Individual Learning Styles

4

Discuss how the awareness of individual learning styles, preferences and strategies influence teaching (those who are in a position to teach) and learning
(those who are in a position to learn).

My overall learning style calculated to be no surprise mildly kinesthetic! I have a hard time sitting still and study better with someone drilling me questions rather than listening to a lecture. My body needs to be actively doing something in order for me to retain the information being given. If Im just sitting there I tend to zone off really easily and my memory will not retain much that is needed. Although this learning style can be seen as severely debilitating it comes with many strengths and good points as well. As bad as my hand feet coordination
is I have great hand eye coordination, I tend to think more with the right side of my brain which makes me great in art and drama. I see color very differently which is why I spent fifteen years doing hair and
makeup.
I usually think outside of the box and I have a ton of energy. I like a challenge and my high levels of energy help my motor memory duplicate things after visually seeing them done one time. So as a kinesthetic learner we are very active we need to get up and move our bodies to retain something into our memory. Although the teacher can't always focus on our individual needs to enhance our learning style, there are many things we can do on our own to retain the info being taught.
Since kinesthetic learners need to have body movement to be able to learn, it can be highly problematic to the teacher or other students who do not possess the same learning style. There are numerous things we can do to enhance our learning ability without really disrupting others. Taking a quick run to the bathroom to stretch your legs and do a couple ergonomic exercises are helpful during a long lecture. One movement that keeps me focused is taking constant notes not he lecture. This forces me to stay tuned into the lecture not missing anything important. Volunteering when asked by the teacher for help is an extremely effective strategy to keep yourself engaged in the lecture. Or before class ask to
volunteer ahead of time for passing out worksheets, handouts, slides ect. If the teacher knows you benefit from this ahead of time they will more than likely be more willing to involve you in these things knowing its a positive learning strategy for you. Another great strategy that helps me a lot is having snacks. I find myself tuning out or falling asleep especially when your teacher or other students get off subject for too long. If I have healthy snacks with a cold beverage I am more alert and motivated to learn.

Everyone has a certain learning style that if taught the proper strategies can benefit in their studies more effectively.
There are visual learners who learn best

from visual aids such as maps, charts, and graphs, as well as colorful handouts. The kinesthetic like myself that learn better by manipulating the information given by touching or experimenting. Last there are auditory learners who favor more the lectures and discussing the information. Auditory learners are usually the best listeners. We are all unique in our learning styles which can be quite challenging for the instructor teaching a large class. I feel for the instructor because its just natural for them to lecture according to their own personal learning strategy they possess.
The instructors can include different activities that target all learning strategies such as using graphs and charts, involving the class in ergonomic exercises to keep awake and encouraging students to initiate discussions in groups, however since this is so difficult to target everyone individually, its up to the students to own and know their own learning strategy and what to do to help themselves learn more effectively on their own as well. Visual learners can create their own color coded diagrams to
help themselves retain information, kinesthetic learners can take their own personal notes, make note cards to keep on track, and auditory learners can record the lectures to play over at a later time.
I have had so many challenging classes and had to learn this the hard way. The first step is to take some tests to know what your learning style is. after you know your learning style, then you research different strategies and incorporate them into your study habits and lectures in class. We are all unique in the style we learn from however when we match our style with our learning preference’s our overall learning abilities and study habits will improve our overall academic performance resulting in our own academic success.

Twelve Active Learning Strategies. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www1.umn.edu/ ohr/teachlearn/tutorials/powerpoint/learning/index.html 4 Strategies for Bodily-Kinesthetic Learners |The Live in Asia Blog. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.liveinasiablog.com/2011/04/4-strategies-for-bodily-kinestheticlearners/

UVU | Kinesthetic Learning Style | Learning Styles | Home. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.uvu.edu/learningstrategies/styles/kinesthetic.html