Cal state University
How do I learn best?
Simply defined, your learning style is the way you tend to learn best. Learning styles do not gauge a person's abilities or intelligence, but they can explain why some tasks may seem easier than others.
According to the VARK system, five learning styles exist: visual learning style, auditory learning style, reading and writing learning style, kinesthetic learning style and multimodal learning style. Visual learners use graphic presentations like charts, diagrams, and graphs to understand information. Aural learners rely on discussions, recordings and lectures to process information. Kinesthetic learners learn best when they can put concepts that they are learning into actions or activities for which they rely on videos and demonstrations.
Majority of learners fall under the multimodal strategy of learning. Multimodal study strategy is a learning method which utilizes various sensory modalities of a learner. Utilization of multimodal strategy “has expanded the ways we acquire information and understand concepts.”("Position Statement on Multimodal Literacies," n.d., para. 13) Multimodal strategy combines print, images, animation, speech, and sound as its style. ("Position Statement on Multimodal Literacies," n.d., para. 15) The Multimodal Study strategy allows for switching between various styles, that is, visual, aural, read/write or kinesthetic, for the purposes of better communication and learning. The more varied ways a person learns something, the more truly that person understands that concept, (Lazear, 2008) gains a deeper understanding of the subject and retains the information longer.
In utilizing the multimodal structure of education, the educator can accommodate use of various tools like visual graphics, documentaries and interactive modules to supplement a lecture. This helps in reinforcing the material being taught. Utilizing methods that stimulate different senses
References: Lazear, D. (2008). “Multi-Modal” Learning by David Lazear. Retrieved from http://www.davidlazeargroup.com/free_articles/multi-modal.html . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-guides/reading-online-30096.html Heady, S. A. (2010). Health Education. In C. L. Edelman, & C. L. Mandle (Eds.), Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span (7 ed., pp. 243-258). St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby Elsevier. Maier, C. (n.d.). Multimodal Teaching Strategies. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_12049345_multimodal-teaching-strategies.html Metiri Group. (2008). Multimodal Learning Through Media: What the Research Says. Retrieved from http://www.cisco.com/web/strategy/docs/education/Multimodal-Learning-Through-Media.pdf NCTE Position Statement. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ncte.org/positions/statements/multimodalliteracies