Effective Communication Practices
Learning Preferences
There has been much debate in the educational circles regarding the validity and application of preferred learning styles. There are basically two competing perspectives.
Learning preferences refer to a set of competing theories that aim to describe the differences in an individual’s preferred way of learning. Since its beginning in the 1970s, the topic of learning styles has been under much scrutiny, review, and revision.
Essentially there are four styles or ‘preferences’ with some theories indicating as many as seven. For the purpose of this chapter, we will be highlighting three preferences that may help you understand how you best learn and assimilate new information and tasks.
It is important to know that most of the literature indicates that although you might prefer one method over the others, you are not using that one method to the exclusion of the others. Although you may prefer one method of learning you are capable of learning and assimilating new information through other means as well.
Learning new material is both an active process as well as an adaptive process. You may find that you are using more than one method at any given time in your learning.
misconceptions of learning styles
Of the different learning styles, we will highlight three: Visual (Spatial Learning), Auditory (Listening/Musical), and Kinesthetic (Physical).
Visual Preference (See)
Those who prefer to learn visually usually find that they learn best when there are visual cues or images to help process the information they are trying to learn. Some examples of visual learning experience would include;
- Graphs, charts, and diagrams
- Colour coding
- Visualizations of concepts
- Video (YouTube, Vimeo, Manufacturers Websites)
- Mind mapping (flowcharts, flow diagrams)
Auditory Preference (Hear)
Those who prefer to learn through listening are those who respond primarily to sound. Those who prefer this learning preference find they study better when listening to music or who like to process information by talking out loud. Whether in a group setting or in a discussion with someone else.
Some examples of auditory learning might be:
- Tell me how to do a task
- Discussion groups (tool-box meeting)
- Audio Books / Audio Lectures
- Podcasts
Kinesthetic Preference (Try)
Those who prefer to learn with their hands are most likely to be in some form of skilled trades. It should come as no surprise that kinesthetic learners (physical learners) are animated in their discussions, usually feel a need to keep moving, and learn best when they can practice what they have learned right away – or better yet- while they are learning. This kind of learning is often referred to as ‘hands-on’ learning and is the reason why shop practicals and lab experiences are so important to your learning experience. Some examples of kinesthetic learning might be:
- Prototyping or building models
- Writing, typing
- Highlighting text as you read
- Sh