Learning styles help us to learn and teach better. When we are students or teachers it can be helpful to understand the different learning styles that there are. Whilst it is very difficult to place each person into a pre-defined ‘box’, understanding the different learning styles can be a helpful tool when planning our learning. This article provides a brief outline of the major learning styles, covering VAK, activist, reflector, theorist and pragmatist, along with the main criticisms of learning styles theory. Ready to learn more? Read on…
What are learning styles?
Learning styles are exactly as it says on the tin really- it is our style of learning. We are all different and we all like to learn in different ways. Essentially, learning styles are general patterns that provide direction to teaching and learning. It is the set of factors, behaviours, and attitudes that facilitate learning for an individual in a given situation.
We all learn in different ways, which can make teaching lots of students difficult at times! But the key is to understand the students in our class, or if you are the student to understand how YOU learn best. Learning styles influence how we learn, how we teach, and how the two interact. We are all born with certain tendencies toward particular learning styles- we may prefer to learn through reading and writing or we may learn better by physically doing something, such as a task or activity. Whilst some of this is down to biology and the way that we are made, it is also influenced by culture, personal experiences, maturity level, and development.
We all have distinct and consistent preferred ways of how we perceive information, how we organise this information in our heads and how we retain this information. This is influenced by our cognitive, affective, and physiological behaviours and characteristics.
What is the VAK learning style?
The VAK learning styles model provides a very easy and quick guide to the three major learning styles that has been utilised within the education sector over the past couple of decades. Whilst many educational institutions are now referring to this model less than they previously did, it is still used in a range of educational contexts when examining learning styles. The VAK Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic model includes three specific learning styles, as outlined below. A widely used extension is Neil Fleming’s VARK model (1987), which adds a fourth “read/write” learning style.
Visual learners
A visual learning style involves the use of seen or observed things. Visual teaching methods include using pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, films, flip-chart paper, etc.
Auditory learners
An auditory learning style involves the transfer of information through listening. This can include the spoken word (your own or others) as well as sounds and noises.
Kinesthetic learners
Kinesthetic learning involves a physical learning experience. This includes touching, feeling, holding, doing and practical hands-on experiences.
If you want to learn more about what these learning styles mean in practice and which learning style best fits you, you can take a short VAK test here.
What is an activist learning style?
Activist, reflector, theorist and pragmatist are the four learning styles identified by Peter Honey and Alan Mumford (1986) in their Learning Styles Questionnaire, which builds on David Kolb’s experiential learning cycle.
Some learners can be described as activists. Activists involve themselves fully and without bias in new experiences. They enjoy the here and now and are happy to be dominated by immediate experiences. They are open-minded, not sceptical, and this tends to make them enthusiastic about anything new.
An activists’ philosophy is: “I’ll try anything once”. They tend to act first and consider the consequences afterwards.
Activists’ days are filled with activity. They tackle problems by brainstorming. As soon as the excitement from one activity has died down they are busy looking for the next. They tend to thrive on the challenge of new experiences but are bored with implementation and longer-term consolidation.
Activists are gregarious people constantly involving themselves with others but, in doing so, they seek to centre all activities around themselves.
What is a reflector learning style?
Reflectors like to stand back to ponder experiences and observe them from many different perspectives. These people collect data, both first hand and from others, and prefer to think about it thoroughly before coming to any conclusion. The thorough collection and analysis of data about experiences is what counts so they tend to postpone reaching definitive conclusions for as long as possible.
A reflectors’ philosophy is to be cautious. They are thoughtful people who like to consider all possible angles and implications before making a move. They prefer to take a back seat in meetings and discussions. They enjoy observing other people in action. They listen to others and get the drift of the discussion before making their own points. They tend to adopt a low profile and have a slightly distant, tolerant, unruffled air about them. When they act it is part of a wide picture which includes the past as well as the present and others’ observations as well as their own.
What is a theorist learning style?
Theorists adapt and integrate observations into complex but logically sound theories. They think problems through in a vertical, step by step, logical way. They assimilate disparate facts into coherent theories. They tend to be perfectionists who won’t rest easy until things are tidy and fit into a rational scheme. They like to analyse and synthesise.
Theorists are keen on basic assumptions, principles, theories, models and systems thinking. Their philosophy prizes rationality and logic. “If it’s logical it feels good”. Questions they frequently ask are: “Does it make sense?” “How does this fit with that?” “What are the basic assumptions?”
Those who prefer this learning style tend to be detached, analytical, and dedicated to rational objectivity rather than anything subjective or ambiguous. Their approach to problems is consistently logical. This is their ‘mental set’ and they rigidly reject anything which doesn’t fit with it. They prefer to maximise certainty and feel uncomfortable with subjective judgments, lateral thinking and anything flippant.
What is a pragmatist learning style ?
Pragmatists are keen on trying out ideas, theories and techniques to see if they work in practice. They positively search out new ideas and take the first opportunity to experiment with applications. Those who prefer this learning style are the sort of people who return from management courses brimming with new ideas that they want try out in practice.
Pragmatists like to get on with things and act quickly and confidently on ideas that attract them. They tend to be impatient with ruminating and open-ended discussions. They are essentially practical, down to earth people who like making practical decisions and solving problems. They respond to problems and opportunities ‘as a challenge’. Their philosophy is: “There is always a better way” and “If it works it’s good”.
Criticisms of learning styles
Although learning styles are popular with students and teachers, they have been widely criticised by researchers. A major review by Coffield et al. (2004) examined 71 different learning styles models and found that many lacked reliability and validity. Pashler et al. (2008) found little evidence for the idea that teaching people in their preferred learning style improves how much they learn (sometimes called the “meshing hypothesis”).
Because of this, most educators now recommend using learning styles as a tool for reflection rather than as a fixed label. Using a mix of teaching methods – visual, verbal and practical – tends to benefit all learners.
Learning styles: FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about learning styles.
What are the main learning styles?
The best-known models are VAK (visual, auditory and kinaesthetic) and Honey and Mumford’s four learning styles: activist, reflector, theorist and pragmatist.
Who created the activist, reflector, theorist and pragmatist learning styles?
These four styles were developed by Peter Honey and Alan Mumford in 1986, based on David Kolb’s experiential learning cycle.
What is the difference between VAK and VARK?
VAK includes visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learners. Neil Fleming’s VARK model adds a fourth style, read/write, for people who prefer to learn through written text.
Is there evidence that learning styles work?
Research has found little evidence that matching teaching to a learner’s preferred style improves results. Learning styles are best used to encourage reflection on how you learn, rather than as a fixed label.
Can you have more than one learning style?
Yes. Most people use a combination of learning styles, and their preferences can change depending on the task, subject and context.
Further reading- learning styles
If you enjoyed learning about learning styles, you may also like these articles:
- Herzberg theory: Made simple
- How to design a questionnaire or survey the EASY way
- What is qualitative and quantitative research? An EASY explanation
