Discovering Learning Styles

Discovering Learning Styles Joseph Searles Liberty University Abstract: The purpose of this work is to bring a better understanding and to dispel come myths about a commonly diagnosed learning disability known as AD/HD. The last couple of decades, there have been an alarming increase in diagnosing children with this learning disability, when in reality it could be due to environmental factors as well as something as simple as how a person learns. There are legitimate learning disabilities such as dyslexia and autism. However the scope of this work will cover in detail the three learning styles and the two ways a person understand what they learn. The three learning styles that will be covered in depth will be the auditory, visual and the kinesthetic learning styles. How a person processes information will also be covered which includes the global intuitive and the analytical. Equipped with proper information, parents as well as students will be able to maximize their learning potential. A hurdle that most will have to overcome will be the way colleges and schools are currently set up. They do not cater to all learning styles. Introduction Learning is a lifelong process. Children start off their learning experience in the world of non-verbal communication. The child observes the parent’s reaction to stimuli, they observe their voice tones and inflections and they also are able to observe through touch and tactile stimulation. (Myers, 2007) This type of communication does not stop in childhood either. Everyone communicates in one shape or form through body language and inflection of tones in their voice. According to Dr. Dayringer, in his book Life Cycle, he states, “Young people in college can still learn things rapidly. Learning ability continues until approximately age twenty-four and then only declines 1 percent yearly.” (Dayringer, 2000, p. 12) There are many factors that will aid a child in being successful in all areas of life. It is this author’s belief that many children are diagnosed with learning disabilities when they are actually being made to fit into a category of learning style that is impossible for them to fit into. In covering these different learning styles, one will come to conclude that the system in place in the public school arena is actually damaging many individuals. This author will also contribute such evidence by presenting personal experience in this area. Auditory Learning In order to understand each of these different learning styles it is important to understand them fully through their definition. The auditory learner experiences the world through what they hear. The auditory learners within the school setting are the types that are mostly in trouble due to talking. This is due to the fact that this is how they learn. They don’t learn by someone telling them something, they learn by hearing themselves speak it aloud. Tobias illustrates this when she states, “If you are an auditory learner, this does not necessarily mean you only need to hear something once to remember it. It does mean that in most circumstances you need to hear yourself say it in order to effectively commit it to memory.” (Tobias, 1994, p. 91) Auditory learners are often found talking themselves through issues or problems. Dr. Hansen corroborates this point when he says, “They like to talk through issues and problems, and prefer to hear directions verbally.” (Hansen, 2008, p. 54) According to Dr. Hansen in Study Skills, The population percentage for auditory learners is about 30 percent. (Hansen, 2008, p. 54) What is more interesting is that the auditory learner is able to recall approximately 75 percent of the material that they hear themselves speak. This does not mean that they remember everything they hear, it does mean if they talk it out and reason it out loud, then they will retain up to 75 percent of what they hear. (Hansen, 2008, p. 54) Every learning type has its advantages and disadvantages. Reid says, for the auditory learner some advantages could include benefiting from listening to lectures. The auditory learner will absorb a tremendous amount of information through media. The auditory learner has unique skills in being able to sequence and organize information and is very methodical in their approach to their own problems. Auditory learners are also very reliable and they are able to work independently without much supervision. Some of the disadvantages to being an auditory learner is they are not very good at being able to multitask. They may have difficulty in being able to complete a project before starting another. The auditory learner also may get hung up on the details, not focusing on the overall big picture. Another disadvantage would be that they like to work alone instead of on a team. (Reid, 1999) In order to identify an auditory learner it can there are many resources available. There are many assessment tests that an individual can find and take online. Some of the questions that are asked are, • I find it useful to read out loud when reading a textbook. • I find myself talking out loud when studying by myself. • I would rather listen to a book on tape than read it. • I would rather listen to a lecture than read the material in a book. (Jester, 2000) It is worth mentioning here in this author’s