 75% of what they hear in a lecture  Most difficult to learn new material or reading oriented learning – on line, large amounts of content, large reading assignments 6

Characteristics of Auditory Learners  Easily distracted by about any noise  Not interested in visual demonstrations  Active in group activities and discussions  Likes being read to  Listens to music, TV while studying  Often outgoing 7

To Help an Auditory Learner  Read aloud (to, or even aloud while studying)  Record notes, material to be learned on a recording device  Lectures, sound presentations, discussions  Use/create poems, stories, songs, rhythmic patterns and sounds, word association, mnemonics  Repetition of ideas, information 8

Tactile-Kinesthetic Learners  Must DO things for the best chance to learn  Tactile learners remember best when experience with hands/body - movement/touch  Kinesthetic learning requires whole body movement  Motor memory enables remembering what they have done 9

Tactile-Kinesthetic Characteristics  Taps feet, pencils, fingers while writing/thinking, etc.  Likes experiments, handling objects, hands on projects  Uses hand gestures and body language  Likes problem solving related to physical items  Outgoing, expresses emotions 10

To Help a Tactile-Kinesthetic Learner  Field Trips  Props, labs, experiments, hands on demonstrations, physical examples  Plays, role playing, performing  Making lists, posting the lists, checking items off when done  Problem-solving as a physical activity 11

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Other Learning Strengths  Verbal/Linguistic  Logical/Mathematical  Visual/Spatial  Bodily/Kinesthetic  Musical/Rhythmic  Interpersonal  Intrapersonal  Naturalist 12

Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence  Written and spoken words/language  Understanding meaning of words  Humor, jokes, debate  Memory and recall 13

Logical/Mathematical Intelligence  Scientific thinking  Inductive (parts to whole) and deductive (whole to parts) reasoning  Numbers  Abstract patterns  Problem solving  Complex calculations 14

Visual/Spatial Intelligence  Sense of sight  Internal mental images/pictures (see the page or object in your mind)  Colorful designs, patterns, shapes  Active imagination, pretending  Graphic representations  Finding your way in space 15

Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence  Physical movements  Body – muscle awareness  Expression of self through body (drama, body language, gestures, dance)  Improved body functioning i.e. conditioning, muscle memory  Sports, dance, acting, physical exercise 16

Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence  Recognition of tonal patterns, sensitive to rhythm and beats  Sensitivity to sounds  Effects of music and rhythm on the brain  Human voice/sounds, sounds of nature, musical instruments, percussion 17

Interpersonal Intelligence  Person to person relationships and communication  Verbal and non-verbal communication  Sensitivity to others moods, feelings, non-verbal behavior, motivations  Notice distinctions and characteristics of others  Prefer to be – study with others 18

Intrapersonal Intelligence  Aware of inner states of being, self reflection  Awareness and expression of different feelings by self  Awareness of feelings, thinking processes, and spirituality of self  Higher order thinking and reasoning with regards to self improvement if can remain positive about self (wants to study alone) 19

Naturalistic Intelligence  Nature lover - “save the.....”  Observes and remembers from environment  Like animals and learns about and from them  Notices patterns in nature  Collects, classifies  Keen senses especially when in nature 20

END J. Jackson, Ph.D. EDUC