Now that you are aware of the different learning styles, what can you do with that information?

If you’re a teacher or trainer, your natural tendency will be to play to your own learning style.  For example:  If you are a kinesthetic learner, the chance are you will plan lots of hands on exercises, throw in a little role play, and end the day with group presentations.  Sounds good – for those who are also kinesthetic learners.  But if you’re a visual learner, this experience will make you feel like a fish out of water.

Learning should be an inclusive process, so you’ll want to find a way to incorporate learning modules and techniques that reach all three learning styles.  This is one time when you need to have something for everyone.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• To reach visual learners:  Include handouts and visual aids whenever possible.  If the hand out has sections for the participant to fill out, you also reach the kinesthetic learner as well. 
• To reach auditory learners:  Some oral presentation, while avoiding a strict lecture mode, will do the trick.  Combined with a handout, or used as a narrative for a video, would allow you to reach visual learners as well.
• To reach kinesthetic learners:  A hands on project, or role-play, is good.  Make sure to allow those who recoil from those exercises a safe alternative.  If a participant doesn’t want to role-play, they could take notes, write a report of how the exercise went, read off instructions, etc. 

Try to identify what teaching techniques have worked for you, or that you naturally gravitate to.  What works?  What doesn’t?  What totally turns you off? 

After answering these questions, practice designing learning modules that will reach each of these styles.  When you’re comfortable with the basics, try incorporating a variety of techniques, and designing modules that will reach more than one style.

Although this information may seem to only be important in a training environment, the information has great applicability in working with a team, managing a group, and conflict resolution.

NEXT UP:  So what?  I’m not a trainer.

The more I give myself permission to live in the moment and enjoy it without feeling guilty or judgmental about any other time, the bettr I feel about the quality of my work.  (Wayne Dyer)

We’ve already discussed the Visual and Verbal learner, and if those styles just didn’t seem quite right, you are probably a Kinesthetic learner.

In its most simple explanation, a kinesthetic learner learns by doing.

What does this mean?  A kinesthetic learner is a hands-on kind of person.  They need an interactive experience to maximize the learning process, and frequently grow bored in a lecture situation.  If kinesthetic learners are stuck in a traditional classroom or educational mode, they will need to take regular breaks, stand and stretch on occasion, and may need to have chewing gum or a snack handy to provide a little physical release as well.

If you are a kinesthetic learner, you may use phrases like:

• Let me try that.
• Can you watch and see if I’m doing this correctly?
• I’ll tackle that after I take a break.

How to enhance your skills if you are a kinesthetic learner:

• Volunteer for role play or acting out scenarios.
• Take frequent breaks, stand, or move about.
• If learning a new skill, have someone observe you performing the skill to make you’ve grasped it.

If you are a trainer, or planning a conference, here are ways to make sure you reach the kinesthetic learner:

• Plan interactive learning modules.
• Schedule regular, and frequent, changes in the way information is presented.
• Don’t forget to plan in break time.
• Allow time for networking, and social interaction, before and/or after educational sessions.

Remember, the kinesthetic learner FEELS information.

Next up:  Making the learning styles work for you.