Learning Styles Renee Aitken, Ph.D. Ohio Dominican University June 2008

RFA 6/20082 What is a Learning Style? A preferred way to learn Styles range from 3 types to 16 types Most of focus on a combination of three psychological preferences: –Auditory –Visual (two subsets – linguistic and spatial) –Kinesthetic Based on brain function

RFA 6/20083 Dimensions of Learning There are many dimensions (more than 18 have been identified) Learning style is one of the few that can be controlled A few others:  Temperature  Light  Food intake  Biorhythms  Working with others  Deep and surface approaches

RFA 6/20084 What should you know about Learning Styles? Not necessarily the only way to learn Students are used to learning outside their learning style Adding a variety of assignments to address different learning styles helps students learn Not hard to do

RFA 6/20085 Many Different Instruments What is your learning style? There are many different theories and instruments to find your style VARK LDPride Soloman and Felder

RFA 6/20086 Important Recognition Teachers tend to teach to their learning styles Most of the time, mere recognition of the existence of learning styles helps provide the variety A conscious effort to include a variety of activities and assignments helps all students learn and expand their learning options

RFA 6/20087 Adding Learning Styles to Teaching Have a variety of assignments across the course –Reading – Visual (linguistic) –Flash cards – Visual (spatial) –Podcasts - Auditory –Games – Auditory, Visual (spatial) –Demonstrations/Labs - Kinesthetic –Teamwork- Kinesthetic, Auditory –Videos – Auditory, Visual (spatial)