research, there is some controversy as to the learning styles even existing. On YouTube, there is a psychologist who refutes the existence of learning styles at all. However, this author has concluded through research and personal experience the existence of the different learning styles. ​According to Dr. Hansen, there is an insurmountable amount of information that is available for each of these learning styles. (Hansen, 2008) Some helpful hints that may help the auditory learner improve their study habits and academic achievements could include: • Ask others to explain things you don’t understand. • Join study groups so you can discuss class material and hear others discuss it. • Create story and anecdote versions of study material, and read them to yourself. • Ask your professor to permit you to record lectures. • Talk your way through activities such as math problems. • Look for audio recordings and podcasts to enhance your learning. Check out, for example, iTunesU.” (Hansen, 2008, p. 55) What happens in the home or in school when an auditory learner is being instructed by someone who learns through visual or kinesthetic learning? It is important that the parent or teacher remember that they cannot fit every student or child into a box and make them fit. Some ways that a parent can identify what learning style their child has is by observation. For the auditory child they may seem to be engrossed with noises and find them fascinating like the song of a bird. They may seem to be calmed down through music. (Ronney, 2008) Visual Learning ​The visual learner, also known as the spatial learner, is the second learning style that will be covered in detail. The definition of a visual learner is best described by Dr. Hansen, “Visual learners prefer to take in information through sight and like to learn through reading, diagrams, charts, graphs, maps, and pictures. They can easily mentally “see” facts and concepts.” (Hansen, 2008, p. 52) The visual learner represents the greatest population. Around 60 percent of people can be classified as having a visual learning style. This is a problem for those 60 percent, because most classrooms are set up void of the visual stimuli that a visual learner needs to thrive in academics. (Hansen, 2008) The visual learner needs to be aware that in the classroom they run the risk of easily being bored and may even tend to daydream because of the lack of visual stimuli. It is necessary for the visual learner to learn different techniques that could aid them in these times. One example may be to doodle or draw while being taught. Of course this could also lead to trouble within the classroom, the teacher may see the person not paying attention. ​The visual learner utilizes pictures. One way a person could identify if they tend to be a visual learner by asking the question, “Do I see pictures in my mind’s eye when reading, or doing some sort of problem solving? When reading, they will tend to see the story in their minds. Some things that a parent can do to help their child who is a visual learner is by providing them with lots of visual stimuli, like bright colored folders for school or very colorful and flamboyant notebooks. In fact, one great way a visual learner can study it through the use of bright colored flashcards. (Tobias, 1994) ​Some of the advantages for a visual learner could include having great visualization skills. They can also use visualization in memory recall. The visual learner can also find enjoyment from using visual aids and utilize their artistic side to learn. The visual learner is able to do what the auditory learner is unable to do, and that is seeing the overall big picture when they are working on a project. Nonetheless, the auditory learner can get hung-up on the details and miss the big picture altogether. Some of the disadvantages could include the need for more time in finishing projects or completing tasks. They may also get hung-up on the looks of things, versus the actual issue. Finally, some visual learners will fall short of giving enough thought and attention to the details of projects they are working on. (Reid, 1999) ​In order to identify the visual learner as mentioned previously, there are many assessment tests available online. Some questions that a visual learner will say identifies them are, • I would rather read material in a textbook than listen to a lecture. • I find graphs and diagrams useful in clarifying concepts. • I tend to doodle" during lecture by drawing on my notebook pages. • When trying to remember a phone number, I can "see" the number sequence in my head, or I "see" the way the numbers look on the phone. (Jester, 2000) If a person can identify with these few questions, then it is safe to say that this person most likely exhibits a visual learning style. It is also worth mentioning that a person may exhibit all three styles, but normally there is one dominant learning style according to research. The visual learner needs to be very careful in the classroom, because they can easily become bored by their surroundings and start to drift off into daydreaming. Some helpful hints that Dr. Hansen proposes are: • Study from the notes you have taken, but also consider typing them. • Develop outlines, charts, tables, and other ways to visually represent concepts to be studied. • Close your