What’s Your Learning Style

Did you know that every brain begins as a female brain? Research has shown that until eight weeks after conception, all brains are female. Female is nature’s default gender setting. For the first eight months after conception, the fetal brain looks female. It is in the eighth week that a huge testosterone surge begins and turns this unisex brain to male. The female brain, on the other hand, develops enhanced connections in the communication area after the eighth week.

As you may have figured out by now, the female brain works quite a bit differently than the male brain. Men and women have different ways of processing their thoughts.

For example, while a woman uses about 20,000 words a day, a man uses only 7,000.

The changes that happen after the eighth week of pregnancy shape the lens through which each of us perceives the world. Our mind dictates the way we learn and process information. What’s fascinating is that each of us does so in a different way.

Each person has a different learning style that allows them to learn best. The idea of individualized “learning styles” was introduced in the 1970s.

The three main types of learning styles include: visual, auditory and kinesthetic/tactile. A person usually has a mixture of the learning styles above, but is particularly strong in one area. Sometimes, a person has more than one strong learning style.

Visual learners

Visual learners learn through seeing.

They learn best through demonstrations and visual aids. This can include hand-outs, diagrams, mind maps, illustrated text books, videos, and overhead transparencies. They need to see the teacher’s body language and facial expressions to fully understand the concepts presented. Many visual learners prefer to take detailed notes to help absorb the information presented.

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners learn through listening.

They learn best through verbal lectures and class discussions. Auditory learners key in to tone of voice, pitch, speed, and other visual cues. These types of learners often benefit from reading the text aloud and using a tape recorder to record the lectures for playback.

Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners learn through best through their sense of touch. These are hands-on learners who learn best by actively exploring the world around them. A kinesthetic learner often speaks with their hands and uses a number of gestures. They also appreciate physically expressed encouragement, such as a pat on the back.

Kinesthetic learners are often not tolerated in schools because they need to be moving to learn effectively and our education system certainly does not cater to kids who need to be moving. Instead, they cater mostly to auditory learners who learn best through lectures.

By knowing what type of learner you are, you will be able to work towards your strengths. By knowing what type of learner your kids are, you will be able to help them absorb information in the most efficient way possible.