Understanding Learning Styles

Our learning types or styles are our “preferences” in the way we think or do things. Different people have different styles and these styles affect how we work and what we like to do. Every student is different and the way they respond to a particular style of teaching is different. Understanding learning styles can help us understand students better so as to fine tune the educational process to meet their individual learning styles.

Here are some of the components of learning styles:

Extrovert Vs Introvert

Extroverts learn best by doing and work well in groups. They are always ready to volunteer and offer opinions.They focus on the world around them. Introverts think things through and focus on an inner world of ideas. They wait to be approached and work well one-on-one.

Sensate Vs Intuitive

Sensors often prefer to talk about what is. They are practical, detail-oriented, and focus on facts and procedures. They like routines and order. Intuitors, on the other hand, often talk about what is perceived and interpreted. They are imaginative, concept-oriented, focus on meanings and possibilities.  They dislike routine and detail work.

Feeler Vs Thinker

Feelers are appreciative. They tend to make decisions based on personal considerations related to other people and how their actions may impact others, especially their feelings. They are warm and arouse enthusiasm. Thinkers are skeptical. They tend to make decisions based on logic, ideas and rules. They are cool-headed and impartial in conflict.

Perceiver Vs Judger

Judgers set and follow agendas, seek closure even with incomplete data. They are comfortable making judgments and decisions about things. Perceivers are very attuned to incoming information. They adapt to changing circumstances but can have trouble making up their mind.

All learning types are absolutely critical to make the world function and no one type is better than another. Understanding learning styles helps us accommodate and reach every child in the classroom. Moreover, the more we understand our own learning style, we can understand our teaching style. Our teaching style is influenced by our learning style, and not all children learn the way we do.

How does your learning style influence your teaching style?

From Professional Learning Board’s online continuing education course for teachers: Accommodating All Learners