Learning Styles and Resources

Learning Styles and

Resources
Jason Huban,
Cathal Gallagher,
Martin OConnor
Learning Resources for First year college students.

Look & Learn

Dublin Road, Galway

10/31/2014

Learning Styles and Resources

Contents
Introduction to Learning ................................................................. 2
Learning Styles: ........................................................................... 3
Chosen Models of Learning and Development ................................ 4
Jasons Preferred Model and Style ............................................... 4
Behaviourism ............................................................................ 4
Read/Write from the VARK learning style .................................. 6
Cathals Preferred Model and Style ............................................... 8
Motivation and Learning ........................................................... 8
Kinaesthetic .............................................................................. 9
Martins Preferred Model and Style ............................................ 11
Cognitivism ............................................................................. 11
Visual ...................................................................................... 13
Conclusion ................................................................................. 15

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Learning Styles and Resources

Introduction to Learning
Learning is a multi-faceted process. It takes place we when we concentrate and understand
something and can explain it, teach it and demonstrate it to others. Different people have
different learning styles and techniques. Everyone has a mix of learning styles; however,
most people will find that they have a dominant style of learning, with less use of the other
styles, although most people wont recognise that they have their dominant style of
learning. Other people may find that they use different styles in different circumstances.
There is no right or wrong way of learning, it is purely down to the individual and how they
feel is best for them to learn. All profiles are equal. You may be able to develop ability in less
dominant styles, as well as further develop styles that you already use well.

Pyramid Source:
National training
Lab, Bethel, Maine

Using different learning styles for learning is a relatively new approach. This approach is one
that educators have only recently started to recognize. Teaching we were brought up with
used (and still uses) mainly logical teaching methods. It also uses a limited range of learning
and teaching techniques. Many schools still rely on classroom and book-based teaching. A
result is that we often label those who use these learning styles and techniques as bright.
People who use less favoured learning styles may find themselves in lower classes with
sometimes a lower standard of teaching.
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Learning Styles and Resources

By recognizing and understanding your own learning
style, you can use techniques better suited to you.
This improves the speed and quality of your learning.
Your learning styles have more influence than you
may realize. Your preferred styles guide the way you
learn. You learn quicker and understand more within
your own style of learning.
Research shows that each learning style uses
different parts of the brain. By involving more of the
brain during learning, we remember more of what
we learn.

Learning Styles:
Throughout our document we are each going to talk about the model of learning and
developing which we are best associated with. They are:

Behaviourism

Motivation and Learning

Cognitivism

We will also talk about learning styles which are preferred to us individually. These will be
taken from the VARK learning style and they will be as drawn out in the below table.

Student
Jason
Cathal
Martin

VARK Learning Style

Chosen Style
Read/Write
Kinasthetic
Visual

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Learning Styles and Resources

Chosen Models of Learning and Development

Jasons Preferred Model and Style
Behaviourism
Behaviourism has been linked with learning for a long time. Behaviourism is basically
changing your behaviour through learning. It is assumed that a behaviourist starts off their
learning with a clean slate. It is a learning theory that only focuses on observable behaviours
and discounts any independent activities of the mind. Behaviour theorists define learning as
the acquisition of new behaviour based on environmental conditions.
Behaviour is shaped by positive and negative reinforcement which increases the possibility
of something happening again. If you do something right you will be rewarded for it, do it
wrong and you may be punished for it.
Behaviourism is widely used by teachers in schools. For instance, they might punish a
student for not doing something correctly and the punishment could be severe (maybe
detention or extra homework) making the student note his actions were wrong and go about
making changes to his work to improve it and make it correct. On the flip side a student
might be rewarded for doing something good, such as get no homework when the rest of
the class does. This reward will make the student carry on learning and studying in the way
for which they were rewarded. The below points is what teachers do under this theory:

Give the learner immediate feedback

Break down the task into small steps

Repeat directions as much as possible

Give positive reinforcement

Students then in turn will respond by:

Respond to the reinforcement

Pace themselves to work from the most basic to the most complicated concepts

Ask for clarity/directions

Ask for feedback

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Learning Styles and Resources

Ivan Pavlov, a Russian psychologist, was a behaviourist who laid the foundation for modern
learning approaches. He once stated the human mind should be interpreted as a black box
that can be opened; meaning what goes into our minds can come out as knowledge.
Behaviourism Learning Theory is a good light hearted video from YouTube that explains the
Learning Theory of Behaviourism.
Behaviourism: A Critical Look is also an article I found when researching that I found
interesting.

