Different Types of Learning

•  Advantages and disadvantages of different types of learning

     Learning is gaining, modifying or acquiring new or existing knowledge, skills or values and may also involve simplifying different types of complex information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines as well. Learning is not a compulsory process and does not happen all at once but it is contextual so may be viewed as a process which builds upon and is shaped by what we already know. It is a process of collecting factual and procedural knowledge which brings changes in the minds and the changes produced are relatively permanent.
   Each mind process and learns new information in different ways. So basically there are 3 different styles of learning ie visual, auditory and kinaesthetic. Though most people use a combination of the three learning styles, they usually have a clear preference for one. It is beneficial for students to know and understand their type of learning style early on so that homework and learning may become easier and less stressful in the future.
       Hence following are the advantages and disadvantages of each type of learning styles.

1. Visual-  Visual learners prefer learning visually. They acquire information through reading, seeing or interpreting illustrations of material. Their observation and memory skills are excellent. On the other hand, visual learners find it difficult in following and listening to directions and information that is not written out. They may experience difficulty in lecture-oriented classes and often require instructors to repeat information.

•  Advantages of Visual learning- This style of learning has an important advantage is that it makes recollection easier even when you are in an environment different from where you had learned the information.
• Disadvantage of Visual learning- There is a special disadvantage of the visual learning style ie. learning becomes difficult  when only texts and speeches are available for learning, without any visual aids. Visual learners find it difficult to register things in their mind if source of learning is through long speeches and lecture oriented classrooms.

The teaching strategy for visual learners should include the use of demonstrations and visually pleasing materials and should make an effort to paint mental pictures for visual learners.

 

2. Auditory- Auditory learners prefer to learn by listening to discussions, talking matters over, reading out of texts or making use of e-courses containing audio recordings.

 

• Advantages of Auditory learning- One special advantage of auditory learning style is that the learners assimilate and retain information without having to see it in texts or pictures.
•  Disadvantages of Auditory learning- The only drawback of this type of learning is that the learners find it difficult in learning among silently reading learners for eg. in a library or in other similar situations. They find difficulty in focusing while listening to an explanation.

 

 

The teaching strategy for auditory learners should sound good and should be planned and delivered in the form of an organized conversation.

 

3. Kinaesthetic- These learners use all their senses to engage in learning. They learn by doing and solving real-life problems.They like hands-on approaches to things and learn through trial and error and  they also prefer interactive learning.

 

• Advantages of Kinaesthetic learning- The kinaesthetic learning style has the advantage of exposing learners faster to practice and evidence ie they learn as they  practice and practice what they learn. They keep themselves engaged with actions.

• Disadvantages of kinaesthetic learning- Learning becomes difficult for these learners if there is no room for activities or in a lecture oriented classroom.

 

 

The teaching strategy for kinaesthetic learners should include hands-on demonstrations and case examples to be discussed and solved.