Accommodating Different Learning Styles to Improve Comprehension

Learning styles are the ways in which students acquire and process information. Some learn by seeing, others learn by listening, and still others learn by hands-on experience. While everyone uses all three learning styles to some degree, most people have a predominant style which is their preferred way of learning. For optimum comprehension and learning for all students, teachers need to incorporate methods in their lessons that address all three learning styles.

Visual Learning Style

Visual learners need some type of visual aid to make the material comprehensible. Often, if there is nothing for them to look at, the material will not be absorbed or retained and they will have a difficult time focusing and paying attention. Some methods that are helpful for teaching visual learners include:

* Pictures, graphs, maps, flow charts, overhead slides, demonstrations, or other means of adding a visual component to lectures
* Handouts
* Videos
* Have students take notes or use graphic organizers so they can visualize the words in addition to just hearing them
* Drawing and painting
* Flashcards
* Have students highlight their reading material and color code their notes

Auditory Learning Style

Auditory learners understand best by hearing and listening. Some methods that are effective when teaching auditory learners include:

* Reading aloud
* Call and response, have students verbally answer questions and repeat words or ideas
* Singing, chanting, making up rhymes and poems
* Discussion groups or debate teams
* Oral reports
* Option for an oral exam rather than a written exam so students can explain what they know
* Reader's theater
* Listening stations with tapes of lectures so students can listen to lectures more than once

Kinesthetic Learning Style

Kinesthetic or tactile learners learn best by moving, touching and manipulating objects. For kinesthetic learners, it is helpful to break up the lesson so that there is an opportunity for movement or some sort of hands-on activity rather than having students sit at a desk the entire time. To address the needs of kinesthetic learners, some teaching methods include:

* Use of manipulatives such as tiles, blocks, tangrams, coins, and spinners
* Sorting activities
* Jigsaw puzzles
* Board games
* Role playing and acting out, performing plays
* Building models
* Science experiments

Including at least one method to address each learning style in every lesson will go a long way toward keeping students' attention and improving comprehension and retention.

Sources:

http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Learning_Styles.html
http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm#Learning%20Styles%20Explained