Left Brain vs. Right Brain Learning Styles
Left Brain vs. Right Brain Learning Styles
Joe Smith
American Military University
Left Brain vs. Right Brain Learning Styles
People learn in many different ways, but do you ever wonder why that is. Why are we so different and learn so differently? The brain is the answer to that question. The brain gives us what we need to determine what and who we are as people. Because of the human brain’s complexity, professors and teachers are starting to see that one way of teaching is not always the best way from everyone. “Each child processes new information in ways are related to environmental, emotional, sociological, physiological, and psychological elements” (Green, 1999, p. 684). When it comes to the process of learning and thinking, the average person has two sides of the brain that determines how they learn. The two main halves of our brain are the right brain and the left brain hemispheres. Each hemisphere performs different functions and communicates information differently. One hemisphere is not more important than the other but they do determine how we see things and interpret them in our mind. With the left brain hemisphere, the characteristics are mathematical and analytical and with the right hemisphere the characteristics are more creative and imaginative. The brain is very complex to understand. Once we learn how the left side brain learns and how the right side brain learns, then we can better develop a way of learning for all types of students and people.
The left side hemisphere of the brain include characteristics such as language skills, mathematical concepts, analytical skills, and logic and reasoning. Those individuals that have this brain hemisphere dominance are good with letters, numbers and words (Sousa, 1995, p. 88). The concepts of learning for the left side brain hemisphere is based on step by step instructions. A person who is dominant on their left side hemisphere learns better by having a plan to follow
Joe Smith
American Military University
Left Brain vs. Right Brain Learning Styles
People learn in many different ways, but do you ever wonder why that is. Why are we so different and learn so differently? The brain is the answer to that question. The brain gives us what we need to determine what and who we are as people. Because of the human brain’s complexity, professors and teachers are starting to see that one way of teaching is not always the best way from everyone. “Each child processes new information in ways are related to environmental, emotional, sociological, physiological, and psychological elements” (Green, 1999, p. 684). When it comes to the process of learning and thinking, the average person has two sides of the brain that determines how they learn. The two main halves of our brain are the right brain and the left brain hemispheres. Each hemisphere performs different functions and communicates information differently. One hemisphere is not more important than the other but they do determine how we see things and interpret them in our mind. With the left brain hemisphere, the characteristics are mathematical and analytical and with the right hemisphere the characteristics are more creative and imaginative. The brain is very complex to understand. Once we learn how the left side brain learns and how the right side brain learns, then we can better develop a way of learning for all types of students and people.
The left side hemisphere of the brain include characteristics such as language skills, mathematical concepts, analytical skills, and logic and reasoning. Those individuals that have this brain hemisphere dominance are good with letters, numbers and words (Sousa, 1995, p. 88). The concepts of learning for the left side brain hemisphere is based on step by step instructions. A person who is dominant on their left side hemisphere learns better by having a plan to follow
References: Green, F. E. (1999). Brain and Learning Research: Implications for Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners. Education, 119(4), 682. Hopper, C. (2007). Learning Styles. Retrieved March 3, 2013, from Learning Styles: http://frank.mtsu.edu/~studskl/hd/learn.html. Sousa, D. R. (1995). How the brain learns. Reston, VA: NASSP. Worden, J. M., Hinton, C., & Fischer, K. W. (2011). What Does the Brain Have to Do with Learning?. Phi Delta Kappan, 92(8), 8-13.