LEARNING STYLES

Styles of learning and perception of information

The term “learning styles” suggests that everyone learns differently. It is the preferred way in which a person learns, processes, comprehends and stores information. The concept of individualized learning has gained wide acceptance in educational theory and classroom management strategies. Individual learning styles depend on cognitive, emotional and environmental factors as well as prior experience.

Classification of Learning Styles

For a long time, it was believed that all students were divided into three “categories:” visuals, audiovisuals and kinestites. This theory came from socionics and corresponds to the three main types of perception. However, since the 70s, when the theory of individualized learning began to develop, new classifications began to appear, recognized to standardize the differences in learning of people. Today there are about 70 typologies and the main one is considered to be the Neil Fleming model. VARK is an abbreviation of the English names of 4 types of knowledge: visual, auditory, read/write and kinesthetic. VARK recognizes that students process information in different ways using so-called “preferred learning methods”.

These are the main ideas of this theory:

  • The preferred way students learn has a significant impact on their behaviour and learning.
  • They should be aligned with appropriate learning strategies.
  • Information that is accessed through a student’s use of their preference model demonstrates an increase in understanding, motivation and cognition.

What type do you belong to?

Visuals perceive information through sight. They pay attention to gestures, body language, diagrams, charts, illustrations and videos. They prefer the information to be illustrated visually rather than in writing. To memorize and remember something, they must see it and visualize it.

Audio learners learn better when they hear the information. They prefer to listen rather than read textbooks, so it is useful for them to record the lessons and then play them back. Go to the site and find out morehttps://argoprep.com/blog/learning-styles-series-the-interpersonal-learner/

Digitals (discrete) perceive information through symbols and signs. They see reading books as the best way to get new information. Often digitals take notes on lectures, write down ideas or excerpts from books that they like. They also like to look for definitions, make lists.
Kinestics perceives the world with the help of tactile sensations, i.e. they love to touch what they learn and prefer to try new things on themselves. Practical experience is especially important for them, so they like laboratory tasks that involve working with the material. Unfortunately, they have difficulty concentrating and assiduating, but are also successful in applied subjects such as painting, cooking and sports.

Learning strategies according to styles of perception of information

If you are an educator, understanding student differences and adapting the curriculum will make it easier for students to gain access to information in terms of perception and to improve academic performance.

From the learner’s perspective, by analyzing your preferences, you will better understand how to implement them in order to learn faster and more effectively. A strategy that Fleming also invented and explained by explaining how you can use your preferred learning style to prepare for a test or assignment will help you.

SWOT-strategies for visuals:

  • Use graphical methods to organize information such as diagrams, infographics, diagrams.
  • Save the pages of your textbook by memory and then redraw them into your notebook.
  • Replace important words with characters or abbreviations.
  • Highlight key terms with different colours.
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