Every student has a unique learning style, and no single instructional process can be applied to enable optimal learning in all students. Learning styles do not define a student’s intelligence or ability but when you study them, you are able to understand why students are able to handle some tasks easily but have a difficult time with others. According to the North Carolina State University, individuals learn more effectively when the teaching strategies applied match their ideal learning styles.
The three main types of learning styles are visual, kinesthetic and auditory learning. Visual learning refers to learning through seeing. A student who prefers visual learning is more likely to understand lesson content if he can see an instructor’s facial expressions and body language. This kind of student may prefer to sit at the front to prevent visual obstruction. Diagrams, illustrations and videos enhance learning for this type of student. Auditory learners prefer discussions and verbal lectures and benefit from reading aloud and using tape recorders. Kinesthetic learners learn best by touching and actively participating in learning activities. This kind of learner tends to get distracted if he sits for extended periods. A hands-on approach tends to work better with kinesthetic learners.
Modality strengths are channels used for perception and include vision, kinesthesia and auditory. Modality strength refers to superior functioning in one or more of those channels. Students with mixed modality strengths tend to perform better than those who only possess one because students with mixed modality strengths are capable of processing information in various ways. One of the main differences between learning styles and modality strengths is that they are not fixed characteristics. Modality strengths tend to change as individuals age. By the time a child gets to elementary school, she has developed kinesthetically but she tends to learn more by listening. According to the ASCD, between kindergarten and the sixth grade, students are more visual, and their kinesthetic abilities are superior compared to their auditory skills.
A student who has superior auditory modality strength is left-brain and right-hand dominant. This student tends to have strong verbal skills and learns better through talking. A student with strong visual modality strength is left-brain and right-eye dominant. This student is able to take in and process visual input better. A student who possess strong kinesthetic modality strength is right-brain and left-hand dominant and learns better through touch and movement. This kind of student may find it difficult to process auditory and visual information if their kinesthetic needs are ignored.