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Contents: 1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………… Page 3 2. Factors affecting the Learning Styles……………………………………. Page 4 3. My Learning Style………………………………………………………………. Page 5, 6 4. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………… Page 7 5. References………………………………………………………………………….. Page 8 Introduction:
Human beings use five senses to develop and adjust to the best way of learning. By touching, seeing and hearing individuals can receive, process and keep information in different and unique ways from each other. This assignment discusses the three main ways of learning and their weaknesses and strengths, advantages and disadvantages compared to my own preferred learning style. Also it highlights the factors influencing them and distinguishes the significance of utilizing other learning strategies in order to learn better and faster.
What is a learning style? A learning style can be characterized as “a certain specified pattern of behaviour and/or performance, according to which the individual takes in new information and develops new skills, and the process by which the individual retains new information or new skills. ” (Sarasin 1982) There are several theories with different approaches on detailed categorizing of the learning styles. However, one of them defines the learning styles into three main types: visual, auditory and practical(kinaesthetic).
Although classifying the learning styles into three primary groups is over simplified, in contrast to the other theories, mentioned above, it gives an easy practical approach and more clarity on understanding the different strategies of learning. (www. baker. edu) Factors affecting the Learning Styles: In order to understand the essence of the learning styles, it must establish what influences them. The students learning style can be affected by several factors, such as environment, personality, genetics, cultural background and development.
The environment includes the level of noise, the brightness, the temperature and the design of the classroom. They all can have a positive or negative impact on the learning process. For example while studying, I get distracted in the presence of background noise or when I am to hot or to cold. On the other hand, my concentration improves when the above conditions are proportioned. (www. ehow. com) The type of personality also has an influence.
Some students can be more outgoing, talkative and open and fully engage in classroom discussions and activities and others like me, be shy, reserved or less confident and prefer studying trough their own resources. The type of learning depends also on cultural background. For instance, female student coming from a different country where traditionally males are preferred to have better education than females, in this circumstance she will develop poor learning skills due to shyness or the opposite, it will lead her to be determined for success.
For myself as a student, who is born and raised overseas, the conventional method of learning by repeated study rather than understanding the meaning, had an impact on my own learning. Therefore the passage to a more freer and synergetic way of studying may be little more challenging for me. Genetics may play an important role on forming the learning habits. For instance, the combination of my parents learning styles had an effect on my own learning style. The learning style can evolve in time. It alters with the accumulating life experience and the level of education. www. helium. com) My Learning Style Most students adopt learning style that work best for them or some synthesize learning techniques of each style while sustaining an exceptional preference in one. My preferable learning style is auditory and my least favoured style is practical. As an auditory learner, I learn by hearing and listening. On the contrary, the visual learners mainly learn by seeing and favour studying through visually engaging materials. On the other hand, kinaesthetic learners study by creating something. They require physical participation to learn.
I do enjoy spoken lectures and active classroom discussions with a lot questions and summarising. Also I study facts and figures easily and read study materials aloud, while carefully listening to myself or a tape recorder, which helps a lot to memorise effectively. I’m an independent learner. I like to be left alone to learn and contemplate after lectures. With these learning skills, first of all I will benefit when revising for an oral exam. Secondly, similar to visual and practical learners, I will successfully manage presentations, research projects, traditional tests. www. studyingstyle. com) However I won’t be that good as visual learners on writing an essay, working with charts, maps and diagrams, written exams, worksheets, making a mind map or spidergram. For example writing an essay for me is more difficult, because I tend to use my verbal skills more, when study, than my writing ones. Also, I read slowly, which means that research for any assignment will take more time to be done. Despite my deep concentration, while receiving and processing information, I require quiet environment and any movement or background noise will distract me.
On the opposite, kinaesthetic learners like to be in motion when learning. As well, unlike the visual learners, they tend to be poor spellers, but they use all senses to learn. On the contrary, I learn more by hearing than seeing or touching. That is why I’m not so good at taking notes, making a mind map,science experiments etc. Both, auditory and practical learners will benefit while preparing for writing an essay from the fact that they like discussions and debates and follow instructions, whereas visual learners find it difficult to listen long lectures and to follow spoken instructions.
However they enjoy taking notes if the lecture is not to long and they like reading and are very organised and tidy. By taking notes, while using colourful pens and highlighting, they will be able to organise and memorise the ideas and execute very well structured plan for completing the given task. (www. edgenet. edgewood. edu) The analysis above on each of the learning styles leads to the question: How can I expand my abilities of learning quickly, accurately and effectively? And in what way I can develop more balanced approach when completing any task?
To answer these questions, I will observe a situation, where is established necessity of combining other learning strategies that work best for me. When preparing a group presentation, I can adopt some practical learning skills, which will contribute to successful completed task. For example, as an auditory learner I enjoy listening music. In combination with the practical skill of dancing, it will lead to a group presentation in the form of musical, or in the science laboratory – doing an experiment and giving an oral presentation at the same time.
Therefore, the collaboration of the three main learning styles is the key to maximize my potential to learn fast, easy and efficiently. Also will stimulate and promote creativity and learning flexibility, as well as self discovery and team working skills. Conclusion: One of the most essential things to realise about learning styles is that they are evolving in nature. My learning style can alter in time, depending on my experiences and my level of education. So mature students like myself, may be astonished to find that their learning ways are completely different than before.
Once you discover your own learning style, you can stretch beyond it and open unlimited perspectives of perceiving the world. References: 1) (www. baker. edu/departments/etl/resources/Learning Styles. pdf) 2) (www. ehow. com/list_7533683_effects-environmental-elements-learning-style. html) 3) (www. helium. com/items/1990974-factors-influencing-learning) 4) (www. studyingstyle. com/auditory-learners. html) 5) (www. edgenet. edgewood. edu/lss/study_resources/pdf/Learning_styles. pdf)