How to Teach to Every Learner: Understanding Different Learning Styles
Every student has their own learning style. For some, it's an easy breeze to understand a subject while for others it’s a struggle. It has nothing to do with intelligence but about understanding how we learn best.
90% of students believe that knowing their learning style improves their learning. Trust me, when you know how you learn best, you can tailor your study methods, make learning more enjoyable, and achieve better results.
So, let's explore the different types of learning styles and see how you can tailor your teaching methods to reach all your students.
What Are Learning Styles?
Picture this: You’ve decided to learn something new. Do you prefer to watch a video, listen to a podcast, or try it out yourself? That's what learning styles are.
Learning styles are individual preferences in how people learn best. They can influence how information is processed, understood, and remembered.
Some people may learn best by seeing and visualizing information, while others may prefer to hear it explained verbally. Still, others may learn more effectively by doing and experiencing things firsthand.
Identify Your Students' Learning Styles: Guide For The Teachers
Before you go ahead with the type of learning style, you need to understand how different students learn best. This will surely help you to create different ways of learning environments where everyone feels engaged and excited.
But how will you identify the learning styles of your students? Here are some ways how you can identify your students' learning styles:
- Observe your students’ behavior: By paying attention to how they interact with materials, participate in discussions, and approach tasks, you can identify whether students are visual learners, auditory learners, or kinesthetic learners.
- Ask Direct Questions: Asking direct questions about students' learning preferences can provide further clarity. Inquire about their preferred ways of learning, such as reading, listening, or doing, and determine which senses they rely on most.
- Include sign-up forms: Sign-up forms can help identify learning styles by asking questions about preferences for learning methods, such as visual aids, hands-on activities, or verbal explanations
10 Types Of Learning Styles: Along With Teaching Tips
Now, let me take you through the different types of learning styles along with some teaching methods on how you can make the most of the learning styles.
1. Visual Learning
Do you have learners who understand better when information is presented visually? This is where visual learning will be really beneficial for you.
Visual learning is also referred to as spatial learning which includes images, diagrams, charts, graphs, and even physical demonstrations.
For visual learners, seeing something concrete helps them to grasp concepts and retain information more effectively.
Teaching Styles For Visual Learning
- Use visual aids: Incorporate images, diagrams, and charts into your learning materials.
- Take notes visually: Use mind maps, outlines, or bullet points to organize information.
- Watch videos: Visual learners often benefit from watching videos or documentaries.
- Practice drawing or sketching: This can help improve visual memory and understanding.
- Use color-coding: Highlight important information or differentiate between concepts using different colors.
2. Auditory Learning
If you have students who understand lessons by listening to others talk about a topic rather than reading or watching videos, they might be auditory learners. This type of learning style is shared by approximately 30% of the population.
As an audio learner, lectures, discussions, music, and audiobooks are your jam. Your brain seems to make sense when you hear them. Also, you might be good at music or have a good sense of rhythm.
Teaching Styles for Auditory Learning
Record lectures or presentations: Record your lectures for your students. This allows you to listen to the information at your own pace and as many times as needed.
- Study with a partner: Encourage discussions that can help solidify the learning process.
- Use audiobooks: Offer audiobooks which is a great way to learn while on the go.
- Create mnemonics: Mnemonics, which are memory aids that use rhymes or acronyms, can be helpful for auditory learners. You can use this to your full benefit for auditory learners
3. Kinesthetic Learning
Kinesthetic learning is simply- learning by doing. If your learners are full of beans and understand something by feeling it, touching it, or moving around, they’re kinesthetic learners.
The best example of kinesthetic learning is when you’re trying to teach how to ride a bike. Instead of just reading or hearing the instructions, it’s much better to get on the bike and ride it. Isn’t it?
Kinesthetic learners often find it hard to sit still for too long and love getting their hands dirty with hands-on projects.
Teaching Styles For Kinesthetic Learners
- Encourage having a study buddy: A partner can provide motivation and accountability.
- Experiment with different learning techniques: See what works best for your learners.
- Encourage them to ask questions: Clarifying doubts can help you teach and understand concepts better.
