Why We Should Get to Know How We Learn.
We are not all the same and yet, why are we treated the same when it comes to learning?
Recently, I watched the film moneyball, starring Brad Pitt. He is the general manager who built a successful team around a group of individuals that did not fall into the atypical type of baseball player. Using statistics he was able to find players that experienced baseball scouts had missed because they were looking for another of the same type.
As humans, we like to put everyone in boxes so that we know where we stand. It’s a cognition function for making our world simpler. It’s what our current schooling system is built upon. Knowing where everyone stands when they reach the age of 16. It’s a way to manage the masses.
In this article, I am not proposing a new schooling system, as it’s hard and complex, and quite frankly I can’t think of another better way of organised learning. However, what I will do is focus on an individual’s ability to identify and mould their own learning styles to best suit them.
Did you know there are 4 types of main learning types known as VARK?
- Visual Learners
- Auditory Learners
- Reading/Writing Learners
- Kinaesthetic Learners
Well, I didn’t as a child and I wish I had. It would have saved me a lot of time and wasted energy. Let’s explore them in a bit more detail:
Visual Learners
These are Children who process information through seeing. They will better understand concepts by seeing graphs, charts and diagrams. Other mediums that are useful for this type of learner are film, documentaries and youtube.
When it comes to reading, they might prefer looking at picture books and comics to establish a connection with a story or when learning facts.
A Child who is a visual learner will benefit from recreating information or stories using notebooks with coloured pens. They can create their own visually pleasing text with sketches, or cuttings to build their own understanding.
Auditory learners.
These types of learners use sounds to process information. This can be either from themselves speaking or listening to teachers, books or online videos.
These types of learners will love audiobooks and podcast formats to process information. Audiobook formats such as audible are a great way for getting this type of learner into reading. Whilst, I am a strong kinaesthetic type learner, I do prefer listening to information and stories to process information.
The key to this type of learner type is to get them to say or read out loud rather than keep it inside their head. Let them work in groups, talking ideas through, using debates and reading out loud to build their own understanding.
Reading/Writing Learners
These are individuals who learn best through written words. They will read books, write notes, explore online encyclopaedia or surf the web to build understanding.
The modern education curriculum is built around this type of learner, with lots of essays, reports and reading books all as a core part.
This type of learner may need more time to read through all information before they understand. The learning process can seem slower for them, compared to a kinaesthetic learner who wants to get going with something.
Encouraging this type of learner to research topics and summarise in their own written words will help to reinforce concepts. Giving them access to as many different kinds of books as possible by often visiting the local library or bookshops will serve them well.
Kinaesthetic learners.
This is the type of learner that is most closely related to me. These learners want to experience something for them to build their own understanding. Long explanations or theories just won’t cut it. These are the individuals who want to see it for themselves, often wanting to get stuck in straight away. They will make more mistakes than others, as they build their own boundaries of what is right or wrong.
For a kinaesthetic type learner, it’s about providing them with a platform that lets them explore in their own way. They need to own the concepts or theories, making them their own, to get the best out of them.
To help this type of learner, get these types moving as quickly as possible. They will benefit from examples, a step-by-step guide or case studies in order for them to see how it’s done. Once they have this, they can map a path forward. Let them learn by doing, but repeat back to you why or what went wrong.
Mix and Match.
Now that the four styles have been identified, it’s time for each individual to start investigating what styles suit them the best. Whilst the VARK method defines the different learning styles. Each of us will have a different mix of how best we learn. For example, depending on our teacher, who might be a great storyteller, a subject might be learnt by an individual through an auditory method. Whilst a reader-type learner might remember a concept because they got it wrong on doing it in an exam, therefore, it’s been a kinaesthetic learning experience.
Therefore, the only way to truly develop an understanding of oneself is by self-reflection. Keeping a record of what you learnt, and how you learned it. By keeping a record and encouraging children to do the same, over time learning patterns will start to form. Then you can focus individuals learning around methods which best suit them and not just relying on methods that suit the masses.
To help start a habit of recording one’s learning style, I have created a daily learning tracker template which can be used by Children to enable track their learning-Download it here for free.
As highlighted in Moneyball, everyone is unique in their own way. Now it’s time to find what learning process works best for you as an individual before the “I can’t do that” sets in.
This article was written by Tom William, author of the first in the series The Cat Mouse Adventure to Cheese Paradise.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
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