Introduction to LEARNING STYLES

National Liaisons Workshop (6)ITOCA / BLDS

Perception & Preference

“If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear as it is - infinite”

William Blake

“I never say I have a preference for one medium as opposed to another”

Christine Baranski

Learning Styles - Objectives

• By the end of this session, you will:– Recognise that training is an ongoing experiment into

the modes, models and preferences of thinking and processing information

– Maximize training success by understanding that various learning styles and preferences exist and vary among students

– Incorporate activities that will maximize students preference

– Know how to make learning enjoyable, faster and easier

What is a learning style?

• Throughout this module, the terms “learning style” and “learning preference” will be synonymous

Learning Styles

• Each person perceives, processes, stores and retrieves material in a unique way that is individual to their preference and style

Learning Style Theory

• Educational researchers, psychologists, and sociologists – observed adults in education settings – Identified patterns of learner preferences – Hoped to determine any commonalties

• Learning style theories result of research– Consider one spectrum of learning– How people process information

Learners have preferences

• Learners prefer different types of input and experiences such as:– Some prefer structure and others like flexibility– Some prefer independence while others like a

social or group learning environment– Some prefer auditory (hearing) input, others

visual (seeing) and still others like kinesthetic (movements) inputs

Learning Style

• Although we have inherent preferences we will learn in most every environment

• Learning is more pleasant when our individual preferences are targeted

• Adult learners are flexible & adaptable!

Assessing learning styles

• Various instruments available:– Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator (MBPTI)– Learning Styles Inventory (Dunn and Dunn)– Many more instruments exist• Look online!

Assessing your personal learning style

• Trainers should know their own learning preferences– We tend to teach the way we like to learn which

may be a disservice to our students

• If a misunderstanding arises use your knowledge of learning styles to reflect

• May provide clues to the reason for misunderstanding

Variety in class - examples

• Can you think of different ways to promote variety in the classroom?

Discuss in pairs, 3 minutes

Learning Styles

• [Show Video]

• Knowledge of learning styles and creation of diverse lesson plans helps:– student to be comfortable in an optimal learning

environment– students to grow and develop beyond their

learning preferences

Learning Style Theory – Tasks (15 mins)

• In your groups, find out about the learning style theory assigned to your group– Auditory - visual - kinesthetic preferences– Social and independent learning styles– Analytic and global learning preferences

• Present a 5 minute presentation on:– Learning style theory– Activities associated with learning style– Impact on IL training

Learning Styles

• What are the key learning points from this session?

Learning Styles - Summary

• People process information in a variety of ways

• Learners have a learning preference• Adults are flexible and adaptable• Knowing your learning preference can

influence your training style• Variety in the classroom will improve the

learning experience

Learning Style - Summary

• Encourage students to broaden learning preferences

• Know your learning style– Dunn and Dunn– Myers and Briggs– Look Online!

Group A

Auditory - visual - kinesthetic preferences

a.Define learning style / preferencesb.Activities associated with these learning stylesc. Approaches that could be adopted in IL session

Group B

Social and independent learning styles

a.Define learning style / preferencesb.Activities associated with these learning stylesc. Approaches that could be adopted in IL session

Group C

Analytic and global learning preferences

a. Define learning style / preferencesb. Activities associated with these learning stylesc. Approaches that could be adopted in IL session