Learning Modalities

Visual learners prefer using images, pictures, colors, and maps to organize information and communicate with others, easily visualize objects, plans and outcomes in the mind's eye, have a good spatial sense with a good sense of direction, easily find their way around using maps, and rarely get lost. When you walk out of an elevator, you instinctively know which way to turn.

Auditory learners learn best by hearing information. They can usually remember information more accurately when it has been explained to them orally.

Kinesthetic learners movement of their large or gross motor muscles. take in information best when they are moving, learning while doing, being involved in projects, discovery, role-playing, simulations, real life activities, and learning while standing up or using the large arm muscles to write as on a flip chart of chalkboard.

Tactile learners learn best through their sense of touch, such as using their hands and fingers, learn best by writing, drawing, taking notes, using hands-on manipulatives, and involving their emotions and feelings while learning.

Personality characteristics of the learning modalities:

Visual:

• Mind wanders during verbal activities
• Has trouble following or remembering verbal instructions
• Doodles
• Prefers to observe rather than actively participate in group activities and discussions
• Likes to read silently
• Is neat and organized
• Pays attention to detail
• Has neat handwriting
• Is a good speller
• Easily memorizes be seeing pictures or diagrams
• May have a photographic memory
• Is usually quiet, shy or reserved
• Good sense of dress and colour combinations

Auditory:

• Is easily distracted
• Quickly loses interest in visual demonstrations
• Enjoys listening activities
• Is active in group activities and discussions
• Likes to be read to
• Prefers reading aloud to silent reading
• Listens to music while studying or doing homework
• Has sloppy handwriting
• Memorizes lists and sequences easily
• Remembers faces
• Is fairly outgoing

Kinesthetic:

• Taps pencil or foot while thinking, studying, or writing tests
• Enjoys doing experiments
• Enjoys handling objects
• Uses excessive hand gestures and body language
• Makes physical contact with people when talking to them
• Tends not to enjoy reading
• Enjoys hands-on activities
• Enjoys problemsolving
• Is unorganized
• Is a poor speller
• May have trouble memorizing lists, numbers etc.
• is outgoing, easily expresses emotions

Tactile:

• May be athletic, like swimming, cooking, running, eating, sailing, dancing, working out, massages
• May appear slow if information is not presented in their style
• Touch and movement are important
• Don't hear things well
• Touch things to get a sense of them
• Learn by imitation and practice
• Love games
• Attack things physically (fight, hit, pound)
• Impulsive
• Are not avid readers
• May have had or is having difficulty learning to read
• Like to dress comfortably
• Are poor spellers
• Remember what was done, not what was seen or talked about.
• May unconsciously touch people a lot
• Like to talk about feelings

Depending on their preferred learning modality, different teaching techniques have different levels of effectiveness. Effective teaching requires a variety of teaching methods which cover all three learning modalities. No matter what their preference, students should have equal opportunities to learn in a way that is effective for them.

Effective teaching technique for each learning modality:

Visual:

• Guided Imagery
• Demonstrations
• Copying Notes
• Highlighting Key, Ideas in Notes/Textbooks
• Flash Cards
• Color Coding
• Diagrams, Photographs, Charts, Graphs, Maps
• Filmstrips, Movies, TV
• Mind Maps, Acronyms

Auditory:

• Auditory Tapes
• Reading Aloud
• Oral Instructions
• Lectures
• Repeating Ideas Orally
• Using Rhythmic Sounds
• Poems, Rhymes, Word Association
• Group Discussions
• Music, Lyrics, TV

Kinesthetic:

• Experiments/Labs
• Plays, Acting Scenes Out, Role Playing
• Games
• Problem-Solving
• Field Trips
• Writing Notes
• Making Lists
• Props, Physical Examples
• Associating Emotions with Concepts

Tactile:

• Preparing multimedia projects
• Constructing models
• Art-related activities such as drawing, painting, and sculpting
• Making diagrams, webs
• Playing games and simulations
• Role-playing
• Collecting rocks, flags, stamps
• Experiments
• Dance-related activities such as folk dances, singing, rhythmic movements, creative dance
• Note-making