Learning How To Learn Better: Learning Styles

How Do I Prepare Better? Step 1: Know how you best learn. Step 2: Evaluate what you’re doing. Step 3: “Play” to your strengths. Step 4: Develop a plan of action Step 5: Carry out that plan Step 6: Decide what worked (or didn’t). Step 7: Adjust and begin at step 2 again.

What is a Learning Style? It’s a label that describes the different ways you take in and process information.

Why are Learning Styles important? Research shows that the different styles use different parts of the brain. The more of your brain you involve in your learning, the more likely you are to remember!

Kinds of Learning Styles There are 7 basic kinds and each style prefers a particular way of learning.

Visual Social Physical Aural Verbal Solitary Logical Learning Styles Visual Social Physical Aural Verbal Solitary Logical

Graphing Your Preferences As we go through the style descriptions, think about how often you use that style. You will “plot” your frequencies on a graph like the one on the next slide. 0 = hardly ever 20 = almost always

Preferred Learning Style Graph

Learning Styles Preferences Visual – using pictures, images, and spatial understanding Social – learning in groups or with other people. Physical – using your body, hands and sense of touch Aural – using sound and music Verbal – using words, both in speech and writing. Solitary – working alone and use self-study. Logical –using logic, reasoning and systems.

VISUAL Prefer using images, pictures, colors, maps to organize information and communicate with others. You easily visualize objects, plans and outcomes in your mind’s eye.

VISUAL You have good spatial sense, which gives you a good sense of direction. You have no problem using maps, and you rarely get lost. When you walk out of an elevator, you usually just “know” which way to turn. You love drawing, scribbling and doodling, especially with colors. You typically have a sense of color.

VISUAL You may use phrases like these: Let’s look at it differently. See how this works for you. I can’t quite picture it. Let’s draw a diagram or map. I’d like to get a different perspective. I never forget a face.

Learning Styles Preferences Visual – using pictures, images, and spatial understanding Social – learning in groups or with other people. Physical – using your body, hands and sense of touch Aural – using sound and music Verbal – using words, both in speech and writing. Solitary – working alone and use self-study. Logical –using logic, reasoning and systems.

SOCIAL You communicate well with people, both verbally and non-verbally. People listen to you or come to you for advice, and you are sensitive to their motivations, feelings or moods. You listen well and understand other’s views. You may enjoy mentoring or counseling others.

SOCIAL You prefer to stay around after class and talk with others. You prefer social activities, rather than doing your own thing. You typically like games that involve other people, such as card games and board games and team sports.

SOCIAL You prefer learning in groups or classes, or you like to spend much one-on-one time with a teacher or an instructor. You learn better by bouncing your thoughts off other people and listening to how they respond. You thoroughly enjoy working with a group of people who “click”.

SOCIAL You may use phrases like these: Let’s work together on this. We can work it out. Tell me what you are thinking. Help me understand this. Let’s pull some people together to discuss. Let’s explore our options.

Learning Styles Preferences Visual – using pictures, images, and spatial understanding Social – learning in groups or with other people. Physical – using your body, hands and sense of touch Aural – using sound and music Verbal – using words, both in speech and writing. Solitary – working alone and use self-study. Logical –using logic, reasoning and systems.

PHYSICAL You like to use your sense of touch. You probably like sports and exercise, and other physical activities. You like to think while you exercise. You are sensitive to the physical world around you (textures of clothes, etc.) You like “getting your hands dirty,” or making things.

PHYSICAL You use gestures and other body language to communicate. When you are learning a new skill or topic, you would prefer to “jump in” and do something physical as soon as possible. You would prefer to pull an engine apart and put it back together, rather than reading or looking at diagrams about how it works.

PHYSICAL The thought of sitting in a lecture listening to someone else talk makes you shudder. In those circumstances, you fidget or can’t sit still for long. You want to get up and move around.

PHYSICAL You may use phrases like these: That feels right to me. I can’t get a grip on this… Stay in touch. Get in touch with… That doesn’t sit right with me. I have good feelings about this. My gut is telling me… I follow your drift.

Learning Styles Preferences Visual – using pictures, images, and spatial understanding Social – learning in groups or with other people. Physical – using your body, hands and sense of touch Aural – using sound and music Verbal – using words, both in speech and writing. Solitary – working alone and use self-study. Logical –using logic, reasoning and systems.

AURAL You like to work with sound and music. You have a good sense of pitch and rhythm. You typically can sing, play a musical instrument, or identify the sounds of different instruments. Certain music makes you feel strong emotions.

AURAL You notice the music playing in the background of movies, TV shows and other media. You often hum or tap a song or jingle. Songs or tunes often just pop into your head.

AURAL You may use phrases like these: That sounds about right. That rings a bell. It’s coming through loud and clear. Tune in to what I’m saying Clear as a bell. That’s music to my ears.

