The idea that everyone has different talents is not a new one, and has been cropping up in religion, philosophy, and science for centuries. In recent years especially, the idea that intelligence exclusively equates to a high IQ score has lost ground with educators and scientists alike.
“Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.” This quote, attributed to Einstein, warns us against the frustration created by a one-size-fits-all view of human intelligence. Comparing children in narrow, focused ways can mean that their particular “genius” is overlooked, leaving them discouraged and disengaged.
What are learning styles?
The theory of learning styles proposes that children have natural, preferential approaches to learning. The VARK model is one of the simplest and most commonly adopted categorizations for the various types of learning styles. VARK stands for:
- Visual learners, with a preference for seeing
- Auditory learners, with a preference for listening
- Reading-writing preference learners
- Kinesthetic learners or tactile learners, with a preference for moving, touching and doing
- Multimodal learners, with a combination of styles
How are learning styles used by teachers?
Teachers who implement the theory of learning styles plan classes to engage each of the learning preferences. For example a science teacher might incorporate the learning styles like so:
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Visual
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Auditory
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Reading-Writing
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Kinesthetic
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Diagrams of the digestive system
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Lecture
Discussion
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Note taking
Text book self study
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Dissection of the digestive tract
Anatomy mannequin
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By layering the learning styles, teachers ensure that all students are engaged through their preferred style. Revising information in this way also bombards the student with information in multiple ways.
What is my child’s learning style?
You may already have noticed that your child shows a natural preference for learning new things in a particular way. Some kids prefer to talk it over, asking questions and having them answered. Others may prefer to bury their nose in a book, reading and researching on their own. They may want to watch you complete a task before attempting it. Then, there are those who want to jump in immediately without preparation, getting their hands dirty and learning directly from their experiences.
Students who take the VARK questionnaire can identify their learning style and use it to optimize their academic progress . The official VARK questionnaire is available here.
It’s important to note that a child’s predominent learning style does not necessarily stay static from year to year. As a child develops, their preference is likely to change.
Many different educational theories, pedagogies and methods of measurement exist. Be aware that the theory of learning styles, like most educational theories has its champions and detractors. So although widely adopted, it is not universally accepted.
The Different Strokes series of blog posts will examine current intelligence theories. Future installments will look at how these theories can be used by parents to maximize their children’s learning.
Click here for a related post on learning styles.
Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures Pixabay
