Teaching Styles

Keeping different learning styles in mind will make us better facilitators. For example, knowing that some students learn best through listening, others prefer to see the material and still others are more comfortable actually trying out information in real situations ensures that each learner operates in their own preferred learning style. We can use our knowledge of learning styles when coaching students, when selecting learning activities and when assessing student performance.

Understanding learning styles will also help groups of people who are learning and working together capitalize on their strengths that each learner brings to the group’s effort.

A word of caution: understanding one’s learning style is best seen as a tool to help us respect and celebrate differences. Learning styles should be seen as a way of understanding preferences and approaches to learning, not as a way to label and categorize people.