“Learn continually, there’s always one more thing to learn,” said Steve Jobs. The importance of learning and acquiring knowledge cannot be overstated. It is a lifelong process and is never-ending. We all learn at a different pace and have different capacities. It is important to understand what kind of a learner we are to make the most out of the time one is spending on learning.
Teachers should have a basic understanding of what types their students fall under to cater to them. There is no one size fits all strategy. Teachers should use a mix of methods and strategies to tap the different types of learners in the classroom. There are four types of learning. It is said that all people fall into at least one of these categories or maybe more than one. Let us take a look at the different types of learners in detail:
Different Types of Learning Styles
Some people are voracious readers, some have an innate talent in music, some are dancers and the skills vary from person to person. As Albert Einstein rightly points out, if you were to judge a fish by its ability to fly, it would spend its entire life thinking that it is stupid. Each kid is special and has their own potential and capabilities. It is important to tap into the interests of the students and make them feel worthy and valued.
- Auditory learning
The types of learners who prefer to listen to the information and understand it better when they are told about concepts fall under this category. Auditory learners are those who talk out loud while memorizing things. It is not necessary that they would read the lessons out, however, it has been observed that auditory learners tend to learn better when they discuss/speak about the concepts to another person or repeat them to themselves. There are podcasts
- Visual Learning
As the name rightly suggests, this is the type of learning here the individual learns the best when they visualize the concepts. Maps, diagrams, tables, and charts can be used in the classroom to cater to these types of learners. If you are using an app for teaching online, there are various online tools that you can use to integrate visual aids into the classroom. Apps like Animoto helps to animate the presentations and add more zest to the classroom.
- Linguistic Learning
Lingusitic learners are more inclined towards reading and writing. I remember being told by my Math teacher that Math is best learned when we write and practice. Math was never my favorite subject and it did help. As teachers, you can help them by assigning books to read, by giving them written assignments, and likewise. They love texts and retain concepts better when they read and write.
- Kinesthetic learning
There is always that one kid who is restless in class. Who are often made to stand up and called out because of their mischief. It might be because they are kinesthetic learners. This type of learner is a hands-on learner who wants to try and learn. They learn by doing. Incorporate classroom activities and assignments that would get the students up and move. This will cater to this specific segment of learners.
Some studies have shown that some people don’t fall into any of the types that we have mentioned above. They learn at the same capacity and pace when they are exposed to visuals, audio, texts, and other activities.
The important point is to understand that what works for one student may not work for another. Teachers will have to use multiple strategies and innovative teaching methods to make the teaching-learning process effective and efficient.