By Heather Covert Erica Hershberger Theresa Lemus Santos Keely Maurer Sarah Samblanet

1. By Heather Covert Erica Hershberger Theresa Lemus Santos Keely Maurer Sarah Samblanet

2. What is a Learning Modality? • Perception plays a key role in learning, and the channels through which perception occurs vary. • These perceptions are referred to as modalities. Learning modalities refer to the style learners use to concentrate on, process, and retain information.

3. Types of Learning Modalities • Visual (30%) • Auditory (25%) • Kinesthetic (15%) • Mixed Modalities (30%)

4. Importance to Education • A critical relationship between our students and learning in the classroom is association. The brain draws from an enormous wealth of associations. • Each child would have a greater probability of drawing associations if we allow them the advantage of using multiple senses. More neural pathways within the brain would be stimulated. • Multi-sensory instruction combines auditory, visual, and kinesthetic elements to reinforce each other for optimal learning.

5. Visual Modality

6. People who learn best when information is presented visually and when in a written language format are visual learners. • Visual learners benefit from instructors who use the blackboard (or overhead projector) to list the essential points of a lecture, or who provide them with an outline to follow along with during lecture. • Visual Learners also will benefit from information obtained from textbooks and class notes. • Visual learners tend to like to study by themselves in a quiet room. • Visual Learners often see information "in your mind's eye" when they are trying to remember something.

7. Personality Characteristics of the Visual Learner • Mind wanders during verbal activities. • Has trouble following or remembering verbal instructions • Doodles • Prefers to observe rather than actively participate in group activities and discussions • Likes to read silently • Is neat and organized • Pays attention to detail • Has neat handwriting • Is a good speller • Easily memorizes by seeing pictures and diagrams • Is usually quiet, shy, or reserved

8. To aid recall, make use of “color coding” when studying new information in your textbooks or notes. • Write out sentences and phrases that summarize key information obtained from your textbook and lecture. • Make flashcards of vocabulary words and concepts that need to be memorized. • When learning information presented in diagrams or illustrations, write out explanations for the information. • When learning mathematical or technical information, write out in sentences and key phrases your understanding of the material. • Make use of computer word processing. • Before an exam, make yourself visual reminders of information that must be memorized.

9. Auditory Modality

10. learn best by HEARING information • can remember quite accurately the details of lectures or conversations • strong vocabulary skills • learning a foreign language may be easy • often possess musical talents • sub-vocalizes information for comprehension when reading and studying • good at sounding out words • naturally remembers names

11. Difficulties for the Auditory Learner • reading quickly • reading directions • reading silently for a long period of time • easily distracted by sounds • refrains from expressing feeling verbally • always wants to talk

12. Use auditory activities to bridge reading and writing skills: record written stories have a student read out loud to another student have books on tape on hand have discussions over what has been read Help auditory learners to increase knowledge about language and culture by: attending lectures asking questions listening to the radio joining a choir

13. Kinesthetic Modality

14. Learn through senses • Learn by experience • Muscle memory is important • Don’t require instructions to assemble something • Respond well to interpersonal relationships • Remember stories and metaphors • Learn to read using whole words and context clues • May be athletic • Can have difficulties sitting for long periods of time

15. Personality Characteristics of the Kinesthetic Learner • Taps pencil or foot while thinking • Uses excessive hand gestures and body language • Makes physical contact with people when talking to them • Tends not to enjoy reading • Is unorganized • Is a poor speller • May have trouble memorizing lists, numbers, etc. • Is outgoing • Easily expresses emotions

16. Take notes using diagrams • Move while you read • Do hands-on-work when possible • Use flash cards you can move around on a table • Read aloud • Write out information when studying • Use color coding • Listen to course information on tape while you move (or recite to yourself) • Take frequent breaks when working and move/stretch • Try studying in a position other than a chair in front of a desk • Find a way in which fidgeting allows you to focus on learning

17. Sources • http://library.thinkquest.org/C005704/content_hwl_learningmodalities.php3 • http://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/academics/center/Teaching_and_Learning_Tips/Lea rning%20Styles/LearningModalities.htm • http://coe.sdsu.edu/eet/articles/learningmod/start.htm • http://www.joannejacobs.com/mtarchives/015366.html • http://facultyweb.cortland.edu/andersmd/learning/Modalities.htm • http://www.ldpride.net/learning_style.html • http://www.izea.net/education/interpretation2.htm • http://learningstyles.org/survey/ • http://www.nlp.at/theorie/sl/what.pdf • http://www.trentu.ca/geography/swurtele/slr/learningstyles.html • http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html • http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/prek2/issues/1101issue.shtm • http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm#Learning%20Styles%20Explained