Learning Style

Knowing about learning style is important both as a learner and as a teacher. Learning style is the way in which an individual approach, process and apply his learning. Each of us is uniquely different in the way we think, act and express ourselves. Being aware of our learning style helps us work with our strengths and work on our weaknesses. When the learning-teaching approach didn’t match the learning style of an individual, effective learning would be difficult to achieve.

There are different learning styles from several models. The various models presented the uniqueness of individual based on the factors which can influence his learning. The factors can be perceptual, expressive, contrasting, relational, and/or motivational. 

One of which is Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence. He claimed that humans have various intelligences. According to Howard Gardner, an individual has nine different intelligences varying in strength. The nine intelligences are verbal-linguistic (word smart), mathematical-logical (logic smart), visual-spatial (picture smart), bodily-kinesthetic (body smart), musical (music smart), interpersonal (people smart), intrapersonal (self smart), naturalistic (nature smart), and existential. Defining each type of intelligence can answer questions on our struggle in learning and will give us a better understanding regarding our interests.

Photo courtesy: www.connectionsacademy.com 

It was through my awareness of the different learning style that I realized that I am strong in inter-intrapersonal intelligence. I understand now why I enjoy writing poems and personal reflections and why people can easily open up their feelings and inner thoughts to me. I remember events or experiences with people rather than what a certain place looks like. I would notice the emotion of a person rather than what he or she wears. It was also through knowing my primary intelligence l that I understand the reason why I learned much from the one-year psycho-spiritual counseling course that I studied than the five-year course of architecture.

Another model is the Kolb’s learning style. It is the style of learning based on the how an individual acts, watches, feels and thinks. Kolb identifies four learning style: assimilating (watching + thinking), converging (doing + feeling), accommodating (doing + feeling), and diverging (watching + feeling). If your learning style is assimilating, you can easily integrate different observations and thoughts into a whole. You prefer readings, lectures, exploring analytical models, and having time to think things through. You will excel in information and science career. With the converging learning style, you prefer technical tasks and less concern with people and interpersonal aspects. You like to experiment. You are good in decision making, problem solving and practicable application of ideas. If you have an accommodating learning style, you like to actively engage with the world and actually do things instead of just reading or studying it. With the diverging learning style, you love to imagine, innovate, and create new ideas.

Photo courtesy: www.simplypsychology.org 

My style of learning based on Kolb’s experiential learning style model is the “diverging learning style”, which means that I have to make sense out of what I have experienced or of a new experience. I cannot just memorize something that I cannot integrate with the whole or if I cannot understand its essence. I will learn better when I have someone to share it with or apply it in order that it will be of use to me and to others. I really have to make time and effort in my readings because I cannot be a fast reader. I want to read every word, chew, digest, feel through what I am reading. I need to be able to figure out how bits and pieces fit into a bigger picture. I cannot disregard that part of me which is visual and spatial. I still need to imagine and visualize the application of certain learning. I have proven that writing reflections can assist me in my learning as well as teaching. Visual organization and synthesis help me more to organize my thoughts and be able to explain and pass on the learning to others.

Being aware of your uniqueness will help you appreciate your capabilities and you can help others to find their own.

References:
http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/mi/index.html
http://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html