Understanding Learning Styles

Educators generally agree that there are three main learning styles:

• visual
• auditory
• tactile / kinesthetic

• No-one uses one of the styles exclusively, and there is usually significant overlap in learning styles.

• Some people learn by seeing (Visual); some people learn by hearing (Auditory); some people learn by doing (Tactile/Kinesthetic)

• During childhood, each person advances through various stages of each style.

• Young children are all kinesthetic learners. Visual and auditory preferences emerge later.

• Each person is born with tendencies toward one main style.

• The dominant style may not always be the same. It may vary or be combined with others, according to the nature of the activity

Learning style affects how a person:

• learns
• acts in a group
• thinks
• relates to others
• solves problems
• communicates
• works