UNDERSTANDING LEARNER: Characteristics and Learning Styles

Given the wide range, background and interests of the learners, it is important to know our learners so that we understand their:

1.    educational and social background;

2.    present knowledge level;

3.    learning needs and their learning styles;

4.    values, attitudes, and their cultural background;

5.    motivation and desire for learning.

Information about our learners would be useful in defining our learning objectives.

Learning Styles

Here are some of the main learning styles. Most people are predominantly one type of learner, but usually they can adapt to another style. Learners do tend to look for their preferred style in each learning situation because they associate that style with learning success. A online course that provides learning experiences for a variety of learning styles will increase the likelihood of learner success in the course. 

Learning Styles	Characteristics	Teaching Strategies
Visual Learners	process new information best when it is visually illustrated or demonstrated	graphics, illustrations images demonstrations
Auditory Learners	process new information best when it is spoken	lectures discussions
Kinesthetic Learners	process new information best when it can be touched or manipulated	written assignments, taking notes examination of objects participation in activities
Environmental Learners	process new information best when it is presented in surroundings that match learner preferences (room temperature, lighting, seating, etc.)	online learners can control their own learning environment to a larger extent than on-campus students!

A Look at the Three Learning Styles

Visual Learners - Visual learners are those who generally think in terms of pictures. They often prefer to see things written down in a handout, text or on the overhead. They find maps, graphs, charts, and other visual learning tools to be extremely effective. They remember things best by seeing something written. 

Auditory Learners - Auditory learners are those who generally learn best by listening. They typically like to learn through lectures, discussions, and reading aloud. They remember best through hearing or saying items aloud.

Kinesthetic Learners- Kinesthetic, also called tactile, learners are those who learn best through touching, feeling, and experiencing that which they are trying to learn. They remember best by writing or physically manipulating the information.

Learning Style Assessments

There are many tests available to help you and your students discover your best learning style. Generally speaking, however, if you are someone who is more likely to think in pictures, prefer to meet with someone in person, and are more likely to want visual diagrams when completing a project you have tendencies towards visual learning. Similarly, if you are more likely to think in terms of sounds, prefer to speak on the phone with someone, and want verbal instructions then you tend towards auditory learning. Finally, if you are more likely to think in terms of moving images like mini-movies in your mind, prefer to participate in an activity when you meet to speak with someone, and tend to jump right into a project without reading directions you tend towards tactile/kinesthetic learning.

How to Effectively Use Learning Styles in Class

In the best of all possible worlds, you would incorporate all three learning styles into each of your lessons. However, this is just not possible in the real world of teaching. In truth, it is often not hard to include both auditory and visual learning styles in your lessons. For example, you can have instructions written on the board and say them out loud. However, it is not always as easy to include the tactile/kinesthetic learning style into your lessons. The sad truth is that many students have this as their strongest learning style. It is best to not force the issue but instead find natural places to include kinesthetic learning. If your class warrants it, you could include simulations, role-playing, debates, or the use of manipulatives.

REFERENCES

http://cemca.org/EMHandbook/Section4.pdf

http://712educators.about.com/od/learningstyles/a/learning_styles.htm

http://online.rit.edu/faculty/teaching_strategies/adult_learners.cfm