Each one of us is unique, thus has his own approach to learning. When it comes to education and comprehending information there’s no one size fits all. It is important for students, teachers, as well as parents to understand the disparity in learning style to activate children’s potential to the fullest.
What are the learning types?
Different theories distinguish different learning styles. One of the most common theories, the VARK modelidentifies four types of learners: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. Each one of them has its own characteristics.
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Visual learners
Students of this type learn by seeing and observing things. They absorb information better when it’s presented visually and connect ideas by doodling, making lists and bullet points and taking notes.
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Auditory learners
Auditory learners tend to understand and learn better when information is heard or spoken. They often prefer speaking first rather than sorting ideas out in their heads and then speaking. Auditory learners tend to speak and read slowly and be linear thinkers. They often remember material best if they talk out loud about it with someone else.
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Reading/writing learners
Students with this learning style better absorb the information that is presented by written words. They like reading and are usually good at written assignments. They express themselves through writing, reading articles on the internet and condensing and rephrasing information, writing in diaries.
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Kinesthetic learners
They are tactile learners who perceive information through experiencing, touching and doing things. They might struggle to sit still and not have great handwriting. These students tend to be good at sports and often need to take breaks when studying.
Now that we’ve identified the main learning types, it is important to understand how to address their needs.