Unit 1.2 Learning Styles

An Introduction to Learning Styles: 

An Introduction to Learning Styles Before you mark our tests, Mrs Brown, you might just like to consider that I’m an auditory - activist - innovator …

What are learning styles?: 

What are learning styles? Ellis (1985) defines learning style (or cognitive style) as the more or less consistent way in which a person perceives, conceptualizes, organizes and recalls information. … in other words the way you learn. Ellis R, Understanding Second Language Acquisition, Oxford 1985 (Chap.5)

What are learning styles?: 

What are learning styles? Premise : different people will have different learning styles. Eg: Mary – gets bored with abstractions. Likes to discuss concrete problems and share ideas with other people. John – likes to read up on theoretical background and find the “right answer”

What are learning styles?: 

What are learning styles? Some of the most popular models: VAK (Bandler and Grindler, NLP) Kolb /Honey and Mumford Left or right brain dominated Field dependent / field independent McCarthy Multiple Intelligences (Gardner)

Visual – Auditory – Kinaesthetic: 

Visual – Auditory – Kinaesthetic Visual learners – like looking at things : pictures, the teacher, notes and texts etc Auditory learners – like listening : to lectures, to other people’s ideas, to dialogues, to rhythm and music etc Kinaesthetic/Tactile learners – like moving around, “hands-on” learning, manipulating objects etc

Honey and Mumford (based on Kolb): 

Honey and Mumford (based on Kolb) Kolb’s learning sequence Concrete Experience Active Reflective Experimentation Observation Abstract Conceptualization

Honey and Mumford (based on Kolb): 

Honey and Mumford (based on Kolb) Activists learn by doing need concrete experiences. open-minded approach to learning, willing to try things out without bias.

Honey and Mumford (based on Kolb): 

Honey and Mumford (based on Kolb) Reflectors learn by observing and thinking about what happened. may avoid leaping in and prefer to watch from the sidelines.  prefer to stand back and view experiences from a number of different perspectives, collecting data and taking the time to work towards an appropriate conclusion

Honey and Mumford (based on Kolb): 

Honey and Mumford (based on Kolb) Theorists want to understand the theory behind the actions. need models, concepts and facts in order to engage in the learning process. prefer to analyse and synthesise, drawing new information into a systematic and logical 'theory'

Honey and Mumford (based on Kolb): 

Honey and Mumford (based on Kolb) Pragmatists abstract concepts and games are of limited use unless they can see a way to put the ideas into action in their lives. experimenters, trying out new ideas, theories and techniques to see if they work

So what ?: 

So what ? Premise 1: You’ll learn best if the learning activities you engage in suit your learning style Premise 2 : If you only use one or two learning styles you may be missing out . The best learners may be those who use a variety of styles.

So what ?: 

So what ? Premise 3 In your teaching you’ll tend to use activity types which you’ve found useful in your own learning – ie those which reflect your own learning style. But these may not match your students’ learning styles

So what?: 

So what? Premise 4 In each lesson we need to provide activities which cater for a variety of learning styles.