“Every student can learn, just not on the same day or
in the same way.”
George Evans
What are learning styles?
• We process information in three ways: seeing, hearing and doing.
• Your preferred learning style is the one you use the most.
• Most often one style is dominant, but people use a combination of all three styles.
• Do you consider yourself
• A visual learner?
• An auditory learner?
• A tactile learner?
Visual Learners
• Prefer to see information such as graphics, charts and PowerPoints
• Visualize what they hear
• Can become distracted in lectures when visual aids are not used
Visual learners may benefit from:
• Visiting textbook on-line companion sites, bringing PowerPoint presentations to class , and taking notes
along side them
• Reading the chapter ahead of time and taking notes while reading
• Taking notes during class and revising them as soon as possible after class
• Color coding main ideas and sub-topics
• Creating study aides such as note cards, drawing diagrams, making charts
Auditory Learners
• Prefer to hear information out loud
• Prefer lecture style classes
• May not need extensive notes
• May read aloud
Auditory learners may benefit from:
• Lecture style classes
• Study groups in order to hear others discuss concepts
• Taping lectures and listening to them after class
• Reading aloud
Tactile or Kinesthetic Learners
• Prefer to take interactive classes where learning takes place while “doing”
• Learn through experience and physical activity
Tactile or Kinesthetic learners may benefit from:
• Creating charts, diagrams and graphs
• Taking notes
• Making flash cards
• Transcribing hand-written notes onto the computer
• Completing practice problems when applicable
• Participating in demonstrations such as labs and group presentations
Applying your preferred learning style to lecture
style classes:
• Visual and tactile learners should take detailed notes during a lecture.
• Tactile learners may also benefit from rewriting or typing notes or making flashcards.
• Auditory learners who prefer lecture classes should work on strengthening their visual and tactile skills by
taking notes.
Applying your preferred learning style to visual
presentations:
• Tactile and auditory may benefit by sitting in the front of the class.
• They should also take notes during the presentation, and soon after class make additions to class notes.
• Auditory learners may benefit from study groups to reinforce information that was delivered through visual
presentations.
• Tactile learners should recreate visuals to connect with new material.
Applying your preferred learning style to labs:
• Works well for tactile learners
• Visual and auditory learners can enhance their abilities by taking notes on class procedures and using lab
time for additional practice
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LEARNING STYLES
Visit the Learning Success Center
646-592-4285
learningsuccess[email protected]
SOURCES
HOPPER, CAROLYN H. "7." PRACTICING COLLEGE LEARNING STRATEGIES.
BOSTON: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN, 2004.
MARKS-BEALE, ABBY. "2." SUCCESS SKILLS: STRATEGIES FOR STUDY AND
LIFELONG LEARNING. MASON, OH: THOMSON SOUTH-WESTERN, 2007.
MCWHORTER, KATHLEEN T. "2." COLLEGE READING AND STUDY SKILLS.
BOSTON: LITTLE, BROWN, 1980.
