Learning is an extremely important and personal experience for people of all ages. Years ago, there was an assumption that everyone learned new material in the same way. Research has shown that there are several different types of learning styles and different ways that humans retain and process information.
If you can identify a learning preference in your students and help them to adapt their learning ever so slightly, it can make the world of difference. This is something that modern education is promoting more as best practice, with the use of modern technologies and changing up teaching activities, results in a good balance of learning styles for students.
The more you know about these different types of learning styles, the more prepared you will be to help yourself (or your children) learn a new skill, idea, language or concept.
Let’s have a brief look at the 7 different learning styles we are going to explore:
1. Logical
2. Social
3. Auditory
4. Verbal
5. Visual
6. Physical
7. Solitary
So What Are The 7 Best Different Types Of Learning Styles?
1. Logical Learners (Mathematical)
These types of learners have a unique way of learning, they typically work through problems in a systematic way by using logic and reasoning. They tend to be great problem solvers, often spotting solutions to issues that evade their peers. Their skill sets tend to lean towards maths and science, due to the methodical approach required in these subjects.
TRY THIS: Playing math games like mancala, dominoes, chess, checkers, and Monopoly
2. Social Learners (Interpersonal Intelligence)
Social learners tend to excel with group tasks (regarding it as a prime opportunity to chat rather than work) but it is social learners who benefit the most. They are likely to be able to interpret information presented to them by their peers and can internalise it far easier than other types of learners who may find this type of exercise distracting. These students are the individuals that seem to be involved in every extracurricular activity.
TRY THIS: Get them to interview people with knowledge about a content area that is related to the current topic.
3. Auditory Learners (Musical Learners)
Aural learning is a unique type of learning style, but it is used to classify those who respond primarily to sound. Most musicians are aural learners. This type of learning style is hard to teach outside of the music class, therefore, it isn’t often addressed in many schools.
TRY THIS: Get them to turn theory into a sound or rap, to encourage their music ability.
4. Verbal Learners (Linguistic)
Verbal learners learn best under verbal instruction and writing. This type of learner is one that loves talking about the finer points and is likely to be one of the first to raise their hand to ask a question about the topic. Fortunately for this pupil, this type of setting is commonplace amongst classrooms where group discussions and questions are encouraged.
TRY THIS: Do a public speaking activity and watch them excel or get them to create a poem.
5. Visual Learners
These types of pupils will most likely find it easier to pick up and remember information using pictures and images. Vast amounts of dense text can sometimes be confusing to this type of learner, but visuals such as graphs may be more helpful to them to help understand complex ideas.
TRY THIS: Get them to create a poster and give time for colouring, drawing, and doodling.
6. Physical Learners (Kinesthetic)
Physical learners learn by actually doing things, rather than talking or writing about them. They may experience difficulty in sitting still for long periods, which can be particularly troublesome in the classroom, and are often considered “hyperactive”.
TRY THIS: If you can sit them in a location that will not be distracting to other pupils, where they can fidget and if necessary, leave the room, you might find that the kinetic learned feels more at ease being able to respond to their impulses rather than fight them.
7. Solitary Learners (Intrapersonal)
Solitary learners are individuals who simply prefer to learn on their own and keep to themselves. In most situations, this is a learning style for socially introverted people, but not always. They tend to be concerned with goals and outcomes.
TRY THIS: Give them an independent task, such as story writing.
It does pay to pander to the students’ strengths and bring out their learning style but modern teaching equally must expose learners to an array of styles. Just because we are naturally gifted in one area doesn’t mean we cannot learn the skills to flourish in that area as we grow.
