Types of learning styles suitable for your kids

  Learning styles refer to the various methods people use to understand and retain information. Different individuals have distinct preferences when it comes to learning. Here are four main types of learning styles:

Traditional Learning Style

              Traditionally, there were four main learning styles: visual, aural/auditory, read/write and kinesthetic, known collectively as "VARK."

1.  Visual learners do well with information in graphic form. Maps, graphic organizers and charts are just a few ways that a visual style of processing information helps some people learn.

2.Aural/Auditory learners tend to learn best when materials are accessed out loud, such as 

   with live lectures, listening to podcasts or engaging in group discussions.

3. Read/Write learners prefer information in written form. Accessing content via reports,          essays, books, manuals or even websites tend to work best for people with this                     predominant style.

4. Kinesthetic learners tend to learn best when physical movement is involved in the lesson      or activity. For example, hands-on laboratory experiments or experiential activities help        people with this dominant learning style engage with information.

           

1.Visual Learning:

• Description                                                                                                                      Visual learners grasp information best through visual aids such as graphs, illustrations,           diagrams, videos, and images
•   Approximately 65% of people fall into this category.

        Examples of teaching methods:

• Incorporate visuals into your lessons.
• Use images, charts, maps, infographics, and illustrations.
• Create video courses to engage visual learners.
• How to recognize visual learners in your class:

                             Someone with a preference for visual learning is partial to seeing and observing things, including pictures, diagrams, written directions and more. This is also referred to as the “spatial” learning style. Students who learn through sight understand information better when it’s presented in a visual way. These are your doodling students, your list makers and your students who take notes.

How to cater to visual learners:

The whiteboard or smartboard is your best friend when teaching these types of learners. Give students opportunities to draw pictures and diagrams on the board or ask students to doodle examples based on the topic they’re learning. Teachers catering to visual learners should regularly make handouts and use presentations. Visual learners may also need more time to process material, as they observe the visual cues before them. So be sure to give students a little time and space to absorb the information.

 2.  Auditory learning

           

                              Auditory learning is a style of learning in which an individual learns more efficiently by listening. Auditory learners remember information better when it’s delivered through sound or speech rather than written form.

             A person who is an auditory learner relies on speaking and listening as their primary way of learning. Many auditory learners may experience challenges when they receive instructions or information in written form but can clearly understand them when the information is auditory. These individuals are typically good listeners and can easily remember information that has been spoken. 

                For example, an auditory learner may remember everything that was said during a work meeting but has a hard time recalling the information that was outlined in a work report.

Common characteristics of an auditory learner include:

•  Increased recollection of spoken information
•  Improved speaking skills
•  Strong listening skills
•  Increased oral exam scores.
•  Improved storytelling skills

                   Individuals who are auditory learners typically excel in professional positions that regularly incorporate discussion and require active listening. A few of the most popular jobs best suited for people with an auditory learning style include guidance counselors, customer service professionals, attorneys, judges, and sound engineers.

   To enhance your learning experience as an auditory learner, consider   implementing the following strategies in the workplace:

• Play background music: Many auditory learners work best when there’s background noise as opposed to silence. Background noise, such as music, can help auditory learners concentrate more easily and be more productive. You can use headphones while at work, or if you work in a private office or at home, you can play light music or white noise in the background1.
• Ask for verbal direction: When receiving instructions, request verbal explanations or directions. Hearing the information directly can enhance your understanding.
• Participate in group discussions: Engage in conversations and group discussions to reinforce your learning. Active participation allows you to process information through listening and speaking.
• Read aloud: When studying or reviewing material, read it aloud. This reinforces auditory memory and comprehension.

  How to recognize auditory learners in your class: 

          Auditory learners tend to learn better when the subject matter is reinforced by sound. These students would much rather listen to a lecture than read written notes, and they often use their own voices to reinforce new concepts and ideas. These types of learners prefer reading out loud to themselves. They aren’t afraid to speak up in class and are great at verbally explaining things. Additionally, they may be slower at reading and may often repeat things a teacher tells them.

How to cater to auditory learners: 

           Since these students generally find it hard to stay quiet for long periods of time, get your auditory learners involved in the lecture by asking them to repeat new concepts back to you. Ask questions and let them answer. Invoke group discussions so your auditory and verbal processors can properly take in and understand the information they’re being presented with. Watching videos and using music or audiotapes are also helpful ways of learning for this group.

4. Reading/writing learning

Students who prefer the reading and writing learning style are more than just “bookworms” – they absorb all kinds of written information, and they have highly developed linguistic skills that often translate to future careers in writing, publishing, and editing.