eyes and create mental pictures to remember aspects of reading assignments and lectures. • Annotate as you read, especially using symbols and pictures to help you remember what you read. • Write or make diagrams for all the steps for activities such as math problems. (Hansen, 2008, p. 53) In a child’s early years of development it is the responsibility of the parent to identify what learning styles their child has. They can start to work with them on their strengths and at early ages a parent may even be able to introduce some of the other learning aides mentioned. This will help their child to receive the maximum academic achievements that they can. It is important to state, that if a child is frustrated and unable to concentrate they will not learn. Parents of visual learners can make a difference in their child’s life by providing them the proper stimuli to enhance their learning experience. It is no wonder that many children hate school and eventually drop out. Kinesthetic (tactile) Learner ​The best way to describe a kinesthetic learner is, that they are always moving, touching, and doing things. They are best described as being a hands-on type of person. A parent may notice that it is hard to hold onto their child because they want to get down and explore their world and touch everything. According to Karen Ronney, the kinesthetic child may develop language later than other children. They will have a tendency to use non-verbal communication, like grunting and pointing. When they do start to develop language skills, they have a tendency to slur their words and this could be indicative of the kinesthetic learner until around age six. Ronney further discusses that a kinesthetic child will most likely love the outdoors and will want to spend most of their time there. (Ronney, 2008, p. 27-29) The population of kinesthetic learners is around 5 percent according to Dr. Hansen. These children are excellent at learning to operate equipment. In fact, they are more likely to just know how to operate the equipment without much, if any instruction because they posses motor memory. This can be observed when the kinesthetic person is trying to remember a phone number. Their fingers do the walking and remember the numbers by physically dialing it. The kinesthetic learners are also our dancers and our jocks, because they are able to learn complicated dance moves or challenging sports maneuvers. (Hansen, 2008, p. 56) ​Just as the auditory and the visual learner have advantages and disadvantages, so does the kinesthetic person. Reid clarifies both the advantages and disadvantages for the kinesthetic learning style. She states, Advantages: The kinesthetic learner enjoys learning through doing. This active learning style is useful for assembling and making products. You may find it easy to demonstrate how to do something. You are likely to be able to enjoy the actual experience of learning. Disadvantages: You may miss some instructions or information if it is presented orally. You may find it difficult to concentrate on a lengthy written task while seated. You might find it hard to pay attention to detail - especially if it is in written form. (Reid, 1999) Some other observable disadvantages could also include not being able to sit still for long periods of time, which could affect how they take tests or write long papers. It is recommended that the kinesthetic learner studies in short bursts and doing so while on the move. They may develop little techniques to aid them in these areas like tapping their pencils, or fumbling with loose change in their pockets or maybe even foot tapping. The kinesthetic learner may not even notice they are doing these things, and this may be very distracting for the auditory learner. One productive way they can use this to their advantage would be to use a squeeze ball while they study or take in information. In order to identify a kinesthetic learning style they can ask some questions that will assist in identifying this learning style. • In my spare time, I like to do projects that involve using my hands (e.g. painting, constructing, using tools, etc.) • As a child, I liked to engage in physical activities during my free time. • When trying to remember a phone number, I "let my fingers do the walking," i.e. my fingers seem to remember the number on their own. • When trying to remember how to spell a word, I spell the letters with my finger in the air or on a table top. (Jester, 2000) By observing these assessment questions it is easy to see that the kinesthetic learner must involve some type of physical activity to their learning experience. As mentioned previously, they develop a motor memory, which means they use the motor cortex to aid with their memory. ​For the parents of a kinesthetic learner, they must remember that their child is going to be very active. The parents may even have difficulty in keeping up with them. Remember that the parent can expend their energy without expending themselves. They can set up games, and time for the child to exercise, and practice this learning style. Another hint for the parent may be to introduce their child into sports and they may even find martial arts an area that will help in the development of their child. Simply, the learning process can be a positive experience and the parents can help