Learning Styles

Day 4

Learning Styles

Heather Weismiller

God has wired us to learn in different ways.  A bright person who is devoted to God may not like to read.  Approaches to spiritual growth that require a lot of reading do not help him.  He learns by listening.  Others learn by doing. Some learn while more artistically engaged.  One size truly does not fit all!  Read through the lists below and see if you can identify yourself and others you know.

Visual/Print Learners

• Learns by seeing and by watching demonstrations
• Likes visual stimuli such as pictures, slides, graphs, demonstrations, etc.
• Conjures up the image of a form by seeing it in the “mind’s eye”
• Often has a vivid imagination
• Often stares
• Needs something to watch
• Is often quiet and does not talk at length
• Becomes impatient or drifts away when extensive listening is required
• Prefers the visual arts and media
• Often takes notes
• May like to write on the blackboard
• Remembers quickly and easily what is read
• Learns better after seeing or writing something
• Is often perceived as a “bookworm”
• Grasps important concepts on first reading of material
• Loves to read books, journals, magazines

Aural Learners

• Tends to remember and repeat ideas that are verbally presented
• Learns well through lectures
• Is an excellent listener
• Can reproduce symbols, letters or words by hearing them
• Likes to talk
• Enjoys plays dialogues, dramas
• Can learn concepts by listening to tapes
• Enjoys music
• Can repeat or fulfill verbal instructions

Kinesthetic/Haptic Learners

• Learns by doing, direct involvement
• Often fidgets or finds reasons to move
• Is not very attentive to visual or auditory presentations
• Wants to be “doing” something
• Tries things out and likes to manipulate objects
• Gestures when speaking
• Is often a poor listener
• Responds to music by physical movement
• Often finds success in physical response activities
• Learns better when able to move during learning
• Likes to move hands (doodling, tapping,) while learning
• Uses movement to help concentrate
• Likes a “hands-on" approach to learning
• Involves the sense of touch in learning
• Likes to do artwork
• Likes to piece things together
• May be fond of doodling
• Likes to trace words and pictures
• Is often seen “fiddling” with something
• Is successful with tasks requiring manipulation

(The above information is from learningstyles.org)

You might find after reading these that you might have characteristics from more than one category, but most of us tend to lean toward one major one.  By understanding our learning style we can adapt our spiritual learning accordingly. 

For instance, if you are a visual learner, you might learn best by watching videos, highlighting your Bible or your notes, memorizing scripture by reading it and even making mental pictures in your head corresponding to the verses.  You might also benefit from looking at maps or pictures of places corresponding to the scenes you are reading in the Bible.  A visual learner may also benefit from journaling.

An aural learner is more of a traditional classroom learner.  You might benefit from listening to the Bible on tape or reading your Bible or the Scripture you are memorizing out loud.  Try praying out loud, talk over Biblical concepts with a friend, and play Christian music, listening carefully to the words.

A kinesthetic learner may enjoy walking while praying or listening to the Bible or message on mp3.  If you are watching a video, pause it every once in a while and walk around.  Draw Bible scenes or doodle key words while listening to a sermon.  Try walking around a track while memorizing scripture.

Can you identify yourself in the above descriptions of learning styles?  Which would describe you?

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Which of the suggestions at the end might be helpful in your spiritual training?

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Prayer: Reflecting specifically on this devotional, write out a prayer to God. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________