Learning Style

Shaw (1996) defines learning style:

"Learning style refers to the characteristics students bring to situations that influence how they learn. There are several possible dimensions to learning style. For example, students may have perceptual preferences. Auditory learners learn best when they hear instructional material, visual learners prefer material to be presented in a visual format, and tactile-kinesthetic learners learn most effectively with hands-on experiences.

Another dimension of learning style is conceptual level. Students with high conceptual levels need a minimum amount of structure in their learning experiences, while students with low conceptual levels require highly structured activities. Another dimension concerns social preferences--whether students learn best by working individually, in pairs, in small groups, or as a whole class." (p. 57)

For more information on learning style, refer to Element 6: Preservice education students are given information about the characteristics and learning styles of various groups and individuals. They are taught about the limitations of this information.

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