the child develop fun skills that are physical that can aid them in their academic careers. The key here is to add the element of physical fun. Again it is important to reiterate that even though a child may be a strong kinesthetic learner, it is equally important to expose their children to the other two learning styles. If the child is able to learn at a young age to utilize all three, they will succeed in life and it will be due to the parent’s intervention while the young mind is being molded and wired. The Global Intuitive and the Analytical – Clash of the Titans ​In a lecture from Cynthia Tobias, she stated that the world population stands at 50 percent global and 50 percent analytical. She further said that the public school system was set up for analytical learners and because the global intuitive person does not fit into this mold, they are often drugged and are often diagnosed with AD/HD. The global learner is instinctive in the decision making. They often take their time, especially when they are learning something new. According to Tobias, they are far more likely to be emotional in their response to learning and they especially like to learn through stories and anecdotes. They can see a few moves ahead because they can see the whole picture instead of just segments of it like the analytical learner. (Tobias, 1994, p. 58) Although a person may exhibit being global more than being analytical, it is important to remember that a person may show signs of both of these styles. Tobias illustrates this in her book, I Hate School. She says, “No one is only global or purely analytical – we all have both pieces of the puzzle. Most students will have one piece that is bigger than the other, but some will be almost even.” (Tobias, 2004, p. 92) She also brings to the conversation that society and especially the educational system, is guilty of valuing the analytical learner over the global learner. The evidence that she gives is the testing system itself. She says, Objective tests are their (analytical) favorites, because the black-and-white, right-or-wrong nature of the questions leaves no room for vague generalities…globals usually like them the least. It’s hard to reduce everything you know into sterile, quick, black-and-white responses…globals much prefer essay questions – that way they can write a whole lot of stuff about a whole lot of things and hopefully the teacher will find the right answer in there somewhere. (Tobias, 2004, p. 127-128) In just reviewing how these two types are wired and think makes it more understandable as to why the United States has such a high dropout rate in high schools. The current school system is catering to one type of personality, versus opening life learning to all. An argument that Cynthia Tobias has with the current school system is the fact they will not adapt to the students, they are trying to force the other learning styles into a box that they just cannot fit into. In the current educational system, the students are expected to adapt to what the school wants instead of adapting to the child. It is this author’s opinion, if schools will not adapt to the child, then the remedy would be to home school these children. (Tobias, 2004) Let Down by the System – A Personal Experience ​I discovered at the age of 43 years old that I am an auditory learner. Had I been offered this information and adapted to this learning process instead of the process that the public school systems thought I should have, I would not have dropped out of high school. This has been a battle my entire life. It started when I was in the first grade. My mother was called into the school to talk about my learning disabilities. They told her that I was mildly mentally retarded and I needed to be placed into special education. My mother had the forethought and wisdom to fight this and she refused that I be placed in special education. I continued down a very disappointing academic career. I was also diagnosed with AD/HD and was put on Ritalin. I personally think this was a misdiagnosis because the Ritalin did not calm me down. I became even more unruly and more uncontrollable. I struggled through high school with very nominal grades and eventually dropped out and joined the United States Army. I received my GED in boot camp and started my career path. At age 28, I fearfully went back to college to get a degree in computer sciences. However, I flourished in college and graduated from my first college Suma Cum Laude. No one was more shocked about this than I was. Now, I have been attending Liberty University for just over 3 years and have maintained a high GPA. I look back at the label that the public school system tried to place on me at the start of my academic career. Had they accomplished what they proposed, I seriously doubt I would have been a productive citizen. Because my mother was so adamant about keeping me in school, I never wore a label of being mildly retarded or a label of an AD/HD child. What concerns me is how many ended up where I was being pushed to go?  Bibliography Dayringer, R. (2000). Life Cycle. Binghampton: Haworth Pastoral Press. Hansen, R. a. (2008). The complete Idiot's Guide to Study Skills. New York: Alpha Books. Jester, C. (2000). A Learning Style Survey for College. 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