Learning Styles

Best Practices

There are several different learning styles. The most predominant styles are visual, auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic. Most people demonstrate a preference for one learning style but can adapt to different situations. Learners tend to look for their preferred style in learning because they associate that style with success. As an instructor, it is important to realize your preferred learning style, too--this will often dictate how you choose to present information. Instructors should present information in a variety of ways to address as many learning styles as possible.

Learning style inventories

If you know the learning styles of you and your students, you will be able to make better choices for presenting material and helping your student learn. You will also understand why you teach the way you do. Listed below are three sites where you can take Learning Style inventories, one site to explain how to use the results, and one site where you can survey your teaching style.

VARK (includes an introduction, categories, and how to use results)
Take the VARK test and score yourself

Seeing, Hearing, and Doing iQuiz

Multiple Intelligence Quiz

Survey Your Teaching Styles (for teachers only)

For those who want to dig deeper, try these sites:

http://keirsey.com/frame.html (another learning style (temperament sorter quiz--abbreviated version of the Myers Briggs Type indicator)

http://www.nwlink.com/%7Edonclark/hrd/learning/styles.html (explanation of learning styles.)

Once you know your learning style and that of your students, you can adapt your teaching strategies to the learning styles. The table below provides a limited number of suggestions.