Different Learning Types: A Guide to Auditory, Visual and Kinesthetic Learners

Students all have a preference for learning, and interpreting new information. Whether it is by doing, seeing, or hearing. They all have a unique learning style that can be used to maximize results when teaching new materials, and enhance their overall desire to learn. Keep in mind, that most students can sometimes be a combination of the three. If you balance your lesson plans out so that they equivalently deliver your message to all your learning types, you can be sure that everyone will benefit.

Kinesthetic learners use their hands to touch and feel new information. For example, most kinesthetic learners learn best when they are experiencing action such as putting on a school play, or studying with music turned on. Most children start off in early school as Kinesthetic and tactual learners, but as they grow up, each person develops their own exclusive form for understanding. To best interact with your kinesthetic students, I suggest fun games, field trips, or anything hands on. Educational "Props" can be used as well.

If you have elementary students, they would probably enjoy a competitive game, such as girls vs. boys. For example, you could cover the material in a game in which one team or person has to write the answer on the board first. The physical part would be intriguing for your kinesthetic learners.

Middle and high school students most likely won't be as easily entertained. You're more likely to get their attention by splitting your class into groups, for competition, and offering extra credit for the winning team. Most students will jump at this opportunity, especially if they need a few extra credit points! (Every little bit helps, especially if it is around report card time!)

Visual Learners; as the name suggests, learn new information by seeing it visually. They can absorb information best by taking notes, reading, watching a video, or seeing a demonstration. Visual learners have coined the phrase "picture perfect memory", meaning that all they have to do is see new material to have it memorized or learned.

If you have elementary Visual learning students, try making some information color coded. For example, if you print new information on colored paper, this might help. This will make students more interested in what they are learning. Try using flash cards as well.

Middle and high school students can also benefit through the use of flash cards, as well as repetition. Have them rewrite the information they have just learned, so they can visualize the word, and then reproduce it. Also, interactive educational games are a great way to stimulate their desire to learn, as well as go perfectly with visual learning.

The last but not least, is auditory learners. Auditory learners need to hear new information. Very few young children like to just sit and listen. But there are always a few, quite shy ones, which prefer this traditional method of learning. Most teachers will give lectures to convey new information.

Elementary auditory learners can be fairly easy to work with. If you have "discussion" time, where you talk to students in groups, they can easily learn in this environment. Also, if you play instrumental music (music with no words) this can stimulate the learning atmosphere.

Middle and high school students should sit near the front of your classroom to hear you as clearly as possible. If allowed, a tape recorder can be used to record a summarized lecture of the information provided. The students should repeat information learned in their own words, to retain it in their memory.

More than likely, you will have students that are a combination of these three learning types. More often then not, this is the normally the case. Just try to be consistent in your different methods of teaching, so that you adequately get your information across to all of your students, no matter how best they learn it. Best of luck to you, and I hope my suggestions give you more insight on your endless teaching abilities.