The best way to learn depends on a person. Recognizing and understanding one's learning style can help improve the quality of learning. Several studies have developed different categories of learning styles.
Below is a learning style model developed and used by North Carolina State University. The model assesses four dimensions (active/ reflective, sensing/ intuitive, visual/ verbal, and sequential/ global) of learning styles.
| LEARNING STYLES |
CHARACTERISTICS |
STRATEGIES |
|
Active Learnersvs.Reflective Learners |
Active Learners |
- Active learners learn by doing something active - discussion, application, or teaching materials to others.
- Like to do group work.
- Sitting through lectures without any activity but taking notes is hard.
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- If class does not allow for discussion, study in a group where members take turns explaining different topics to each other.
- Work with others to study for exams.
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| Reflective Learners |
- Reflective learners prefer to think about course materials first before discussing the information.
- Like to work alone.
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- Study by stopping periodically and review/ think what you have read.
- Think of possible questions or applications.
- Summarize readings or class notes in own words.
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| Sensing Learnersvs.Intuitive Learners |
Sensing Learners |
- Sensing learners like to learn facts.
- Prefer to solve problems by using well-established methods and dislikes complications and surprises. Do not like to be tested on materials not explicitly covered in class.
- Patient with details and good at memorization of facts and doing hands on work.
- Practical and careful.
- Do not like courses that have no connection to the real world.
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- If class material is abstract and theoretical, ask questions and specific examples of concepts and procedures.
- Find out how concepts apply to the real world - ask instructor, look at references, or brainstorm with classmates.
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| Intuitive Learners |
- Intuitive learners prefer to discover possibilities and relationships.
- Like innovations BUT not repetition.
- Can grasp new concepts and are comfortable with abstractions and mathematical formulations.
- Innovative.
- Do not like courses that involve a lot of memorization and routine classes.
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- If in a class that deals primarily with memorization, may have trouble with boredom - ask instructor for interpretations or theories that link the facts, or try to find the connections yourself.
- May also be prone to careless mistakes on test because you are impatient with details and do not like repetition (as in checking your completed solutions) - take time to read the entire question before you start answering and check your results.
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Visual Learnersvs.Verbal Learners |
Visual Learners |
- Visual learners learn by seeing images, diagrams, flow charts, timelines, and demonstrations.
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- Find images, diagrams, sketches, schematics, photographs, flow charts or any visual representation of the course materials.
- If cannot find any visual materials, prepare own flowcharts, concept maps or any visual representation.
- Color-code notes with highlighter so that everything relating to one concept is the same color.
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| Verbal Learners |
- Verbal learners prefer the use of words - written and spoken explanations.
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- Write summaries or outlines of course materials in own words.
- Work in groups - take turns explaining different topics to each other.
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| Sequential Learnersvs.Global Learners |
Sequential Learners |
- Sequential learners gain understanding in linear steps, with each step following logically from the previous step.
- Prefer to follow logical stepwise paths in finding solutions.
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- If in a class where instructor jump from topic to topic or skips steps, ask instructor to fill in the skipped steps or fill them in by consulting references.
- Create outlines of the material in logical order.
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| Global Learners |
- Global learners tend to learn in large larges - absorbing the materials without seeing the connections BUT eventually seeing the complete picture.
- May solve complex problems quickly or put thing together once they have the big picture.
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- Realize that you need the big picture of the material before you can master the material.
- Skim through the course materials/ text to get an overview of the material.
- Instead of spending short time on every subject every night, study one subject for large blocks of time.
- Ask instructor to help you see connections.
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