What Is Not a Learning Style?
Introduction
In the past decade, there has been plenty of buzz about learning styles, and for good reason. It is well-established that different people learn in different ways, and tailoring lessons and activities to different learning styles has been seen to improve learning outcomes. However, there is some confusion about the exact learning styles, and which of the popularly cited styles is not actually a learning style.
Learning Styles
The main learning styles generally recognized are visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. Visual learners prefer to learn by seeing and looking at diagrams, charts, and pictures. Auditory learners prefer to learn by listening and talking. Kinesthetic learners prefer to learn by doing, and need to move around in order to better understand and retain information.
What Is Not a Learning Style?
The learning style that is not actually a learning style is tactile. Tactile learners are often grouped with kinesthetic learners, as they both prefer to learn by doing, but there is actually a distinct difference between the two. Kinesthetic learners prefer to move around and interact with the environment, whereas tactile learners prefer to learn through touch and feel. For example, a tactile learner may prefer to learn by feeling a model or object, whereas a kinesthetic learner may prefer to move around and explore the environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to understand the different types of learning styles when designing educational activities. Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic are all learning styles, but tactile is not. Understanding the difference between tactile and kinesthetic learners is essential for designing lessons that best suit the needs of the learner.
