Be Aware of Your Learning Style

Dr. John Nill

Workshop
What is the purpose of todays
workshop:
think about how you learn
learn something about learning styles
apply some knowledge about learning
styles to enhancing how you learn

Resources
You can find this lecture online at
www.scribd.com/jjconeill
And you can find some more information here on
Learning Styles:
http://www.ucd.ie/adulted/tutors/tutorresourcemate
rials/adultlearningstyles/#Learning_Styles
There is an online questionaire here:
http://vark-learn.com/the-varkquestionnaire/?p=questionnaire

Resources
You will need a
handout for this
workshop (it can
be downloaded
here:
https://www.scrib
d.com/doc/21331
1879/LearningStyleQuestionaire).

Become a self-directed learner

Student

Lecturer

Examples

Stage 1

Dependent

Authority,
Coach

Coaching with immediate feedback.

Drill. Informational lecture.
Overcoming deficiencies and
resistance.

Stage 2

Interested

Motivator,
Guide

Inspiring lecture plus guided

discussion. Goal-setting and learning
strategies.

Stage 3

Involved

Facilitator

Discussion facilitated by lecturer who

participates as equal. Seminar.
Group projects.

Stage 4

Self-directed

Consultant,
Delegator

Internship, dissertation, individual

work or self-directed study-group.

http://www.longleaf.net/ggrow/SSDL/Model.html#Figure1

How do You learn?

Whats My Style
Answer each question in the handout as
honestly as possible
When you have answered all the questions,
circle the number corresponding to your
answer on the list at the back of the handout
Add up each column
NB: THERE ARE NO WRONG ANSWERS!

Learning Styles
People think about learning styles in a number
of different ways based on:
left and right brain
auditory, visual and kinaesthetic

activists, reflectors, theorists and pragmatists

Learning Styles
Were going to focus on one today:

Visual

Auditory/Verbal

Kinaesthetic/Tactile

The Visual Learner - Some Characteristics

Remember what was read or seen
May think in words or pictures
Information may not exist for them unless it is seen or
written down
Like written reports better than verbal ones
Vivid imaginations
Use colour
Remember faces but not names
Sensitive to the way things look
Make lists about everything
http://www.trcc.commnet.edu/ed_resources/tasc/Training/Visual_Learning.htm

The Auditory /Verbal Learner - Some

Characteristics

Remember what they hear

Talk while they write
May be a good speaker
Information written down will have little meaning
unless it is heard
Distracted by noise
Pictures are distracting
Remember names but not faces
Write lightly and not always legibly
http://www.trcc.commnet.edu/ed_resources/tasc/Training/Visual_Learning.htm

The Kinaesthetic Learner - Some Characteristics

Remember what was done not what was talked

about
Dont hear things well
Learn by imitation and practice
Touches things to get a sense of them
Likes to talk about feelings
Love games (often athletic)
Impulsive
May appear slow if information is not presented in
their style
http://www.trcc.commnet.edu/ed_resources/tasc/Training/Visual_Learning.htm

The Visual Learner

Advantages

Disadvantages

Good at visualising events and Need more time to complete

imagining situations
tasks
Use visual strategies for
remembering information
Get considerable pleasure
from learning involving visual
and creative skills

See the whole picture when

discussing or working on a
problem or task.

More interested in the

appearance of something than
its actual value - which may be
a disadvantage in some
situations, though not in all

May not spend enough time

on, or give enough attention to
specific details

http://www.open2.net/survey/learningstyles/learning_styles.rtf

The Auditory Learner

Advantages
Benefit from talks and lectures
Able to absorb a lot of
information from radio
programmes
Skilled in sequencing and
organising information with a
methodical approach

Often considered a reliable and

independent worker

Disadvantages
Unable to multitask, having to
complete one job before
embarking on another
Focus on small bits of
information and do not obtain a
holistic and broad picture of
something you are working on
Prefer to work on your own
rather than work in groups

http://www.open2.net/survey/learningstyles/learning_styles.rtf

The Kinaesthetic Learner

Advantages

Disadvantages

This active learning style is

useful for assembling and
making products

Miss some instructions or

information if it is presented
orally

May find it easy to

demonstrate how to do
something

May find it difficult to

concentrate on a lengthy
written task while seated.

Likely to be able to enjoy the

actual experience of learning

Might find it hard to pay

attention to detail - especially if
it is in written form.

http://www.open2.net/survey/learningstyles/learning_styles.rtf

What is the average spread

of Learning Styles?

Visual
65%
Auditory
30%
Kinaesthetic 5%
http://www.ucd.ie/adulted/tutors/tutorresourcematerials/adultlearningstyles/#Learning_Styles

How do you like to Study?

Everyone uses all three types of learning,
but most people show a preference for one
over the other two.
If you know how you prefer to learn you
can choose to learn in the ways you prefer.