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
- Shop experience
- On the job training
- Exercising
- Experimenting with taking things apart and/or putting things back together -especially when it involves tools of some kind.
Some other types of learning preferences for you to consider would include;
Verbal or Linguistic – this learning style can be found in such activities as receiving verbal or written instructions. Those who prefer this style of learning usually enjoy reading and writing, rhymes and riddles, and generally have a large vocabulary.
Logical or Mathematical – this learning style is not intended to discount other styles as non-sensical or illogical. Rather, this style tends to prefer classifying and/or grouping information together to get a better grasp of what is being taught. This type of learning prefers to create procedures as well as perform complex mathematical problems to better understand their world.
Social or Inter-personal – this type of learning preference tends to reflect a need for learning in a group environment. These types of learners like to bounce ideas off of others, tend to work well with others, and thus find themselves in more collaborative environments.
Solitary or Intra-personal – this type of learner prefers to be left on their own to figure out how to best assimilate information. These types of learners prefer to write journals, keep detailed notes, and think independently.
Key Takeaways
Although most people enter the trades because they feel that they learn best with their hands, in reality, all of us learn through more than one preference. Indeed, that is why these are called ‘preferences. One person may ‘prefer’ one way of learning over another. Yet that does not mean they are regulated or hindered in any way from learning in another method. Those other methods just may not be the best way for them to learn.