My Pros for Behaviourism:

Can be very helpful for children with disorders such as autism

It is based on observable behaviours, making it easy to collect data and research

My Cons for Behaviourism:

It does not account for other ways of learning that do not involve positive or negative

enforcement

Students can change their behaviour when presented with new information, even if

have established a behaviour through enforcement

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Learning Styles and Resources

Read/Write from the VARK learning style
If you learn best by reading texts or writing down notes from what you read or see, then you
are a Read/Write learner. The Read/Write learning style from VARK is for a preference of
taking in information that is displayed as words. Many students have a strong preference for
this style. They learn through whats mentioned in this method reading and writing. Being
able to write well and read are attributes sought by employers.
This style is text based on input and output, reading and writing, mainly from manuals,
reports, essays and assignments. The learner studies best with using lists, dictionaries,
glossaries, hand-outs, definitions. You will write out your notes over and over again until
they are in your head, while also silently reading the notes in your head. You will find it easy
to write out principles and ideas into other words and also be able to put diagrams or charts
into statements.
I find myself in this bracket of learning style. I find it easy studying when I am writing
material. I will write it and write it until it is stuck in my head.

Characteristics of Read/Write learners include:

a) Enjoy reading
b) Rather read by themselves
c) Often take exhaustive notes in class
d) Works best in quite areas
e) Prefer to study by themselves in quite areas
f) Like teachers who put a lot of information into notes and sentences
g) Wont hesitate to find a definition in a dictionary.
A good short explanatory video on YouTube for the Read/Write learning style to see if it is
your learning style is Read/Write Learners

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Learning Styles and Resources

My Pros for Read/Write learning style is:
Makes learner more self-dependant because of their note taking they can learn more
My Cons for Read/Write learning style is:
Not being able to learn easily if only medium for learning is visual or audio, or no
access to writing materials.

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Learning Styles and Resources

Cathals Preferred Model and Style

Motivation and Learning
The Model of Learning & Development that I have chosen is Motivation and learning, and
the learning style I have chosen is Kinaesthetic.
Motivation sustains and directs behaviour; it gets people moving, points them in a particular
direction, and keeps them going. All people are motivated in one way or another. Some
people may be motivated to do well in school or college while others might be more
motivated to do well in sport or be more motivated to socialize. Motivation is the process
whereby goal-directed activity is instigated and sustained. People use motivation to achieve
their goal whatever they may be. Motivation to learn requires mental activity. Mental
activity includes actions such as planning, organizing, rehearsing, monitoring, making
decisions, solving problems, and assessing progress. Motivation can come from determining
how people respond to problems, failures, and setbacks they encounter trying to achieve
their goal.

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Learning Styles and Resources

Kinaesthetic
Kinaesthetic learners 'learn by doing'. They are more likely to be involved in activities. Kinaesthetic
learners apply the information and make it their own by constructing something or practising a skill
or technique.

Characteristics of kinaesthetic learners

Learn from physical activity and demonstrations.

Take in information through labs, field trips and excursions.

Remember real things that happened.

Benefit from the use of concrete examples.

Strategies and techniques for kinaesthetic learners

Learn by handling materials, using models, doing things.

Use a combination of senses - touch, sight, smell and hearing.

Explore situations by imagining what it would 'feel' like.

Use real-life examples.

Use case studies and applications to help with principles and abstract concepts.

Act out events using role play.

Walk about while you are thinking.

Make up actions to go with key words or concepts you need to learn.

During revision, use index cards. Write key points on the back and corresponding questions
on the front and 'flip' between the two.

Write main points on coloured sticky notes - assemble different ideas by actively grouping
concepts to see how points relate to each other.

Write practice answers.

