There are seven perceptual learning styles: visual, interactive, haptic, aural, kinesthetic, print-oriented, and olfactory. Each style has different preferences for how people take in and process information. For example, visual learners learn best through seeing images and demonstrations, while kinesthetic learners learn best through physical movement and hands-on activities. Understanding individual learning styles can help practitioners effectively teach diverse groups of people.
There are seven perceptual learning styles: visual, interactive, haptic, aural, kinesthetic, print-oriented, and olfactory. Each style has different preferences for how people take in and process information. For example, visual learners learn best through seeing images and demonstrations, while kinesthetic learners learn best through physical movement and hands-on activities. Understanding individual learning styles can help practitioners effectively teach diverse groups of people.
There are seven perceptual learning styles: visual, interactive, haptic, aural, kinesthetic, print-oriented, and olfactory. Each style has different preferences for how people take in and process information. For example, visual learners learn best through seeing images and demonstrations, while kinesthetic learners learn best through physical movement and hands-on activities. Understanding individual learning styles can help practitioners effectively teach diverse groups of people.
1. Visual learners like to observe people and situations. A visual learner
often has to see something, not just hear it, to learn. Slides, pictures, demonstrations, graphs, tables, and overhead transparencies are useful ways of helping these people learn best. Research indicates that most people in their twenties and over the age of ffty use this perceptual style as their primary way of learning material. . Interactive Learners learn best when verbali!ing their thoughts and feelings. Small"group discussions, lively #uestion"and"answer sessions, and debates are techni#ues that engage this type of learner. $eople over the age of ffty ranked this style of learning as second in terms of preference, and younger learners ranked it as third. $rograms which place an emphasis on small"group learning are very successful. %. Haptic Learners learn best through their sense of touch. &hey need to feel objects or to touch as many things as possible to learn something about them. 'y touching an object, these people often are able to form a visual image of it. ()ands on( e*perience is essential for them to learn. $eople who combine haptic and visual elements of perception learn best through demonstrations that are followed by hands"on practice. +. Aural Learners learn best by listening. ,n fact, unless they combine this way of taking in information with an interactive mode, these learners often are annoyed by interruptions to a lecture. ,n general, aural learners like to listen carefully, rarely speak out during a lecture, and easily remember what they hear. $eople who listen to audiotapes of popular speakers or books are probably aural learners. -. Kinesthetic Learners need to move in order to learn. .ou might fnd such people fdgeting, knitting, doodling, or wood carving during a lecture. ,nstead of distracting them, movement actually helps this type of person to concentrate. /hen they speak, kinesthetically oriented people often use hand motions to describe what they are saying. &his kind of learner would probably volunteer to take part in a role"playing activity because it involves movement. 0. Print-oriented Learners often learn best by reading and writing. Reading books, maga!ines, or journal articles helps these learners to easily retain information. /hen print types attend a lecture, you often fnd them jotting down notes. 'eing able to see and record what they hear helps them focus and learn better. 1. Olfactory Learners use their sense of smell or taste to learn. &hese are the people who associate what they learn with particular smells or tastes. &hey might walk into a room and smell an odor that immediately reminds them of a past learning e*perience. Recent research on the brain indicates that smell originates in the most primitive part of the brain and is, therefore, a powerful reminder of people or past events. James, Wayne !", and #al$raith, %ichael W" &Perceptual Learnin' (tyles) Implications and *echni+ues for the Practioner"& Lifelon' Learnin', ,-./" 01- 02"
Kolb's Learning Style Descriptors
Accommodator (Dynamic Learner) gets involved good at taking risks trial and error uses others for ideas leadership self-discovery variety, flexibility intuitive asks (What can this become? (
Diverger (nnovative Learner) imaginative open-minded sees things from many angles good at generating ideas likes identifying problems creative emotional, social cultural interests asks, (Why? Why not?
Converger (!ommon "ense Learner) experiments application uses facts to build ideas good at making decisions likes a single, correct ans#er problem solver likes #orking #ith things practical asks, ($o# does it #ork?(
Assimilator (%nalytic Learner) theories collects information looks for explanations industrious and thorough likes to kno# #hat experts think observer likes #orking #ith data likes traditional classrooms asks, (What is it?( Kolb, David A. Learning Style Inventory. McBer and Company: Boston, MA, 1!.