They tend to be good speakers and leaders, and although this style is often confused with the visual learning style, it’s a unique method of learning that teachers should accommodate in their classrooms.

Below we take a closer look at the reading and writing learning style. We’ll discuss the best ways to effectively teach these students, and we’ll reveal common pitfalls that teachers should avoid.

Identifying reading and writing learners.

              It’s easy to spot students who learn best through reading and writing. These students seek out written information, often reading books or magazines and preferring to write things down in words rather than in pictures or graphs.

These students tend to perform very well on standardized reading comprehension tests, and they may not pay as much attention when you’re lecturing or delivering a spoken lesson. However, they might ask you to repeat something so they can write it down.

If you look at a reading and writing learner’s notes, you’ll likely notice lots of underlines, color-coding, and notes in the margins. 

Strengths and weaknesses of reading and writing learners.

Strengths

Every learning style has unique strengths. By enhancing those strengths, students will be more engaged and more likely to enjoy their work. As any teacher knows, enjoying their work helps children absorb necessary information easily and for a longer period of time.

• Independent learning and self-sufficiency

One of the biggest strengths of this learning style is that it encourages independent learning and aids in self-sufficiency. When these word-lovers discover how much more they can learn when they research and read, there’s no limit to how much they can achieve.

Independent learning helps these students learn at their own pace. For instance, being allowed to read ahead helps them gain confidence in their abilities and gives them the opportunity to dive deeper into topics they find interesting.

Weaknesses

There are also some things that reading/writing learners might struggle with in the classroom as well. Understanding these behaviors as coming from their learning styles and not from negative behavior will help you adjust your teaching methods to keep them engaged. 

Reading and writing learners often “zone out” while the teacher is talking.

Learning by just listening to the teacher is one of the biggest struggles for reading and writing learners. If they don’t know how to take notes or they don’t have a way to do so, you might see them zoning out while you’re teaching. 

Sometimes, reading and writing learners struggle to even remember what they just heard unless they have the ability to write it down.

Students may not respond well to class discussions.

It’s also difficult for reading and writing learners to participate in class discussions without something to read or some way to take notes. 

To some students, all this talking might end up sounding like noise. They might struggle to follow the progression of the discussion from one person to the other. 

If they participate in the discussion without taking notes or reading anything along with it, they might not remember much or they might struggle to apply that discussion to the information they are supposed to learn. 

Students require certain materials (pen and paper, etc.) that may not always be available.

When a student relies on reading and writing as their main method of retaining new knowledge, it can be a serious struggle on days when they don’t have access to a pen, paper, or a charged device. 

Reading and writing learners often have to fight the pull of distracting sights or sounds around them or get lost in their own thoughts. 

As an educator, if you notice your students struggling to participate in the lessons, provide them with the opportunity to read along with you or give them a way to take notes. This is easier than ever with the ActivPanel at your disposal. You can even use the polling function in Class Flow to see how much of the information is being retained by your students.

How to recognize reading/writing learners in your class: 

              According to the VARK Modalities theory developed by Fleming and Mills in 1992, reading/writing learners prefer to learn through written words. While there is some overlap with visual learning, these types of learners are drawn to expression through writing, reading articles or books, writing in diaries, looking up words in the dictionary and searching the internet for just about everything.

How to cater to reading/writing learners:

            Of the four learning styles, this is probably the easiest to cater to since much of the traditional educational system tends to center on writing essays, doing research and reading books. Be mindful about allowing plenty of time for these students to absorb information through the written word and give them opportunities to get their ideas out on paper as well.

Kinesthetic (or tactile) learners:

Kinesthetic learners learn best through hands-on experiences and physical activities. They prefer to engage with material through touch, movement, and interaction. They may excel in activities such as experiments, simulations, role-playing, and hands-on demonstrations.

Here are some characteristics and preferences commonly associated with kinesthetic learners:

1.Hands-on activities: Kinesthetic learners learn best when they can engage with material through touch, movement, and physical manipulation. They prefer activities such as experiments, demonstrations, simulations, and interactive projects.

2.Movement: Kinesthetic learners often benefit from incorporating movement into their learning process. This can include activities such as pacing while studying, using gestures to express ideas, and participating in role-playing exercises.

3.Practical applications: They tend to grasp concepts more effectively when they can see real-world applications. Practical demonstrations and examples help them understand abstract concepts by connecting them to tangible experiences.

4.Physical engagement: Kinesthetic learners may struggle with passive learning activities such as lectures or reading for extended periods without physical interaction. They often prefer to be actively involved in the learning process.

5.Field trips and experiential learning: They thrive in environments that offer opportunities for hands-on exploration, such as field trips, workshops, and laboratory settings.

