Is Learning Difficult?

No matter what style you have – you can learn deeper and faster!

What is it that makes learning easier for some than others?

Everyone will have a preferred learning style and what many of us don’t realise is, unless we are taught in our preferred learning style, we may struggle with what we are supposed to be learning.

There are three main learning styles and most of us will possess all three.  However, one is more likely to be dominant within us.

When you are being taught, it is best for the person teaching a group to use all three of the learning styles within their presentation.  If they are addressing you as an individual, they will be understood far better if they communicate in your preferred learning style.

What are the three main learning styles?

• Visual
• Auditory
• Kinaesthetic

The Visual Learner

Visual learners like the use of visual aids, they see things in pictures.  Even with their eyes closed on a secluded beach, they will see the sea, the waves, the sand, and the birds flying around them.

To learn effectively, visual learners like the use of visual aids and words to be brought to life with colours and graphs and for key points to be written down in front of them.

The Auditory Learner

Auditory learners like sound, music, recordings, rhymes, and tend to be good listeners.  On a secluded beach, they will hear the sea, the waves, the flutter of wings, and any other sounds around them.

To learn effectively, auditory learners like notes and other reading materials.  Recordings of lessons, which they can play back, also enables them to learn better.

The Kinaesthetic Learner

Kinaesthetic learners prefer a hands-on approach, they like to feel things.  On a secluded beach, they will feel the sea, the waves, the sand, and they will also get a feel of what is going on around them.

To learn effectively, kinaesthetic learners like to put learning into practice.  They prefer real life examples with case studies and need to be encouraged to interact with others in role playing exercises, solving puzzles, and drawing diagrams.

Tips for teaching the Visual Learner

• Use visual aids
• Use visual phrases such as “Picture this”
• Colour-code and organise training materials
• Write key points in front of them
• Substitute words with colours and pictures
• Ask them to write down explanations so they can see them
• Provide metaphors and visual imagery

“If I was to show you a way in which you could improve how you work using vivid colours, would you be interested in seeing it?”

Tips for teaching the Auditory Learner

• Allow recordings of your lessons
• Make lessons available online
• Encourage discussion
• Encourage exercises solving issues aloud
• Use mnemonic devices such as acronyms
• Get them to explain concepts to others
• Suggest additional reading materials

“If I could tell you about a way in which you could improve your work, while at the same time, playing a relaxing tune in the background, would you be interested in hearing what I have to say?”

Tips for teaching the Kinaesthetic Learner

• Use a venue with plenty of space
• Provide hands-on exercises
• Use real life examples
• Encourage them to map out their thoughts and what they feel with diagrams
• Suggest they review their notes away from class
• Get them to teach others some of the course content
• Use physical exercises

“If I was to give you a concrete solution with which you could improve your work, would you be interested in grasping it?”

Strengths of the Visual Learner

• They are holistic
• Good at creating charts and graphs
• They tend to do well in tests
• Good at demonstrating
• Good at explaining in pictures
• Good at taking notes

Strengths of the Auditory Learner

• Good at explaining ideas
• Skilled at class presentations
• Will speak up
• Follows verbal directions
• Effective in study groups
• Gifted storyteller

Strengths of the Kinaesthetic Learner

• Good hand-eye coordination
• Agile
• Good memory
• Good timing
• Enthusiastic
• Good at playing games

According to some research done, 60% of people are Visual, 30% Auditory and only 10% are Kinaesthetic.

Famous Visual Learners include Picasso, Einstein, and Leonardo Da Vinci.

Famous Auditory Learners include Ludwig van Beethoven and Sir Paul McCartney

Famous Kinaesthetic Learners include Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth and I M Pei

For me, as a person who is always keen to learn new things and as a person who leads groups at Klass Academy, it was important to see, hear, feel and understand the three main learning styles.  

When we developed our unique blended learning method, in which we combine digital training, virtual coaching and live courses, it was important to help our training participants learn faster and more effectively.

To build a high-performing group, we need people to collaborate well with each other.  Although learners can be visual, auditory or kinaesthetic, the right solution is not only to learn with those people who have the same learning style, but to learn and communicate with the different types, as we do in everyday life.  

If we communicate with each other properly and combine the teaching elements during our trainings, we will understand one another better.  This is why Klass Academy’s collaborative learning covers a broad range of approaches with a variety of classroom discussions, interspersed with theoretical and practical exercises, including the use of videos, charts to demonstrate key points, complex learning activities, having open communication, discussions and challenging tests.

Both my personal and professional experiences showed me, yes, learning can be difficult, but if you try to acquire new knowledge by using your learning style, while at the same time experiencing other learning styles, you will communicate more effectively with others whose learning style is different to yours.

Digital training from Klass Academy enables you to work in bite size chunks, anywhere, anytime and at your own pace.  Live courses, in a group learning environment, goes deeper and encourages communication with others, gaining knowledge from one another, which is much more effective.

You may learn to communicate differently!!

By Steve Savva FCICM

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