Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Are you familiar with what 'type' of learner you are? I remember being fascinated by this concept when my daughter was in elementary school. (She is a TOTAL visual learner. lol)

I know I'm NOT an auditory learner. I can't 'hear' directions. I have to do a thing, or read about a thing, in order to do it/learn it. These two sites break down learning styles into 7 types, or 3 types.


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This site lists 7 styles of learning:


Overview of Learning Styles

Many people recognize that each person prefers different learning styles and techniques. Learning styles group common ways that people learn. Everyone has a mix of learning styles. Some people may find that they have a dominant style of learning, with far less use of the other styles. Others may find that they use different styles in different circumstances. There is no right mix. Nor are your styles fixed. You can develop ability in less dominant styles, as well as further develop styles that you already use well.

Many people recognize that each person prefers different learning styles and techniques. Learning styles group common ways that people learn. Everyone has a mix of learning styles. Some people may find that they have a dominant style of learning, with far less use of the other styles. Others may find that they use different styles in different circumstances. There is no right mix. Nor are your styles fixed. You can develop ability in less dominant styles, as well as further develop styles that you already use well.

Using multiple learning styles and �multiple intelligences� for learning is a relatively new approach. This approach is one that educators have only recently started to recognize. Traditional schooling used (and continues to use) mainly linguistic and logical teaching methods. It also uses a limited range of learning and teaching techniques. Many schools still rely on classroom and book-based teaching, much repetition, and pressured exams for reinforcement and review. A result is that we often label those who use these learning styles and techniques as �bright.� Those who use less favored learning styles often find themselves in lower classes, with various not-so-complimentary labels and sometimes lower quality teaching. This can create positive and negative spirals that reinforce the belief that one is "smart" or "dumb".

By recognizing and understanding your own learning styles, you can use techniques better suited to you. This improves the speed and quality of your learning.

The Seven Learning Styles

• Visual (spatial): You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
• Aural (auditory-musical): You prefer using sound and music.
• Verbal (linguistic): You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
• Physical (kinesthetic): You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
• Logical (mathematical): You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
• Social (interpersonal): You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
• Solitary (intrapersonal): You prefer to work alone and use self-study.

http://www.learning-styles-online.com...


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This one lists 3 styles of learning:

Three Learning Styles

Everyone processes and learns new information in different ways. There are three main cognitive learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. The common characteristics of each learning style listed below can help you understand how you learn and what methods of learning best fits you. Understanding how you learn can help maximize time you spend studying by incorporating different techniques to custom fit various subjects, concepts, and learning objectives. Each preferred learning style has methods that fit the different ways an individual may learn best.

Common Characteristics

Visual
• Uses visual objects such as graphs, charts, pictures, and seeing information
• Can read body language well and has a good perception of aesthetics
• Able to memorize and recall various information
• Tends to remember things that are written down
• Learns better in lectures by watching them

Auditory
• Retains information through hearing and speaking
• Often prefers to be told how to do things and then summarizes the main points out loud to help with memorization
• Notices different aspects of speaking
• Often has talents in music and may concentrate better with soft music playing in the background

Kinesthetic
• Likes to use the hands-on approach to learn new material
• Is generally good in math and science
• Would rather demonstrate how to do something rather than verbally explain it
• Usually prefers group work more than others

http://blc.uc.iupui.edu/AcademicEnric...

Google has quizzes! :p


https://www.google.com/search?q=what+...

As far as I know I'm a mixture of aural and verbal, and also definitely solitary!

I am a visual learner. I am right brain dominant and according to all the psychological assessments I have ever taken, I live in the world of ideas.

Charles wrote: "I am a visual learner. I am right brain dominant and according to all the psychological assessments I have ever taken, I live in the world of ideas."

You sound like my daughter, Charles!

Also, hello, and welcome :)

I am mostly a Solitary learner. I do everything on my own, read, pose questions, give possible answers, analyze, research... :)

Various efficiency / inefficiency in most of those categories. Solitary, logic, visual, and verbal are all ways I learn. No single one, dominates.

Also, some of my 'preferred ways' (ways which I favor, routes via which I think I am facile) sometimes all turn out to be areas where I'm weaker than I think I am.

Combination of solitary + logic, is how I master philosophical concepts (for example); but if its a set of instructions for a task --then, I need someone to 'do it with me the first time'. Or I won't grasp it at all.

If you just issue me instructions either in a printed sheet--or by voice--there's too great a chance for me to interpret your order in some subtle way (differently), rather than the way you thought would be obvious to me. Happens time and time again. 'Instructions' always sound 'fragmentary' to me.

Meanwhile, if I've read some difficult but logic-based material on my own, quietly--just for my own pleasure and at my own pace--then, when I come back with that info I am at my most solid.

I think there is some overlap, for sure, Feliks. I also tend to need to 'do' rather than 'hear', but I can 'read', or 'do'. But I won't learn whatever it is, if you just tell me, and I can't follow along with my eyes or hands, as you speak.

Mostly Verbal, some Aural and a little bit of Physical for me. And definitely solitary.

I know this sounds odd but one of the things I miss most about not reading physical books is the way the books feels in my hand. It's a lot more difficult for me to find quotes now... When reading a physical book, I remember what the book feels in my hand and that helps me find quotes again, since that's a cue on how far along I was in the book - whereas in an ebook, I have to remember a quote more exactly so I can find it via a search function.

I've started highlighting a bit more often to try to compensate for that lack of tactile feedback.

MK wrote: "I think there is some overlap, for sure, Feliks. I also tend to need to 'do' rather than 'hear', but I can 'read', or 'do'. But I won't learn whatever it is, if you just tell me, and I can't follow..."

Yep, I think a mixture of read and do is the most effective. But it also depends on what you are trying to learn. For math and other science subjects, I studied by explaining the "rules" for myself (usually orally) and then just do exercises.
But now that I'm at university, studying literary history it's mostly memorizing and then I just read and talk out loud to myself as if I'm a teacher and student at the same time. (I actually also do this in all the different accents I can possibly think of, you know, just to keep things interesting! :D)
But then I've also got linguistic courses and then I have to study with exercises again, just like math and stuff.

Overall I think it's better to have a mixture of learning styles, so that you can adapt your learning style for every course if you need to.

I'm strongly visual, with some auditory leanings. I'm also, as is probably not a surprise for someone who reads as much - and as fast - as I do, strongly print-oriented.

As Kim mentioned above, the actual mix of skills does depend on the material, even for someone as print-oriented as I am (I taught myself calculus from the textbook because my instructor had the frustrating tendency to go off on weird tangents - pun intended - that had nothing to do with the material).

Kim wrote: "Overall I think it's better to have a mixture of learning styles, so that you can adapt your learning style for every course if you need to. ..."


Ahh, good point, Kim! Well said.