Learning Styles Preferences Visual – using pictures, images, and spatial understanding Social – learning in groups or with other people. Physical – using your body, hands and sense of touch Aural – using sound and music Verbal – using words, both in speech and writing. Solitary – working alone and use self-study. Logical –using logic, reasoning and systems.

VERBAL You like both the written and spoken word, so you love reading and writing. You express yourself easily, both in both writing and verbally. You like playing on the meaning or sound of words, such as in tongue twisters, rhymes, limericks and the like.

VERBAL You know the meaning of many words, and regularly make an effort to find the meaning of new words. You use these words, as well as phrases you have picked up recently, when talking to others.

VERBAL You may use phrases like these: Tell me word for word… Let’s talk later. The word you’re looking for is… I hear you but I’m not sure I agree. Let me spell it out for you. In other words…

Learning Styles Preferences Visual – using pictures, images, and spatial understanding Social – learning in groups or with other people. Physical – using your body, hands and sense of touch Aural – using sound and music Verbal – using words, both in speech and writing. Solitary – working alone and use self-study. Logical –using logic, reasoning and systems.

SOLITARY You are private, introspective and independent. You can concentrate well, focusing your thoughts and feelings on your current topic. You are aware of your own thinking, and you may analyze the different ways you think and feel.

SOLITARY You often reflect on past events and the way you approached them. You may keep a journal, diary or personal log to record your personal thoughts and events. You like to spend time alone. You have a hobby that you do by yourself. You prefer remote places, away from crowds.

SOLITARY You feel that you know yourself. You think independently, and you know your mind You look for ways to develop a deeper understanding of yourself. You would rather work out a problem by going someplace quiet to think about possible solutions.

SOLITARY You may use phrases like these: I’d like some time to think it over. This is what I think or feel about that. I’d like to get away from everyone for a while. I’ll get back to you on that.

Learning Styles Preferences Visual – using pictures, images, and spatial understanding Social – learning in groups or with other people. Physical – using your body, hands and sense of touch Aural – using sound and music Verbal – using words, both in speech and writing. Solitary – working alone and use self-study. Logical –using logic, reasoning and systems.

LOGICAL You like logical and mathematical reasoning. You recognize patterns and connections between seemingly meaningless content. You classify and group information to help you learn or understand it. You work well with numbers and you can perform complex calculations. You remember “math” basics and can do moderately complex calculations in your head.

LOGICAL You typically work through problems and issues in a systematic way. You are happy setting numerical targets (like budgets) and you track your progress towards these. You like creating agendas, itineraries, and to-do lists, and you typically number and rank them before putting them into action. Your often support your point of view with examples or statistics.

LOGICAL You pick up logic flaws in other peoples words, writing or actions, and you may point these out to people (not always to everyone’s amusement). You like working out strategies and using simulation.

LOGICAL You may use phrases like these: That’s logical. Follow the process, procedure, or rules. There’s no pattern to this. Let’s make a list. We can work it out. Quantify it, or prove it!

Graphing Your Preferences Connect the “dots” on your graph and shade in the figure created. This gives you a visual representation of how you process information. But is it really accurate? Let’s double check.

Taking & Scoring the Style Inventory Read each statement on the Style Inventory Sheet. Decide how well the statement describes you. Write your answer in the outlined box on your answer sheet. 0 = nothing like me 1 = partly like me 2 = exactly like me

Taking & Scoring the Style Inventory adapted from material available at www.memletics.com

? A3 B3 C3 D3 E3 F3 G3 A1 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 A2 B2 C2 D2 E2 F2 G2 68 69 70 A1 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 A2 B2 C2 D2 E2 F2 G2 A3 B3 C3 D3 E3 F3 G3 ?

FILL IN THE MISSING LEARNING STYLES ON YOUR PAPER. Then, go back and graph your results again. A3 B3 C3 D3 E3 F3 G3

Mrs. Sims’ Learning Style

Pick up the list of questions from the front table Pick up the list of questions from the front table. Finish this tonight if you do not get done in class.

Answer these questions about your learning style preferences. Was your first graph mostly accurate or were you surprised? If so, how? Which style seems to be your “strongest”? Which style do you use least often? Show your graph to someone you often work with in this class. Are there huge differences? Are you similar in a lot of ways?

Techniques and/or Activities How can this help me? Working either in pairs, small groups, or alone, read through the Learning and Techniques sections of the Learning Style Packet. Fill in a chart like the one below for EACH style. You probably need at least a ½ page per style. Style Techniques and/or Activities VISUAL Images Colors Mind Maps Diagrams

How can this help me? Go through the suggestions your classmates came up with. Copy the chart below (I’d turn the paper sideways). Styles → Visual Social Aural Verbal Logical Physical Solitary HAVE Used WILL Use Class/Topic? Did it work? List up to three things you have used in the past for EACH style. If you haven’t used anything for a particular style, leave it blank. List at least ONE technique you will plan to use in the next week. Do this for ALL of the styles, not just your preferences. LATER, you will fill in which class you used the style in and on what topic. LATER, you will decide whether this technique was helpful or not.