Learning styles

Useful web sites:

• North Yorkshire CAMAS website - A Teaching Thinking Learning
• Standards Site Thinking Skills (although it is headed for primary - it is a very useful site and references other key stage resources too) : www.standards.dfee.gov.uk/thinking skills
• Key Stage 3 National Strategy : www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/keystage3/
• Accelerated Learning, recommended references : www.www.alite.co.uk

Preferred Learning Styles:

Auditory

Auditory learners process information through what they hear. To them talking is a learning function.

Features:

• Use of talk
• Use of sound
• Drama
• Discussion in pairs and groups
• Role play

Visual

Visual learners process information through what they see. They think in pictures and have rich imaginations.

Features:

• Visualising content
• Drawing
• Drama
• Visual images
• Mental images
• Pictures
• Real objects
• Concept mapping
• Plans and diagrams
• Film, video and computer images
• 'Look, cover, write, check' to memorise

Kinaesthetic

Kinaesthetic learners process information by experiencing doing and touching. They try out, touch, feel and manipulate. They express their feelings physically. They like to move around and gesture when speaking and may be poor listeners.

Features:

• Feeling
• Use of apparatus
• Moving around
• Collaboration with others
• Practical activities
• Moving ideas physically - Sorting/ranking cards
• Regular breaks
• 'Brain Gym'

Interpersonal

Features:

• Collaboration with others

Intrapersonal

Features:

• Knowing learning objectives
• Feedback
• Reflection on strengths, achievements

Term VAK

Meaning:

The three main channels - or senses - we use to take in information are Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic (VAK). Most learners use all these senses but some learners have modality preferences (sensory modalities are the channels through which the brain receives, stores and retrieves information) The brain is like a TV set with several channels for taking in information. Often one channel is clearer and stronger than the others and a person may rely more on this channel than the others.

Research indicates that:

• 35% of people are primarily visual learners
• 25% of people are primarily auditory learners
• 40% of people are kinaesthetic learners

(Reference: - Key Stage 3 National Strategy)