Learning styles

The most important concept to understand when in a position to teach is that those in a position to learn may have different styles of learning. Not everyone learns the same way. The next most important concepts a person in a position to teach needs to understand are the different learning styles. In 1987, Neil Fleming developed a model and self-test to help learners understand more about their learning styles. Fleming enables learners to understand how they learn best by asking a set of questions that help them figure out which category of learner they are. Visual learners prefer learning by pictures, movies, and diagrams. Auditory learners prefer learning through music, discussion, and lectures. Reading and writing learners do better by making lists, reading textbooks, and taking notes. Kinesthetic learners learn through movement, experiments, and hands-on activities. Not everyone fits perfectly into one category. In fact, most learners multimodal and share learning styles from more than one category.
Understanding the different styles of learning helps the teacher present information in different ways that appeal to the different learning styles. For example if a teacher’s only mode to impart information is to lecture then he or she probably is not reaching the entire audience as effectively as possible. The teacher may be meeting the learning style of auditory learners, but missing an opportunity with visual, reading and writing and kinesthetic learners. However, if the teacher incorporates power point shows, handouts, demonstrations and skills practice sessions along with lectures into the teaching, he or she is more likely to reach the various types of learners.
Learners also benefit from knowing their learning style. Understanding your learning style can be like having a key that helps crack the code of learning. For example, understanding that one is an auditory learner can help one from getting frustrated by trying to learn by re-reading a text book over and over. An auditory learner might be more productive by taping lecture and listening to it a few times or by using audio books. A visual learner may get more out of watching a video or looking at handouts about the learning topic than listening to a lecture and reading and writing learners may need to read the text to understand the lecture. Kinesthetic learners may need hands on experience rather than lecture. Knowing you learning style can be enlightening. Learning is not one size fits all.
Rudyard Kipling wrote a short story that is a favorite with many children called Rikki-Tikki-Tavi. It is about is about the adventures of a brave young mongoose. The mongoose, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, is always running, exploring and doing. This is a perfect example of a kinesthetic learner who learns best by touching and doing. Sometimes called tactile learners because hands-on experience is what appeals to these learners. This reader was identified as a kinesthetic learner. This reader whole-heartedly agrees that kinesthetic learners like tasks that directly involve manipulating things with their hands. They don’t like to sit still for long periods of time. They are best at functional activities such as painting, cooking, and putting things together. Kinesthetic learners need to practice an activity to learn it. This is why the story of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi appeals so much to children because most young children are kinesthetic learners. Most children develop different learning styles as they grow, but not all.
This reader and other kinesthetic learners are sometimes seen as disruptive because they can’t just sit and do the work. Uninformed teachers may consider these learners as hyperactive and difficult. Now the truth is exposed. Once the concept of learning styles is understood and the learning style is identified, it is easy to see that these learners aren’t being difficult. Kinesthetic learners just learn in different ways. Kinesthetic learners learn best when they can move around and use both large and small muscle groups. There are many ways to help kinesthetic learners complement their learning style.

This Reader’s Learning Strategies that Help Kinesthetic Learners:
• Move while listening to information
• Tap pencil or foot while learning
• Learn while doing physical activities, like laboratories and skills labs
• Take frequent small breaks while studying
• Don’t waste time re-reading information that is not being absorbed
• Use spell check
• Solve problems by using physical means to work them through like an abacus, modeling clay, number lines and models
• Try new things, learn through trial and error
• Dress for comfort, not style to feel less restricted
• Lie on the floor or bed when studying
• Touch things you are trying to learn about
• Use flash cards for rote memorization to have something to hold
• Try applying what you are learning to real life experiences
• Go field trips when possible

This reader closely identifies with kinesthetic learners, like Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, who learn by doing, discovering and experiencing. Kinesthetic learners may learn differently, not better or worse than any other learning styles. Understanding the kinesthetic style of learning helps the teacher present information in ways that appeal to the kinesthetic learner.