- Provide hands-on activities: Offer opportunities to participate in experiments, demonstrations, or group projects.
4. Verbal Learning
Your learners like to read textbooks, take notes, and share their ideas through essays or presentations. If this sounds like them, they’re verbal learners.
Verbal learners are good at understanding and using both written and spoken language, and they can express themselves really well. Whether it's reading books, writing essays, giving speeches, or debating, you do best when you can use words.
And this is why, this learning style is great for jobs that require strong communication skills, like teaching, law, journalism, or public speaking.
Teaching Styles For Verbal Learners
- Ask Them To Read Aloud: This practice helps reinforce auditory learning and improves pronunciation. Choose books, articles, or scripts that interest you and read them aloud, paying attention to your pacing, intonation, and expression.
- Discuss Ideas: Engage in conversations with friends, family, or classmates. Encourage them to talk about topics they’re interested in and ask them to express their thoughts clearly.
- Create Stories: Let their imagination run wild and make them write stories, poems, or scripts. This creative outlet allows them to experiment with language and develop their storytelling skills.
- Make Use Of Podcasts and Audiobooks: Immerse them in the spoken word by listening to podcasts, audiobooks, or lectures. In this learning process, ask them to pay attention to the speaker's tone, vocabulary, and delivery.
5. Logical Learning
Logical learning is all about the whats and whys. If your learners are into logical learning, they’ll probably get frustrated when you ask them to memorize lessons without understanding.
Since they love figuring out why things work the way they do, they love puzzles, brain teasers, and anything that makes them think.
So, make sure you use these in your teaching strategies.
Teaching Styles For Logical Learners
- Visualize concepts: Create mental images that connect knowledge and make it easier to recall.
- Break down the problems: Break down complicated challenges into smaller, more achievable steps.
- Use analogies: Compare unknown concepts to familiar ones to improve your knowledge.
- Practice with logic puzzles: Engage their intellect in activities like quizzes that need logical reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
Freshlearn offers you all the tools to create quizzes that can help you to achieve just that.
You can create your assessments by experimenting with different question types. Not just that, you can enhance your courses and boost student engagement along with advanced security and scoring features
5. Musical Learning
Think about it: Have you ever found yourself remembering a grocery list because you made up a catchy little song about it? That's a musical learner at work!
Musical learning, as one of the learning styles, taps into a student's innate ability to understand and appreciate music.
If your students exhibit this style and often find it easier to learn through rhythm, melody, and sound, they may be particularly drawn to musical instruments, singing, or composing.
Teaching Styles For Musical Learners
- Encourage them to practice regularly: Consistent practice is the foundation of musical development. Even brief, everyday exercises can dramatically improve their abilities.
- Motivate them to listen actively: Pay close attention to the music they appreciate. Analyze the melody, rhythm, and harmony. This will enhance their comprehension and appreciation of many musical forms.
- Seek Guidance: A good teacher can provide tailored education, rectify errors, and provide useful feedback. Inspire them to consider taking courses to speed up their learning.
- Experiment and Have Fun: Experimenting with different styles might help them to find their musical voice. Most importantly, have fun while learning. Music should be an enjoyable experience!
6. Intrapersonal Learning
Intrapersonal learners are those who like learning on their own and reflecting profoundly on their experiences.
Similar to introverts, they enjoy introspection. They relate what they learn to their own experiences and grasp things by figuring them out for themselves.
They enjoy learning independently and completing activities that allow them to develop their own thoughts. They may find it difficult to focus in busy environments since they require quiet to think clearly.
Teaching Styles For Intrapersonal Learners
- Create a Quiet Study Space: Locate an area where your learners can concentrate without being distracted. This could be a quiet corner of your room, a nearby library, or a tranquil outdoor area.
- Journaling and reflection: Encourage them to keep a record of their thoughts, feelings, and experiences regularly. This can help them absorb information and develop a better understanding of the learning style.
- Set Personal Goals: Create distinct learning objectives. Breaking down major goals into smaller, manageable steps might help them stay motivated and focused.
- Online Courses and Self-Paced Learning: Help them to research online Course platforms that provide self-paced courses and materials. This allows them to learn at their own pace and review topics as needed.