6.Manipulative materials: Kinesthetic learners benefit from using physical objects, manipulatives, and tools to explore concepts and solve problems. These can include items like blocks, models, puzzles, or interactive learning kits.

7.Role-playing and simulations: Activities that involve role-playing scenarios or simulations allow kinesthetic learners to immerse themselves in the subject matter and actively participate in the learning process.

8.Physical cues and body language: They may use physical cues and body language to express themselves and understand others. Moving around or using gestures can help them process information and communicate their thoughts more effectively. By incorporating these strategies and techniques into their learning experiences, kinesthetic learners can enhance their understanding and retention of information.

Benefits of Kinesthetic Learning Style Kinesthetic learners typically play with the material and need physical sensations to learn. This has several benefits for students.

Improved Comprehension Inadequate teaching styles can prevent kinesthetic learners from learning as effectively as other students. For example, the lack of hands-on activities can make it harder for kinesthetic learners to engage with the material. In another instance, kinesthetic learners may struggle with written assignments and tests because they prefer to learn through physical activity. If a teacher only emphasizes written work, kinesthetic learners may feel left behind. If teachers do not recognize the importance of different learning styles, they may not provide opportunities for kinesthetic learners to learn effectively. This can lead to frustration and a lack of engagement in the classroom. On the other hand, when kinesthetic learners are being taught in a way tailored to their learning method, the comprehension process can be very effective. This can lead to better academic performance and greater engagement with the learning process.

Supports Cognitive Development Many studies suggest that thinking and movement are connected in our brains. Pairing cognitive activity with movement is an effective way to help kinesthetic learners stay focused and interested in the material they are learning. Movement also helps kinesthetic learners understand concepts by providing a physical representation of the ideas they are trying to learn. For example, a kinesthetic learner will understand the concept of gravity better by acting out the force of gravity on their body. By engaging their bodies and minds simultaneously, kinesthetic learners improve their retention, understanding, and creativity.

Better Social Skills

Kinesthetic learning often involves group work and collaboration, which helps students develop teamwork and communication skills.

Group role-playing, teamwork, and cooperation are important elements that help kinesthetic learners develop social skills.

Through working together to complete physical tasks, learners can practice listening to others, providing feedback, and problem-solving as a group.

Additionally, kinesthetic learning improves verbal communication skills. Through practicing activities with peers, learners get better at articulating their thoughts and ideas. 

Boosts Creative Thinking

Kinesthetic learning promotes divergent thinking. This is the ability to think creatively and generate multiple solutions to a problem. 

By engaging in physical activities, learners approach problems from different angles and explore multiple solutions.

Kinesthetic learning also encourages learners to experiment and try new things. By physically engaging with materials and manipulating them in different ways, learners explore and discover new ways of thinking and problem-solving.

For instance, kinesthetic learners can participate in building projects, such as constructing models or structures to develop creativity and imagination.

Improves Muscle Memory

Kinesthetic learning helps improve muscle memory by engaging the learner's body in the learning process. 

Muscle memory is a type of procedural memory that involves the ability to repeat a physical task or movement without conscious thought. It’s developed through repeated practice.

Kinesthetic learning often involves using the whole body to perform physical tasks. This helps develop muscle memory by engaging multiple muscle groups and making the movement more natural and automatic.

Examples of kinesthetic learning activities that can improve muscle memory include.

• Sports such as shooting a basketball or practicing dance routines and other physical activities.
• Performing arts, such as theater or dance, that involve repeated physical movements and actions.
• Fine motor skill development, such as drawing or playing musical instruments, that involve precise movements and hand-eye coordination.

Kinesthetic Teaching Tools

There are many tools or activities that teachers can use to help kinesthetic learners understand and retain information.

Animations

Animations are visual representations of movement and change created through a series of sequential images or frames. They can be created using hand-drawn images, computer-generated graphics, and stop-motion techniques.

Animations can tell stories, explain complex concepts, and demonstrate the movement of objects or the flow of a process.

For example, you can create a series of photographs of a physical object or scene, with slight changes between each photo. When the photos are played back in sequence, they create the illusion of movement.

You can use this kind of animation to explain concepts such as evaporation, movement of blood through the circulatory system, and more.

By using animation techniques, you can depict complex processes and concepts in a simplified and interactive way for the kinesthetic learner.

Stand-on Simulations

Stand-on simulations refer to a type of training or exercise where participants remain standing throughout the simulation instead of sitting or moving around.

In stand-on simulations, participants are asked to role-play different scenarios and make decisions under pressure while standing and moving around a simulated environment. 

