Adapt your learning activities with learning styles
Each of us learns using preferred learning styles. This chapter helps you discover your
stronger and secondary learning styles, and the range of styles available to you. It also
provides you with strategies for improving your learning by using your dominant styles and
developing your secondary styles. These strategies help you adapt Memletics to suit your
preferences, while challenging you to increase the range of styles you can use. The result is
you can apply your new-found abilities to many more varied goals.
Memletics recognizes that each person prefers different learning styles and techniques.
Learning styles group common ways that people learn. Everyone has a mix of learning styles. Some
people may find that they have a dominant style of learning, with far less use of the other
styles. Others may find that they use different styles in different circumstances. There is no
right mix. Nor are your styles fixed. You can develop ability in less dominate styles, as well
as further develop styles that you already use well.
Using multiple learning styles and “multiple intelligences” for learning is a relatively new
approach. This approach is one that educators have only recently started to recognize.
Traditional schooling used (and continues to use) mainly linguistic and logical teaching
methods. It also uses a limited range of learning and teaching techniques. Many schools still
rely on classroom and book-based teaching, much repetition, and pressured exams for
reinforcement and review. A result is that we often label those who use these learning styles
and techniques as “bright.” Those who use less favored learning styles often find themselves in
lower classes, with various not-so-complimentary labels and sometimes lower quality teaching.
This can create positive and negative spirals that reinforce the belief that one is “smart” or
“dumb.”
By recognizing and understanding your own learning styles, you can use techniques better
suited to you. This improves the speed and quality of your learning.
In this chapter, we first look at the basis of learning styles and their influence on
learning. Following that, I have an exercise for you. The exercise is a questionnaire to help
you discover your preferred Memletic styles.
We then look at each of the Memletic Styles in turn. In summary, these are:
- Visual. You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
- Aural. You prefer using sound and music.
- Verbal. You prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
- Physical. You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.
- Logical. You prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
- Social. You prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
- Solitary. You prefer to work alone and use self-study.
Lastly, we look at how you can improve your learning by using learning styles. One obvious
way is to use more of your dominant learning styles. An interesting feature of learning styles
is that you can also improve your learning performance by using styles you do not often use. If
you are a mainly visual person, then you can make a lesson more memorable by using some aural
content in your visualizations. If you like to use logic, then use some physical learning
techniques occasionally.
Profile yourself—use the Learning Styles Inventory
At our partner site, learning-styles-online.com, there's a free learning styles inventory (test). You can use this inventory to understand your stronger and secondary learning styles.
The Visual Style—images, colors and spatial relationships
If you use the visual style, you typically excel at using images, pictures, colors, and maps
to structure 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.
See the visual-spatial style
page at learning-styles-online.com for:
- Further description of the visual style traits.
- Typical pursuits that make use of the visual style.
- Common phrases that visual style people use.
- Detailed discussion of which exploration and memorization techniques work well with those
using a visual style.
- Comments on the use of visualization by those who don’t use a visual style all that much.
The Aural Style—sound and music
If you use the aural style, you like to work with sound and music. You have a good sense of
pitch and rhythm, and you typically can sing, play a musical instrument, or identify the sounds
of different instruments.
See the aural-auditory-musical style
page at learning-styles-online.com for:
- Further description of the aural style traits.
- Typical pursuits that make use of the aural style.
- Common phrases that aural style people use.
- Detailed discussion of which exploration and memorization techniques work well with those
using an aural style.
The Verbal Style—spoken and written words
The verbal style involves both the written and spoken word. If you use this style, you find
it easy to express yourself, both written and verbally. You love reading, and typically also
write.
See the verbal-linguistic style
page at learning-styles-online.com for:
- Further description of the verbal style traits.
- Typical pursuits that make use of the verbal style.
- Common phrases that verbal style people use.
- Detailed discussion of which exploration and memorization techniques work well with those
using a verbal style.
The Physical Style—touch and sensations
If the physical style is more like you, it’s likely that you use your body and sense of touch
to learn and understand the world around you. It’s pretty likely that you like sports and
exercise, and other physical activities such as gardening.
See the physical-bodily-kinesthetic style
page at learning-styles-online.com for:
- Further description of the physical style traits.
- Typical pursuits that make use of the physical style.
- Common phrases that physical style people use.
- Detailed discussion of which exploration and memorization techniques work well with those
using a physical style.
The Logical Style—mathematics, reasoning and logic
If you use the logical style, you typical excel at using your brain for logical and
mathematical reasoning. You can recognize patterns easily, as well as connections and
relationships between seemingly meaningless content. This also leads you to categories and group
information in order to help you learn or understand it.
See the logical-mathematical style
page at learning-styles-online.com for:
- Further description of the logical style traits.
- Typical pursuits that make use of the logical style.
- Common phrases that logical style people use.
- Detailed discussion of which exploration and memorization techniques work well with those
using a logical style.
The Social Style—communication and groups, synergy
If you have a strong social style, you generally communicate well with people, both verbally
and non-verbally. People listen to you or come to you for advice, and you are typically
sensitive to their motivations, feelings or moods.
See the social-interpersonal style
page at learning-styles-online.com for:
- Further description of the social style traits.
- Typical pursuits that make use of the social style.
- Common phrases that social style people use.
- Detailed discussion of which exploration and memorization techniques work well with those
using a social style.
The Solitary Style—private, introspective and independent
If you have a solitary style, you are typically more private, introspective and independent.
You are able to concentrate well – focusing your thoughts and feelings on the topic at hand. You
are aware of your own thinking, and may actually analyze the different ways in which you do
think and feel.
See the solitary-intrapersonal style
page at learning-styles-online.com for:
- Further description of the solitary style traits.
- Typical pursuits that make use of the solitary style.
- Common phrases that solitary style people use.
- Detailed discussion of which exploration and memorization techniques work well with those
using a solitary style.
Expand your use of styles
There are two reasons why the learning styles are a key part of the Memletics. They help you:
- Identify and use your current preferences: They help you identify your own learning
preferences and strengths. This then allows you to adapt the learning process and the learning
techniques to suit your particular strengths.
- Expand your range of styles. They provide a basis for you to start expanding your
use of other styles. Focus some time on further developing those styles which you otherwise
don’t use that often.
The Memletics Accelerated Learning Manual describes:
- A discussion on how styles improve your learning performance.
- How to avoid falling into the “learning styles trap” that others have.
- How to strengthen your use of your dominant styles
- How to improve your use of your secondary styles, and why.
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