Learning Styles

Memletic Learning Style Model

Learning Styles/Cognitive
● Recognizes that each of us prefers
Styles
to learn in different ways.
➔ The habitual manner in which learners
receive and perceive information,
process it, understand it, value it, store
it, and recall it.
➔ The way a person processes,
internalizes studies, interprets, and
changes new and challenging
materials.

Learning Style Other Term Description Area of the Brain

Responsible

Visual Spatial ➔ Prefers using pictures, ● Occipital lobes

images, graphs, charts, and parietal
logic puzzles, and lobes
spatial understanding

Aural Auditory-Musical ➔ Prefers using sound ● Temporal lobe

and music Right (music)

Verbal Linguistic ➔ Prefers using words, ● Temporal and

both in speech and in frontal lobes
writing

Physical Kinesthetic ➔ Prefers using body, ● Cerebellum and

hands, and sense of motor cortex
touch
 Logical Mathematical ➔ Prefers using logic, ● Left parietal
reasoning, and systems lobes

Social Interpersonal ➔ Prefers to learn in ● Frontal and

groups or with other temporal lobes
people and limbic
system

Solitary Intrapersonal ➔ Prefers to work alone ● Frontal and

and use self-study temporal lobes
and limbic
system

Dunn and Dunn Learning Style Model

● Most people can learn, and each individual has his own unique ways of mastering new
and difficult subject matter.

Strand Examples

Environmental Some people study in a cool and quiet room, while others cannot focus
unless they have music playing

Emotional Some people work best when motivated and encouraged, while some feel
motivated when assigned to lead and assume responsibility

Sociological A number of people need to work alone when tackling a new and difficult
subject, while others learn best when working with colleagues

Physiological Some people prefer to study at night, accomplishing more in a quiet

environment; still others find it easier to complete tasks in the morning as
a part of the daily routine.

Psychological Global learners prefer to work in an environment with soft lighting and
informal seating. Analytic learners prefer to work in an environment with
bright lighting and formal seating.

Kolb’s Learning Style ● Finally, the person actively experiments

with actions to test them out.
● depicts learning as 4 stage cycle
● The four-stage learning cycle are:
beginning with an intermediate
○ Concrete experience
concrete experience during which the
○ Reflective observation
person makes observations and
○ Abstract conceptualization
reflections
○ Active experimentation
● Then the person develops an abstract
theory from which he or she develops
ideas on how to proceed.

Kolb then hypothesized that learners
need for abilities to be effective:
1. Concrete Experience (CE)
abilities:
- Leaning from actual experience
2. Reflective Observation (RO)
abilities:
- Learning by observing others
3. Abstract Conceptualization (AC)
abilities:
- Creating theories to explain what is
seen
4. Active Experimentation (AE)
abilities:
- Using theories to solve problems.
Social/Accomodator Learners
Are leaders
They learn best by analyzing and
solving a problem as a group using
their own intuition and information from
other people rather than from books
and lectures.
They look for new experiences; often
take risks and employ hands-on
methods to accomplish their goals.
They actively accomplish things, often
using trial-and-error methods to solve
problems.
They may be impatient with other
people and act on intuition and are a
risk taker.
Creative/Diverger Learners
Are imaginative.
They have an open mind to new ideas
and offer multiple perspectives.
They value brainstorming with a group
although they often listen and observe
sharing their own ideas.
They rely on concrete examples to
learn, and trust their own feelings when
making decisions.
They excel in imagination and
awareness of meaning.
They are feeling oriented and people
oriented and like working in groups.
Intellectual/Assimilator Learners
Are organized, logical and precise.
They like to learn from lectures,
reading, and contemplation.
They find facts, ideas, and information
fascinating and challenging to people
and emotions.
More scientific than artistic.
Their strengths are in inductive
reasoning, creating theoretical models
and integrating ideas
They prefer playing with ideas to
actively and applying it
They are more concerned with ideas
than with people.
Practical/Converger Learners
Are both thinkers and doers.
They are those who learn through
experimentation, seeking out new
ideas, and discovering practical
applications for them.
They can focus intently on selected
subjects.
They favor technical challenges to
interpersonal matters.
They are goal-oriented and make
decisions easily.
 They are good at decision making and
problem solving and like dealing with
technical work rather than
interpersonal relationships.
Matching Learning Styles to
Instructions
Some studies have shown increased
levels of student achievement when
learners with a strong preference for a
certain style were matched with a
similar teaching or testing style.
Some studies have shown more
student satisfaction when the teacher
matches the student’s learning style,
but some have not.