This helps improve physical stamina, coordination, and decision-making skills, while also providing a more dynamic and engaging learning experience.

By engaging in stand-on simulations, kinesthetic learners can use their bodies and physical movements to better understand and internalize new information and skills.

In addition, stand-on simulations help kinesthetic learners develop problem-solving and decision-making skills by requiring them to react quickly and make decisions while in motion.

Micro-Learning Lessons

Microlearning is a teaching method that delivers content in short, bite-sized lessons designed to be consumed quickly and easily. 

Microlearning lessons are designed to be brief and concise, with most lessons ranging from a few minutes to 15 minutes or less. Here, teachers focus on one learning objective at a time.

Micro-learning lessons can be delivered as experiments, videos, podcasts, infographics, or interactive quizzes, to make the learning experience more engaging and interactive.

By breaking down content into smaller chunks, learners can absorb information more easily and retain it for longer. 

Interactive Documents

Interactive documents are digital documents that allow users to engage with the content in a more interactive way. 

Unlike traditional static documents, such as PDFs or Word documents, interactive documents include multimedia elements such as images, videos, gifs and clickable links.

They allow users to navigate and explore the content more easily. Some common examples of interactive documents are:

• Interactive PDFs
• E-books
• Online magazines and catalogs
• Interactive digital presentations such as polls and quizzes

Interactive documents provide a more engaging and interactive way to present information and assess learning outcomes. 

Role-Playing Exercise

Role playing is a teaching method that involves simulating real-life situations in which learners take on different roles or characters.

Role playing is an effective tool for kinesthetic learners, because it provides them with an opportunity to engage with the material in a more hands-on and interactive way.

For example, let's say you are teaching a lesson on conflict resolution. You could start by presenting a scenario, such as a disagreement between two friends.

To help your kinesthetic learners better understand and apply the material, you could ask them to take on different roles, such as the two friends and a mediator.

Kinesthetic Teaching Methods 

As a teacher, you should be able to determine which of your learners are kinesthetic. This way, you can employ teaching methods to improve their academic performance.

incorporating Kinesthetic-Friendly Activities in Your Lessons

Shorter lessons are a kinesthetic-friendly approach that helps learners stay engaged and focused throughout the lesson. You can introduce activities to help them develop various skills and abilities.

Shorter lessons help learners retain more information by allowing them to focus on a smaller amount of material at one time. This can be particularly important for kinesthetic learners who may struggle to stay focused on longer lessons.

Shorter lessons also provide more opportunities for learners to review and reflect on what they have learned. This helps to reinforce their understanding and promote deeper learning.

By incorporating kinesthetic-friendly activities in your classroom, you can help kinesthetic learners be more fully engaged and successful in their learning.

Implement Movement

For kinesthetic learners, body movement is an essential part of the learning process. It’s important to allow them to move in the classroom because movement helps kinesthetic learners improve their focus and attention by providing an outlet for excess energy.

Movement-based activities also encourage kinesthetic learners to express their creativity in new and unique ways.

Remember, it’s important to incorporate movement into a classroom without negatively affecting classroom management.

Establish clear guidelines and expectations for movement in the classroom by:

• Amount of movement allowed during certain activities,
• Establishing rules for movement and noise levels, and 
• Providing alternative activities for students who struggle with movement-based learning.

Motivate Students to Create Their Own Notes

Encouraging your students to take notes helps them to understand better and retain information, as well as improve their organizational skills.

Taking notes helps kinesthetic learners reinforce what they’ve learned by allowing them to review the material at a later time. 

This also helps them to identify areas where they may need additional clarification or support.

You should encourage your students to take notes in several ways until they determine which style works best for them.

Take Your Class Outside

Taking your class outside provides opportunities for students to move around and engage with the environment in a more hands-on way.

Taking the class outside provides opportunities for them to engage with the environment through sight, sound, touch, and even smell, which enhances their learning experience.

Kinesthetic learners benefit from making real-world connections to the topic they are learning. Taking the class outside allows them to see it more tangibly and make connections to their own experiences.

Career Options for Kinesthetic Learners

Motivating our students to learn with kinesthetic learning prepares them for a bright future with careers such as:

• Physician: Medical training often includes opportunities for hands-on experience, such as clinical rotations, internships, and residency programs, which can be ideal for tactile learners.
• Automotive mechanic: An automotive mechanic's work involves a great deal of hands-on work with tools and equipment. This work requires a strong mechanical aptitude and good problem-solving skills, which are traits that many tactile learners possess.
• Sports coach: Many successful coaches are kinesthetic learners with a natural ability to demonstrate techniques and communicate effectively through physical movement.