Researchers have found that many people have learning styles that are incompatible with traditional classroom environments. In today's budget-crunched schools, for example, a child who learns by physically doing may seem like a distraction to the classroom.

Most people learn through their senses. Even as babies, they experience the world through taste, touch, smell and observation. As your child grows, he often favors one of three types of learning: visual (by watching), auditory (by hearing) or kinesthetic (by doing).

Your preference may change over time or even day to day. While no one fits neatly into any one category, identifying your dominant learning style can dramatically improve his ability to learn both in and out of the classroom. Even family relationships may improve as you begin to understand your way of thinking.

Determining Your Learning Style

Using the checklists below, you can identify your dominant learning style. No one fits neatly into a single category. But understanding which preference is strongest can help you learn more efficiently --  and that can translate into better grades and more success.
 

No Style Is the right "one"

Remember that we all have strengths and weaknesses. God gave us challenges so that we would be humble and rely on Christ. When we learn from weaknesses and nurture our strengths, we are always a winner in God's eyes.

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Visual LearnerYou are probably a Visual Learner if you...

• Remember more of what you see, than what you hear
• Can be distracted by movement by someone or something when listening intently
• May forget names, but you remember faces

• If you use the visual style, you prefer using images, pictures, colors, and maps to organize information and communicate with others. You can easily visualize objects, plans and outcomes in your mind’s eye. You also have a good spatial sense, which gives you a good sense of direction. You can easily find your way around using maps, and you rarely get lost. When you walk out of an elevator, you instinctively know which way to turn. The whiteboard is a best friend (or would be if you had access to one). You love drawing, scribbling and doodling, especially with colors. You typically have a good dress sense and color balance (although not always!). Common pursuits Some pursuits that make the most use of the visual style are visual art, architecture, photography, video or film, design, planning (especially strategic), and navigation. Common phrases You may use phrases like these: Let’s look at it differently. See how this works for you. I can’t quite picture it. Let’s draw a diagram or map. I’d like to get a different perspective. I never forget a face. Learning and techniques If you are a visual learner, use images, pictures, color and other visual media to help you learn. Incorporate much imagery into your visualizations. You may find that visualization comes easily to you. This also means that you may have to make your visualizations stand out more. This makes sure new material is obvious among all the other visual images you have floating around inside your head. Use color, layout, and spatial organization in your associations, and use many “visual words” in your assertions. Examples include see, picture, perspective, visual, and map. Use mind maps. Use color and pictures in place of text, wherever possible. If you don’t use the computer, make sure you have at least four different color pens. Systems diagrams can help you visualize the links between parts of a system, for example major engine parts or the principle of sailing in equilibrium. Replace words with pictures, and use color to highlight major and minor links. The visual journey or story technique helps you memorize content that isn’t easy to “see.” The visual story approach for memorizing procedures is a good example of this. Peg words and events come easily to you, however you need to spend some time learning at least the first ten peg words. Afterwards, your ability to visualize helps you peg content quickly. The swish technique for changing behaviors also works well for you, as it relies on visualization.

   

Auditory Learner You are an Auditory Learner if you...

• Enjoy listening but also likes to talk
• May forget faces but remembers names
• Make genuine connections while talking on the telephone
• Generally likes music and rhythm
• If you use the aural style, you like to work with sound and music. You have a good sense of pitch and rhythm. You typically can sing, play a musical instrument, or identify the sounds of different instruments. Certain music invokes strong emotions. You notice the music playing in the background of movies, TV shows and other media. You often find yourself humming or tapping a song or jingle, or a theme or jingle pops into your head without prompting.

  If you are an aural learner, use sound, rhyme, and music in your learning. Focus on using aural content in your association and visualization. Use sound recordings to provide a background and help you get into visualizations. For example, use a recording of an aircraft engine running normally, playing loudly via a headset, to practice flight procedures. Use a recording of the sound of wind and water when visualizing sailing maneuvers. If you don’t have these recordings, consider creating them while next out training. When creating mnemonics or acrostics, make the most of rhythm and rhyme, or set them to a jingle or part of a song. Use the anchoring technique to recall various states that music invokes in you. If you have some particular music or song that makes you want to “take on the world,” play it back and anchor your emotions and state. When you need the boost, you can easily recall the state without needing the music.

