Learning Styles

1. Learning Styles Freshmen Seminar

2. Learning Styles • Learning Style: • How you prefer to gather information and then what you do with it • Example: Observers vs. Participants • Observers prefer to think • Participants prefer to learn firsthand • Reflects how you absorb info in the world and how you process and deal with it • Also influences the way you deal with different teaching styles

3. Sequential Learner • Tend to be more logical, step-by-step approach to learning • Enjoy theory • Want order and structure in things • Value being on time • Desire details when gathering info • Like reading and lectures • Need to be in control

4. Sequential Learner Qualities • Critical thinker • Neat papers • Efficient • Keeps good records

5. Random Learner • Learning in a less structured manner • Favor discussion in things like history, current events, and literature • Like sports and activities such as band/choir • Needs examples and comparisons • Like graphs and pictures • See the “big picture” and not the facts and details

6. Random Learner Qualities • Participation • Do things your own way • Dislike routine and authority • Creative • Broad range of interests

7. Teaching Styles • It’s your job to understand your teacher and for them to understand you • Sequential Teachers: • Interested in data over people • Likes organization, facts and details • Wants efficiency – no partial credit • Random Teachers: • Enjoys people and discussion • Role playing • Imaginative assignments

8. Learning from different styles • You can develop more well-rounded sense of the material if your teacher has a different style than you • Creates tolerance and appreciation for differences

9. Left Brain/Right Brain Theory • Theory: You brain has 2 hemispheres, a left side and a right side • Known as hemisphericity • Left-brain: • Tends to resemble a sequential learner • Right-brain: • Tends to resemble a random learner

10. Sensory Theory • Theory: states that we all have a preference in taking in our info either through our eyes, ears, or body movement • Visual learners: prefer to learn with their eyes • Auditory learners: prefer to learn with their ears • Kinesthetic learners: prefer to learn with their body • Read-Write: Learners who prefer data be given to them in writing. Processes better when reading and writing down info

11. Visual Learners Learn best by data and information presented to them visually, in the form of demonstrations, charts and pictures.

12. Auditory Learners Learn by listening and verbalizing data.

13. Kinesthetic Learners Learn best through hands-on approaches. (enjoys using all of their senses)

14. Read-Write Learners Learners who prefer data be given to them in writing. Processes better when reading and writing down info.

15. Social and Independent Learning Theories • Some people prefer to learn by themselves – • introverted • Some people prefer to learn in groups – • extroverted