Learning Styles &

Types of
Learners
“A learning style is the way each learner begins to
concentrate on, process, and retain new and
difficult information.”
– Rita Dunn
People learn in different ways, so present
material in various ways to accommodate
all learners. Most learners fall into more
than one category. If something is not
working, try a different approach.
• It is important to understand that there is
no “best” way to learn.
• There are many different learning styles,
and different styles are suited to different
people and/or situations (Carter, et al.,
1999). Everybody has a preferred learning
style.
 Importance of Learning Styles
• Knowing and understanding our learning
style helps us to learn more effectively.
• Through identifying your learning style, you
will be able to capitalize on your strengths
and improve your skills.
What is a Learning Style?

• Learning styles is a group of

characteristic, attitude and behaviours
that define our way of learning.
• Learning style is a particular way in which
the mind receives and processes
information (Carter, et al.,1999).
Sensory Preferences
 Visual Learners

• Must see their teacher’s actions and facial expressions to

fully understand the content of the lesson.
• Prefer to sit in front
• May think in pictures; visual aids: diagrams, illustrated
books, powerpoint presentations, flipcharts, handouts
• During a lecture or classroom discussions, visual learners
prefecr to take detailed notes to absorb information
 Visual Learners

1. Visual – Iconic
• Interested in visual imagery: graphic designs, pictures
• Good picture memory
• Attend to pictorial detail
• Like to read maps better than to read a book

2. Visual – symbolic
• Comfortable with abstract symbolism sich as mathematical formulas, or
written word
• Prefer to read a book than a map
• Like to read about things they hear
• Tend to be good abstract thinkers who do not require practical means
for learning
 Auditory Learners

• Learns best through verbal lectures, discussions, talking

things through listening to what others have to say
• Interpret underlying meanings of speech through listening
to tone of voice, pitch, speed
• Written information may have little meaning until it is
heard
• Learners often benefit from reading text aloud and using a
tape recorder
• They can attend aurally to details, translate spoken words
to written words and are not easily distracted in their
listening activity
 Auditory Learners

1. Listeners – more common type

• Do well in school
• Remember info said to them and make the info their own
• Can carry on mental conversations and figure out how to extend what
they have learned by reviewing in their heads what they heard others
say

2. Talkers
• Prefer to talk and discuss
• Find themselves talking to those around them
• Try to not be disruptive in class but they do not realize that they need
to talk
Tactile / Kinesthetic
Learners

• Benefit much from hands-on approach, actively exploring

the physical world around them
• Find it hard to sit for long periods of time
• Not benefit much from discussion or written materials
• Move toward active, sensorimotor learning
• Learning by doing
• Prefer use of psychomotor skills than abstract thinking
skills
• Tend to have good memory and motor coordination
Global – Analytic Continuum
 Analytical
Learners

• Linear, step by step process of learning

• See finite elements of patterns rather than the whole
• “Tree seers”
• They are more comfortable in a world of details and
hierarchies of information
 Global Learners

• Lean towards non-linear thought and tend to see the

whole pattern rather than particle elements
• “forest seers”
• Give attention only to overall structures and sometimes
ignore details
Left-brain/Right-brain Continuum
(Roger Sperry)
 Gardner’s Multiple
• Intelligences
Gardner's theory was first espoused in his 1983 book, Frames
of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

• Gardner believes “that the brain has evolved over millions of

years to be responsive to different kinds of content in the
world. Language content, musical content, spatial content,
numerical content, etc. And all of us have computers that
respond to those kinds of contents. But the strength or
weakness of one computer doesn't particularly correlate with
the other computer.”