Monkey See, Monkey Hear, Monkey Do - Which Learning Style Are You?

After even just a short period of sitting, I become restless and start wriggling around in my seat, crossing and uncrossing my legs, rolling my head from side to side, back and forward and round in circles to exercise my neck, I partially stand up and then sit back down again; anyone would think I have Saint Vitus Dance - I am sure that the other people in my class must think I am a real fidget bum!

Why am I like this? After a great deal of research and study into the different Learning Styles that students present with - together with observations from my own personal experiences - I have discovered that I am very much a "doing" person. I can't just sit still and listen - I have to be doing something, even something as minute as writing or typing - anything that constitutes a verb, to keep me in action - and then I am happy and productive!

What this means, in pedagogical terms, is that I am classified as a "Kinaesthetic" learner, according to Fleming's VAK model of learning styles.

VAK LEARNING STYLES

Visual - Seeing and Reading 
Auditory - Listening and Speaking 
Kinaesthetic - Touching and Doing

According to the VAK model, most people possess a dominant or preferred learning style, however, some people have a mixed and evenly balanced blend of the three styles. Here is a breakdown of the preferences of each of the three learning styles:

A Kinaesthetic learner, such as myself, prefers to:

* Have a more interactive learning experience; a more hands-on approach to tasks 
* Take notes while listening 
* Undertake projects, experiments and dramatisations 
* Move around when studying rather than sitting still for long periods 
* Use cue cards

A Visual learner prefers to:

* Have information presented in a visual manner 
* Use charts, mind maps, reading and summarising 
* Read rather than listen or do, eg. reading the instructions before attempting a task 
* View demonstrations to understand 
* Highlight or underline text

An Auditory learner prefers to:

* Listen to others give instruction and construct the task requirements from the words 
* Share and clarify their ideas with other students, teachers and family members 
* Work in groups 
* Listen to stories or texts rather than read 
* Debate their ideas and hear other people's opinions 
* Talk on the telephone and discuss ideas

What about you? Are you a Kinaesthetic learner like me, who can't just sit still and listen - you've just gotta be up and moving around, doing something? Or are you a Visual learner, who learns by seeing and reading? Or perhaps you are an Auditory learner, who would love nothing more than to sit through a two or three hour lecture and listen to your facilitator go on - and on - and on...? *yawn*

Denise Joy Marron is an Online Training Manager - VA Support Specialist and Owner of DJM Training Support Solutions, an online training consultancy based in Adelaide, South Australia but servicing the world virtually. As an Online Training Manager - VA Support Specialist, Denise helps Independent Trainers, Coaches and Consultants reclaim their time, energy and life by taking care of their training support needs so that they can spend MORE time in the training room doing what they LOVE and making MORE money - giving them that peace of mind so that they can breathe a little easier and sleep a little better at night!

To find out more about DJM Training Support Solutions and how we can help YOU reclaim your time, energy and life so that you can spend MORE time doing what you LOVE and making MORE money, log onto http://www.djmtraining.com.au, where you can also claim a complimentary copy of my special report, "What Keeps Trainers, Coaches & Consultants Up At Night?: The Top 40 Stressers in Your Training, Coaching or Consulting Business Today!" and to schedule a no obligation free consultation!