Identifying and Addressing Student Learning Styles: Tips for Tutors

Identifying and Addressing Student Learning Styles: Tips for Tutors

No two learners are the same. However, everyone has a preferred learning style which works best for them. The four main learning styles are categorized as: auditory, visual, reading & writing and kinesthetic.

Below we define the four learning styles and provide some tips on how to determine a student’s learning style.  Most people have a primary learning style but use a combination of these styles to learn. The key is to identify your students’ dominant style and incorporate learning strategies that cater to it. We have provided learning strategies tips for each style of learning to help you become a more effective tutor. 

1. Visual Learners:

Visual learners are people who process information best through seeing. They excel at understanding and remembering things presented visually, such as charts, graphs, pictures, and diagrams. 

How to identify a Visual Learner?  Here are some key characteristics of visual learners:

• Strong Spatial Awareness: They tend to be good at visualizing objects and concepts in their mind’s eye.
• Detail-Oriented: They often pay close attention to visual details, such as colours, shapes, and layouts.
• Learn Through Observation: They benefit from demonstrations and watching others perform tasks.
• Picture Perfect Memory: They often remember information better when it’s presented visually, like in a flowchart or mind map.

Here are some effective tips for tutoring visual learning:

Take Visual Notes: Instead of writing everything down, ask students to use pictures, diagrams, and symbols to represent key concepts.

Create Mind Maps: Help your student organize information visually using mind maps with branches and colours to connect ideas.

Use Color Coding: Highlight important information in different colours or use colour-coded flashcards for better recall.

Find Visual Resources: Seek out educational videos, documentaries, and online resources with rich visuals.

Draw It Out: When studying complex concepts, try drawing diagrams or flowcharts to solidify your understanding.

2. Auditory Learners: 

These learners absorb information best through listening. They thrive in environments that emphasize spoken communication and often struggle with purely written materials. Lectures, discussions, audiobooks, podcasts, and group work are all effective learning methods for them.

How to identify an Auditory Learner? Here are some characteristics of auditory learners:

• Enjoy Discussions:  They tend to enjoy talking and seem to retain information when you speak.   They actively participate in class discussions and group work, finding these interactions helpful for solidifying their understanding.  
• Strong Listeners: They pay close attention to spoken instruction and can pick up on details and follow along with complex explanations.
• Verbal Processing: They learn best by hearing information explained and often benefit from reading aloud or talking through concepts with others.
• Memory for Sounds: They tend to remember things they hear better than things they see. For instance, they might recall instructions better if they hear them spoken rather than read them on a page.

  Here are some effective tips to help an auditory learner:

Record lessons and lectures when possible: If permitted, see if students can capture lectures (for older students) or lessons with a voice recorder so they can review them later. They may even benefit from recording your tutoring session with them, especially if you are re-teaching or explaining a complex concept, or if memorization is required.

Form Study Groups: Encourage your students to discuss the material with classmates, explaining concepts in their own words and with others.  Use your tutoring session to study.   Ask the student questions that might be on a test and have them explain the answer to you.   

Use Mnemonics,Rhymes or even Songs: Create memory aids that involve sound and rhythm to help them remember information.

Read Aloud: When reviewing written materials, read them aloud to improve comprehension. Encourage them to read aloud to themselves when alone, this is an effective study technique. 

3. Reading/Writing Learners: 

These learners thrive on written text. They enjoy reading textbooks, articles, and taking detailed notes. They often learn best by summarizing information in their own words and expressing themselves through writing.

How to identify a Reading/Writing learner? Here are some characteristics of reading/writing learners:

• Love for Reading: They often prefer reading books, articles, and other written materials. They often have a wide range of interests in various subjects, driven by their reading habits.
• Effective Writers: They express their thoughts clearly in writing and enjoy activities such as journaling and creative writing. They tend to perform well on exams that require written responses.
• Preference for Written Information: They usually prefer written directions over verbal instructions. They enjoy learning from textbooks, articles, and handouts. 
• Enjoyment of Word Games: Activities like crosswords, word searches, Wordle and Scrabble often appeal to them.
• Note-Taking Skills: They often take detailed and organized notes to help them understand and remember information. They may prefer studying independently, reviewing their written notes rather than collaborating in groups.

Here are some effective tips for teaching reading/writing learners:

Read the text book before the lecture:  If they have trouble taking in the information during lectures, remind your student to read the textbook materials before the lecture and to take notes.  Teach them how to take notes by providing templates or graphic organizers to help them structure their notes effectively.     

Annotate and Highlight: Show them techniques for annotating texts, underlining key points, and summarizing main ideas in the margins.

Supplementary Resources: Provide online resources with rich text content, like educational websites or online articles with clear explanations.

Rewrite and Summarize: Encourage them to rewrite information in their own words. This helps solidify understanding and identify areas needing further clarification.

Create Study Guides: Guide them in creating concise study guides that condense information into key points, definitions, and formulas.

4. Kinesthetic Learners (also called Tactile Learners):

These learners learn best by doing. They benefit from hands-on activities, experiments, simulations, role-playing, and manipulating objects.

 

How to identify a Kinesthetic Learner? Here are some characteristics of kinesthetic learners:

• Hands-On Learning: They thrive in hands-on environments and prefer to engage in physical activities.They enjoy using tools, models, or other physical objects to understand concepts better.
• Movement-Oriented: They may become fidgety or lose focus after sitting still for long periods of time. They often need to move around while studying and may benefit from incorporating physical activity into their learning process.
• Strong Motor Memory: They often remember information better when it’s associated with a physical action, making gestures or movements while learning.
• Real Life Experiences: They like to build models or work with puzzles and enjoy field trips and documentaries to learn more about a subject.  

Here are some effective tips for teaching kinesthetic or tactile learners:

Hands-on Activities: Incorporate activities that involve manipulating objects, building models, or performing experiments.  If feasible, incorporate projects where they can build something related to the topic—a model of the solar system, a prototype invention, or a replica of a historical structure.

Manipulatives: Provide manipulatives like blocks, puzzles, or 3D models to represent abstract concepts. This helps them visualize and understand complex ideas in a more concrete way.

Real-world Connections: Connect learning to real-life applications. Watch relevant documentaries, Youtube videos or suggest a field trip.

Kinesthetic Note-taking: Encourage them to take notes by sketching, drawing diagrams, or using mind maps that incorporate movement and visual elements. 

Visual Aids: Even though they excel with doing, visuals can still be helpful. Use clear diagrams, pictures, or flowcharts alongside hands-on activities to reinforce learning.

Conclusion: 

Identifying a student’s preferred learning style is a crucial step in creating an effective tutoring environment. By understanding whether they learn best through visual aids, auditory instruction, reading and writing, or hands-on activities, you can tailor your strategies for personalized learning that enhances their experience. Remember that most learners benefit from a mix of these styles, so encourage experimentation with different approaches. By fostering a supportive atmosphere that celebrates individual strengths, you empower students to engage more deeply with the material and achieve their full potential.