Shirley J. Caruso, Ed.D.

What Is Learning Style?

Learning Style is a composite of the cognitive, affective, and physiological factors that serve as relatively stable indicators of how a learner perceives, interacts with, and responds to the learning environment.

Learning Style Preferences

Learning Style Preferences are preferred methods of learning for an individual. Most adult learners develop a learning preference that is based on previous learning experiences. An assessment of the learner’s learning style is an essential step prior to implementing training because it will help determine which instructional strategies will best meet the needs of the learner thereby making the training effective. The most frequently used method of classifying adult learning styles is in describing visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.

Visual Learners

Visual learners gain knowledge best by seeing or reading what you’re trying to teach. Visual learners need to read, see, watch and observe information. Their eyes are the key to learning. They would rather read than be read to. Text, Pictures and images help them understand ideas and information better than oral explanations. If a visual learner is to master a skill, written instructions must be provided. Visual learners will read and follow the directions as they work and their learning is further enhanced with pictures and images. Visual learners account for approximately 65% of adult learners.

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners gain knowledge best by listening. They need to hear information. Their ears are the key to learning. Auditory learners prefer to hear the message or instruction being given. Adults with this learning style remember oral instructions well and prefer someone else read the directions to them while they do the physical work or task. These adult learners prefer to have someone talk them through a process, rather than reading about it first. Auditory learners account for approximately 30% of adult learners.

Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners gain knowledge best by touching, moving, and doing. These learners need to interact with information. Their hands and bodies are the key to learning. They want to sense the position and movement of the skill or task. These adult learners generally do not like lecture or discussion classes, but prefer those that allow them to perform a hands-on task. These adult learners do well learning a physical skill when there are materials available for hands-on practice. Kinesthetic learners account for approximately 5% of adult learners.