Students all learn differently. The four learning styles are auditory, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic. What can students do to enhance their learning curve?
In The Beginning
When students are young and in elementary school, teachers teach to all the modalities and learning "just happens." As students get older, the delivery system for gaining information is more and more lecture. How many students learn by auditory lectures? Approximately 30%. So, what is happening to the other 70% of the students? If you spend any time in a classroom, you know the answer to this question. The remaining 70% are
- straining to focus,
- feeling inferior (stupid),
- confused,
- checking out (daydreaming), or
- entertaining themselves (bothering others).
What can students do to help themselves?
Middle School
As students get older, they need to accept more responsibility for their education. There are many techniques students can try at each modality level. Research by Dunn and Dunn has produced many helpful avenues to try. Students differ in learning styles but they also differ in their ability to learn by
- optimal time of day for learning,
- need for food or water intake while studying,
- temperature of the room,
- colors around them,
- brain dominance,
- surface of the chair they are sitting in,
- and, the four modalities found below.
What if I'm an auditory learner?
Auditory Learners
This is the basic learning style. Unfortunately, a small group of students learn by this method. If you learn by hearing, how can you study best?
- Reading out loud.
- Taperecord lectures and play several times outside of class.
- Participate in class discussions. Talking cements in data.
- A teacher asking questions holds interest.
What if I learn by seeing?
Visual Learners
If you learn by seeing, how can you study best?
- Take good notes.
- Read textbook and notes several times.
- Study pictures, make posters, watch films.
- Study transparencies, charts, diagrams and illustrations.
What if I'm a tactile learner?
Tactile Learners
If you learn best by touching, how can you study best?
- Have hands in motion
- Doodling
- Take notes
- Learning games
- Clay models
- Dioramas
What if I learn best by moving?
Kinesthetic Learners
If you learn best by whole body movement, how can you study best?
- Whole body activity
- Walking
- Building a project
- Plays
- Pantomime
- Acting out characters
- Making something
One student told me that he remembered what he read best while on an exercise bike. Kinesthetic learners are likely to be boys.
The ideal classroom situation would be if teachers taught information 3 times and in 3 different modalities. But, when that doesn't happen, students can use these methods to help themselves and eachother.
Related articles: Famous Right Brains, Left Brains and Right Brains, Right/Left Brain Background, Left Brain Characteristics, SAT and the Learning Disabled.
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
For more information on Dunn and Dunn research, see Books by Dunn and Dunn
Copyright article 2006 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
