LEARNING STYLES

Each learner is unique in his or her own right, and each has a different personalities and preferences for how they learn.

Under many of our current school systems, each learner is bundled under one standardized umbrella, so when considering the different types of learners, it is easy to see why some get left behind.

The four main learning styles include: visual learners, auditory learners, reading/writing learners, and kinesthetic - involving physical activity - learners.

These learning styles are not definitive, and learners are not exclusively of one type or another.

Some researchers dispute the concept of set learning styles.

Rather, these learning styles are preferences rather than ‘hardcoded’ and can change over time. If a particular learning style is preferred, it is easier for students to take in the information provided in that way.

If this engages the students, they take more in.

This inevitably affects learning outcomes.

Kinaesthetic learners are probably the biggest issue in any classroom. For students who learn best by being active, the classroom is the last place they would want to be.

It is little wonder why there are always a few individuals who are consistently disengaged, often sporty and have high levels of energy.

By continuing along with this ‘one size fits all’ type of education, we are putting millions of learners at a disadvantage.