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Learning Styles and Resources

Different learning styles is helpful to first year students because most students havent got the
faintest idea about their learning styles profile, most students are often embarrassed about the way
they actually act when studying. The right way of studying, however does not exist. Learning styles
have more influence than students may realize. Your preferred styles guide the way you learn. They
also change the way you internally represent experiences, the way you recall information, and even
the words you choose. Research carried out has shown us that each learning style uses different parts
of the brain. By involving more of the brain during learning, we remember more of what we learn.
Researchers using brain-imaging technologies have been able to find out the key areas of the brain
responsible for each learning style.
All students learn in different ways or by a combination of different ways. Students need to be
challenged at all of the different learning stages. Most students favor a particular method of learning.
The different models provide different perspectives for understanding and explaining a person's
preferred or dominant thinking and learning style, and strengths. Students should assess the learning
styles best suited to them and adapt them to how they learn new information.

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Learning Styles and Resources

Martins Preferred Model and Style

Cognitivism
The assumption with cognitivism is that you cannot force someone to learn. The theory of
cognitivism says learning is a semi-permanent change in mental processes or associations.
Cognitivists do not require an outward exhibition of learning but focus more on the internal
processes and connections that take place during learning.
Cognitivism involves examining learning, memory, problem solving skills and also
intelligence. Cognitive theorists will probably want to understand how problem solving
changes throughout childhood, how cultural differences affect the way we view our own
school/college achievements, language development, and much more indeed.

Cognitive Development Implied in the Classroom

The teacher who is taking the class should carefully look at the stage of a child's
cognitive development and only give tasks for which the child is prepared to do. The
child can then be given tasks to do that are tailored to their development level and
are motivating.

Teachers should provide children with learning opportunities that allow them to
advance through each development stage. Teachers should maintain a proper
balance between actively guiding the child and allowing opportunities for them to
explore things on their own to learn through discovery.

Teachers should be concerned with the process of learning rather than the end
product. I find this point very important.

Children should be encouraged by the teacher to learn from each other this can help
a lot. The teacher should give the class opportunities to do group work so this can
happen.

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Learning Styles and Resources

Examples of Cognitive Games in the Classroom
These types of games are designed to help stimulate some places of the brain.

Educational Websites and Computer Games

Sorting Games

Flash Cards

Board Games

Puzzles

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Learning Styles and Resources

Visual
Introduction:
There are four main cognitive learning styles, Visual, Auditory, Read/Write and Kinesthetic I
will speak about the Visual learning style in this section of the document. I hope this section
will explain and help you understand the Visual characteristics and explain the learning style
in detail. I hope it will explain how to study effectively and help maximise your time
studying. Each preferred learning style has methods that fit the different ways an individual
may learn best.

Visual Learner Characteristics

Visual learners are those who learn through seeing things. Here are some characteristics for Visual
learners:

Is good at spelling but forgets names frequently.

Needs quiet study time.

Has to think awhile before understanding lecture.

Person thats good at spelling.

Likes colours & fashion.

Dreams in colour.

Understands/likes charts.

Person thats good with sign language.

Suggestions How to Learn Better for Visual Learners

Make outlines of everything

Copy what's on the board (word for word).

Ask the teacher to put a diagram up of the works he/she is doing.

Diagram sentences

Take notes, make lists of the work being done.

Watch videos that are related to the work being done in class.
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Learning Styles and Resources

Colour code words (e.g. use a highlighter), research notes.

Outline reading.

Use flashcards, these are small cards that can be helpful to write small notes on.

Use highlighters, circle words, underline.

Visual learning is learning by seeing things. You as a person learn visually whenever you gain you
information from sight. This doesnt mean that you just look at pictures and the surroundings that
you are in. Visual learning is also done by the written word. People who are good at visual learning
are benefited greatly by teachers who use illustrations, charts, diagrams, and videos. This can help
the student learn more efficiently and better. Visual learners also feel a need to turn a spoken
instruction by a teacher into a visual form by taking down notes. I feel that a student should go and
find his/her own learning style so they can learn to the best of their ability. Personally I would be a
kinaesthetic learner myself as I am quite sporty and outgoing. I learn best by moving around reciting
notes.

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Learning Styles and Resources

Conclusion
When beginning to learn, one mustnt think or believe that there is a right or
wrong way of learning. Everyone has their own way of learning; they will see this as their
favourite method of interacting with and processing information. There are many, many
different models and styles of learning. We have only mentioned the bare minimum here to
help you understand some. The different models provide different understandings, they
explain a persons preferred thinking and strengths. Our conclusion is that nobody should be
made learn or study in a way they dont feel comfortable. Teachers, lecturers or whoever
should take note of the learning styles of their class to adapt their teaching to best fit
students learning styles.

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