Kinesthetic Learner The Kinesthetic Learner

• Has difficulty sitting still for very long
• Likes action books and movies
• Will try almost anything impulsively
• May have a short attention span

  If the physical style is more like you, it’s likely that you use your body and sense of touch to learn about the world around you. It’s likely you like sports and exercise, and other physical activities such as gardening or woodworking. You like to think out issues, ideas and problems while you exercise. You would rather go for a run or walk if something is bothering you, rather than sitting at home.

  You are more sensitive to the physical world around you. You notice and appreciate textures, for example in clothes or furniture. You like “getting your hands dirty,” or making models, or working out jigsaws.

  You typically use larger hand gestures and other body language to communicate. You probably don’t mind getting up and dancing either, at least when the time is right. You either love the physical action of theme park rides, or they upset your inner body sense too much and so you avoid them altogether.

  When you are learning a new skill or topic, you would prefer to “jump in” and play with the physical parts as soon as possible. You would prefer to pull an engine apart and put it back together, rather than reading or looking at diagrams about how it works.

  The thought of sitting in a lecture listening to someone else talk is repulsive. In those circumstances, you fidget or can’t sit still for long. You want to get up and move around.

  Pursuits that involve the physical style include general physical work, mechanical, construction and repair work, sports and athletics, drama and dancing.

  If you use a physical style, use touch, action, movement and hands-on work in your learning activities. For visualization, focus on the sensations you would expect in each scenario. For example, if you are visualizing a tack (turn) on a sailboat, focus on physical sensations. Feel the pressure against your hand as you turn the rudder, and the tension lessening on the ropes. Feel the wind change to the other side, feel the thud as the sail swaps with the wind, and feel the boat speed up as you start the new leg.

  For assertions and scripting, describe the physical feelings of your actions. For example, a pilot might script as follows: “I feel the friction as I push the throttle forward to start my takeoff run. The controls start to feel more responsive as I check the airspeed, oil pressure and temperature. At takeoff speed, I pull back slightly, and I feel the vibrations of the wheels stop as the plane leaves the ground. After a few moments, I reach down and set the gear selector to up. I feel the satisfying bump as the gear stops fully up.”

  Use physical objects as much as possible. Physically touch objects as you learn about what they do. Flashcards can help you memorize information because you can touch and move them around.

  Keep in mind as well that writing and drawing diagrams are physical activities, so don’t neglect these techniques. Perhaps use big sheets of paper and large color markers for your diagrams. You then get more action from the drawing.

  Use breathing and relaxation to focus your state while you learn and perform. Focus on staying calm, centered, relaxed and aware. If you want to gain more control over your physical state, look up some references on Autogenics. This was a secret behind the great Russian athletic performances over the past few decades.

  Use role-playing, either singularly or with someone else, to practice skills and behaviors. Find ways to act out or simulate what you are learning.

  You may use phrases like these:

  • That feels right to me.
  • I can’t get a grip on this…
  • Stay in touch.
  • Get in touch with…
  • That doesn’t sit right with me.
  • I have good feelings about this.
  • My gut is telling me…
  • I follow your drift.

If you are a Visual Learner, here are some suggestions for memorizing Scripture:

Write the verse out using visual clues to words or phrases. For example, when I memorized the Fruits of the Spirit, I first wrote it on a card like this:

Write the verse out several times. Draw a picture: Whether you are memorizing a verse from Scripture or learning a new vocabulary word at school, a visual learner will grasp the meaning more effectively if she draws a picture. Even if your child is not gifted artistically, the process of illustrating a concept visually will help her remember its meaning longer.

Use flash cards: Often the process of writing the question and answer on a flash card is enough to help a visual learner memorize a fact, multiplication table or Bible verse. Using colorful paper for the cards can also help the visual person concentrate as she flashes through the questions and answers until she has mastered them.

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 Suggestions for the Auditory Learner:

Turn it into a song: Most auditory learners remember best when the concept is spoken aloud over and over or put to a musical rhythm or song. Even if it doesn't rhyme or sound like a classical masterpiece, a catchy beat can go a long way in helping you remember everything from the 50 states to a difficult Bible verse.

Suggestions for the Kinesthetic Learner:

Move about; wave your arms, tap a foot; just move. It's hard to believe, but a kinesthetic learner is actually listening while fidgeting restlessly and looking in every direction.

Homework on the run: Most kinesthetic people can only concentrate for about 10 minutes on their studies before they need a break. Try combining physical activity with memorizing by acting out what you are learning through short skits or simply using creative body movements and hand signals.

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