Extra tip: Platforms like Freshlearn help you to create courses that cater to all learning styles. Creating and uploading courses is so convenient that you’ll have your course ready in just a few minutes.
7. Interpersonal Learning
Interpersonal learning is one of the learning methods in which your learners behave like a social butterfly.
Interpersonal learners enjoy group projects, conversations, and arguments, and you learn best when you can bounce ideas off other people and collaborate.
They’re probably quite good at listening to others, understanding their points of view, and working in groups. But, let's be honest, studying alone can be lonely for them. And, they need that human connection to fully absorb the material.
Teaching Styles For Interpersonal Learners
Organize group activities: Take an active role in organizing conversations, debates, and group projects. This will help them to learn from the perspectives of others.
With Freshlearn’s cohort feature, you can create one day or multiple sessions depending on your dates, time, and time zones. That’s a great way of incorporating group activities into your teaching strategy.
- Group study: Encourage working with peers to clarify concepts to one another and enhance their understanding.
- Recommend Study groups: Ask them to connect with other students with similar learning styles and collaborate to achieve common objectives.
- Seek feedback: Motivate your learners to seek feedback from professors, peers, and mentors for constructive feedback on their work and suggestions for development.
8. Impulsive Learning
If your learners are impulsive people, chances are they’re into impulsive learning.
They don’t think much about making a decision and often rely on your gut feeling. It's like they have a built-in radar for figuring things out fast.
This can be a real advantage, especially in creative fields where they need to think outside the box. Impulsive learners are often great at brainstorming and coming up with new ideas.
But here's the thing: being impulsive can also lead to hasty judgments. Sometimes, they might just jump to conclusions without considering all the facts. So, impulsive learners need to learn how to slow down and think things through before making a decision.
Teaching Styles For Impulsive Learners
- Practice Mindfulness: Impulsive learners can benefit from practicing mindfulness skills like meditation or deep breathing since they can help them become more conscious of their thoughts and feelings.
- Establish Specific, Achievable Goals: Setting clear goals will aid impulsive learners in maintaining concentration and avoiding distractions.
- Seek Feedback: Ask mentors, peers, or teachers for feedback as they can acquire impulse control and pinpoint areas for improvement with this feedback.
- Create Self-Control Techniques: Indulge in self-control techniques like counting to ten before answering, inhaling deeply, or picturing a serene environment.
9. Experiential Learning
Although experiential learning and kinesthetic learning are sometimes used synonymously, they differ slightly.
For those with a kinesthetic learning style, doing, moving, and touching are the greatest ways to learn. They like doing things with their hands and moving about.
A more comprehensive approach to education that emphasizes learning from experience is called experiential learning.
It is not restricted to kinesthetic learning, even if it can include it. Any activity that offers a tangible experience, such as role-playing, simulations, or solving real-world problems, can be considered experiential learning.
Teaching Styles For Experiential Learners
- Seek for Real-World Experiences: Look for activities that allow you to engage hands-on with the material. This could be voluntary work, internships, experiments, or simulations.
- Collaborate with Others: Working with others can produce a variety of perspectives and enhance your understanding. Talk to each other, share experiences, and learn from each other.
Freshlearn has a community feature that can help you with this kind of collaboration. You can create your own community of like-minded people offer courses, and monetize your content.
- Think Back on Your Experiences: Reflect on your newly acquired knowledge and how it might be applied in real-world situations. Writing in a notebook or talking to others about your experiences can help you get a greater perspective.
- Experiment and Make Mistakes: Take chances and try new things without fear. Learning from your mistakes can be a beneficial aspect of the experiential learning process.
Wrapping Up
So you've determined how you learn best? That's fantastic! Knowing your learning style is like having a secret weapon.
Remember that it's okay to have a mix of styles, and your preferences may shift over time. The most important thing is to figure out what works best for you and take advantage of it.
Do you want to share your knowledge and help others learn? Go check out FreshLearn! It's a platform for creating your own courses and lessons.
Consider it your personal school, but online and accessible to all.
Intrigued? Sign up here to begin sharing your insights with the world!
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