Learning Styles: Learning Styles: What’s Your What’s Your Preference?Preference?

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

►Define perceptual learning stylesDefine perceptual learning styles►Describe characteristics of learning Describe characteristics of learning

stylesstyles► Identify suggestions for studentsIdentify suggestions for students► Identify suggestions for educatorsIdentify suggestions for educators►Results from studyResults from study

Learning StyleLearning Style

A biologically and developmentally A biologically and developmentally imposed set of personal characteristics imposed set of personal characteristics that make the same teaching methods that make the same teaching methods effective for some and ineffective for effective for some and ineffective for othersothers

Perceptual Learning StylesPerceptual Learning Styles

AuditoryAuditory HapticHaptic VisualVisual

Characteristics of Auditory Characteristics of Auditory LearnersLearners

►Read aloudRead aloud►Discuss things for better Discuss things for better

understandingunderstanding►Prefer hearing a lecturePrefer hearing a lecture►Easily follow a speakerEasily follow a speaker►Hard to picture thingsHard to picture things►Prefer to do oral reportsPrefer to do oral reports

Characteristics of Haptic Characteristics of Haptic LearnersLearners

►Study better with musicStudy better with music►Need frequent breaksNeed frequent breaks►Move around when studyingMove around when studying►Use fingers to countUse fingers to count►Dislike proofreadingDislike proofreading►DaydreamDaydream►Prefer projectsPrefer projects

Characteristics of Visual Characteristics of Visual LearnersLearners

►Remember if write downRemember if write down►Visualize pictures in headVisualize pictures in head►Take many notesTake many notes►Look at person speakingLook at person speaking►Understand map, charts and graphsUnderstand map, charts and graphs►Can “see” notes when testingCan “see” notes when testing

Suggestions for Auditory Suggestions for Auditory LearnersLearners

Study with someoneStudy with someone Read and recite aloudRead and recite aloud Record lectures and notesRecord lectures and notes

Suggestions for Haptic Suggestions for Haptic LearnersLearners

Study on stomach or backStudy on stomach or back Take frequent breaksTake frequent breaks Bounce leg or squeeze ballBounce leg or squeeze ball Walk around while recitingWalk around while reciting Use a stationary bikeUse a stationary bike

Suggestions for Visual Suggestions for Visual LearnersLearners

Write things downWrite things down Study aloneStudy alone Copy notesCopy notes Use colorUse color Select seat away from doorsSelect seat away from doors

Suggestions for EducatorsSuggestions for Educators

►Utilize variety of instructional methodsUtilize variety of instructional methods►Create awareness in studentsCreate awareness in students

http://www.vark-learn.com/http://www.vark-learn.com/

►Be aware of characteristicsBe aware of characteristics

Recent Study of FreshmenRecent Study of Freshmen

►Support programSupport program►Varied backgroundsVaried backgrounds► Investigate Investigate

Preferred learning stylePreferred learning style Differences in learning style based on Differences in learning style based on

racerace Differences in learning style based on Differences in learning style based on

gendergender

Learning Channel Learning Channel Preference ChecklistPreference Checklist

►Lynn O’BrienLynn O’Brien►Self-reporting questionnaireSelf-reporting questionnaire►Thirty-six itemsThirty-six items►5-point Likert scale5-point Likert scale►Three perceptual learning stylesThree perceptual learning styles

Preferred Learning StylePreferred Learning Style

34.17

37.55

41

30

32

34

36

38

40

42

Haptic Auditory Visual

Freshmen

Learning Style by RaceLearning Style by Race

32.52

37.27

40.34

29.42

35.05

41.21

35.67

37.68

41.51

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Black Hispanic White

HapticAuditoryVisual

Learning Style by GenderLearning Style by Gender

32.87

37.31

41.04

35.46

37.79

40.96

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Female Male

HapticAuditoryVisual

Questions?Questions?