LEARNING STYLES

"I have also worked with stupid people, at least I thought I

had. I learned early in my career that all those stupid people
really aren't stupid; some are just different. I had one lad
assigned to my platoon in the Army (many years ago now)
that really just didn't get it. Fitz was always wrong. That is,
wrong until the day I finally figured it out. Fitz wasn't wrong
- he saw the world differently than the rest of us. I learned
that when someone made what looked like a stupid mistake
to stop a minute and ask myself: "How would Fitz have done
this?" I learned to look at the world through other's eyes
when the situation called for it - all became better after that"
What is a learning style?
The learning style is related to the way we face
problems; the tools, strategies and attitudes we assume
to face them. The learning style is conditioned by the
context.
LEARNING STYLES
FIELD INDEPENDENT (ANALYTICAL )
FIELD DEPENDENT (GLOBAL)
REFLECTIVE
IMPULSIVE
AUDITORY
VISUAL
KINESTHETIC
 FIELD INDEPENDENT
Descriptors Learn Best Through the Use of ...

 Sequential, linear learners  Intrapersonal skills valued

 Prefer information in small  Journals
chumks, steps
 Learning logs
 Can follow the rules for
 Sequentially organized material,
mathematic equations
timelines, diagrams
 Prefer a logical progression
 Moving from "part" to the
 "See the trees before they see the "whole"
forest."
 Puzzles, logic games
 FIELD DEPENDENT
Descriptors Learn Best Through the Use of
...

 Make decisions based on intuition  Interpersonal connection important to

 Spontaneous and creative; "idea" person
 Often a risk-taker
 Tend to reach conclusions quickly
 Intake information in large chunks rather
than details
 Nonlinear thinkers
 "See the forest before they see the trees."
them
 Stories and anecdotes
 Seeing the "whole" rather than in parts
 Highly interesting project and materials
 Functional games and activities
 Think-pair-share; Praise-question-
polish
 Teacher feedback; person-to-person
communication
REFLECTIVE

Descriptors Learn Best Through the Use of

...

 Prefer to think about concepts  Tend toward deductive

quietly before any action learning
 Learn by thinking  Prefer reflective observation
 Like writing  Intrapersonal skills valued
 Tend to be intrapersonal and  Journals
introspective
 Learning logs
IMPULSIVE
Descriptors Learn Best Through the Use of
...

 Risk-takers  Prefer "doing, discussing,

explaining" vs listening and
 Do not prefer lectures
watching
 Prefer group work
 Prefer active experimentation
 Tend to be interpersonal
 Like acting and role playing
 Not inclined to too much note-
taking  Like team competition
 AUDITORY
Descriptors Learn Best Through the Use of
...

 Prefer listening and taking notes  Discussion, dialog, debate

 Listen for patterns  Memorization
 Consult peers to ascertain that they  Phonics
have the correct details
 Oral reading
 Can recall what they have heard
 Hearing anecdotes or stories
 Can follow oral directions
 Listening to tapes or CDs
 Repeat words aloud for
 Cooperartive learning groups
memorizartion
 Use oral language effectively
 VISUAL
Descriptors Learn Best Through the Use of
...

 Learn by observation  Charts, graphs, diagrams, and flow

charts
 Can recall what they have seen
 Sight words
 Can follow written or drawn
instructions  Flashcards
 Like to read  Visual similarities and differences
 Use written notes  Pictures and graphics
 Benefit by visualizing, watching  Maps
TV/video/films
 Silent reading
 Written instructions
 Computer assisted learning
TACTILE
Descriptors Learn Best Through the Use of
...
 Learn by touching and  Learning by doing
manipulating objects
 "Hands-on"
 Often learn inductively rather than
 Creating maps
deductively
 Building models
 Tend toward pscychomotor over
abstract thinking  Art projects

 Prefer personal connections to  Using manipulatives

topics  Drawing, designing things
 Follow directions they have  Writing / tracing
written themselves / that they
have rehearsed
 Benefit from demonstrations
KINESTHETIC

Descriptors Learn Best Through the Use of

...
 Are often physically adept  Playing games
 Learn through experience  Role playing
and physical activity
 Read body
 Benefit from demonstration language/gestures
 Learn from teaching others  Mime
what they know
 Drama
 Learn or memorize while
moving (pacing, stationary
bike, finger or whole body
games)
Identifying learning styles
Look at the questions in the checklist, try to identify
which learning style each question relates to.
Let´s think!
What kind of learner can benefit from deductive explanations of
grammar?
Mention the type of learners who would enjoy from practicing
speaking in the class.
Who would benefit from creating or making up grammar rules?
What kind of learners would monitor their mistakes while
speaking?
What kind of students tend to be quiet?
Who would be able to understand the main ideas of a song or a
text even with unknown vocabulary?
What kind of students would have problems with finding
unknown words in a text?