Level 2: Chapter 10

Understand that the term “learning styles” can be defined in several ways.

Use a simple inventory to determine learning style.

Appreciate learning differences.Acquire more strategies and

resources for working with various learning styles.

The individual acquires information meaningfully through the sense of sight.

Methods may include reading text, demonstrations, diagrams, charts, maps, pictures, etc.

The individual acquires information meaningfully through the sense of hearing.

Methods may include explanations, discussions, audio cassettes, etc.

The individual acquires information meaningfully through the sense of touch or body movements.

Methods include writing flashcards, making models, drawing pictures, role-playing, etc.

Most people learn through a combination of these modalities, but one is typically dominant.

Tutors should help students discover their dominant learning style and how to use it to their advantage.

Individual learners work best by themselves

Tend to be visual learners.

Tutors may discover individual learners within group sessions. These students should be moved to one-on-one sessions to ensure they get the attention they need.

Group learners retain more information by reviewing it with peers.

Tend to be auditory as well.

Tutors who discover a group learner in an individual session may want to move the student to a group if possible. However, these students will benefit simply from discussing material with a tutor.

Students with a high written score tend to express thoughts best when writing them down

Tend to be visual and individual learners.

May have difficulty in a session because they cannot find the words to explain what they are thinking.

Students with a high oral score tend to express thoughts best when speaking.

Tend to be auditory and group learners.

May have difficulty in writing classes because they just can’t figure out how to write what they are saying.

Detail oriented students who miss the main idea.

Tutors must work through processes with the tutee to reach a final outcome.

Socratic method is often very useful in helping students organize the steps in a process or simply reach a conclusion that students might miss on their own.

Students who see main ideas and final outcomes, but miss the fine points and processes used to reach these conclusions.

Tutors must work with a student to pick out details and establish processes to reach conclusions. Often, Questions that Probe Implications and Consequences are useful in establishing cause and effect relationships.

Have students takes this learning assessment in the Tutoring Lab.

Interpret the results with the students to give them ideas on how to study based on this information.

If you have questions, please contact the Learning Skills Specialist, the Tutoring Center Coordinator, or a Master Tutor.

Tutors should take the CAPSOL to determine their teaching style.

Determine early if there will be a clash between a tutor’s teaching style, and the tutee’s learning style. For suggestions on how to handle such situations, speak to the Learning Skills Specialist.

Howard Gardner, Frames of Mind. The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

Multiple Intelligences include:• Linguistic, Mathematical, Spatial,

Kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalist.

Multiple Intelligences provides a different view of how intelligence and “smartness” is defined.

Left/Right Brain• A biological look at learning preferences.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator• A series of surveys used to gain personal

insight and develop metacognitive skills. It is important to remember that

while inventories and research can be insightful, they are too simple to allow a complete understanding of how our brains operate.

There are a number of resources available to both tutors and tutees in the Tutoring Center to help address various Learning Styles• Internet• Books• Videos/DVDs• CD-ROMs• Inspiration• Manipulatives

No matter what the individual’s learning/teaching style may be, professionalism and communication are important.

This will ensure an understanding of what kind of learning took place, and what still needs work.

What are some ways to help a visual learner study for an exam?

An auditory learner?A kinesthetic learner?What value does a learning styles

inventory have for a tutoring session?

Are there any drawbacks to such an inventory?