Most people know that no two people are alike, especially when it comes to education and learning. After realizing the differences in people scientists began to create groups to determine certain things about people, such as their specific learning behaviors. Learning behaviors are generally grouped into three categories, visual, kinesthetic, and auditory. When testing individuals for their particular learning method, the results will fall into one or more of the categories.

Visual Learners

People who are tested as being a visual learner will rely heavily upon their ability to make visual contact with learning materials. They are likely to prefer seeing what they are being taught; they will generally take endless deeply detailed notes, prefer mellow environments to learn in and may often visualize the material they are trying to learn. A visual learner is also likely to prefer colorful presentations and illustrations. This type of learner is also likely to be obsessed with neatness and cleanliness.

Kinesthetic Learners

Individuals that fall under the kinesthetic learning group are people who prefer to be able to move around. This person will likely use their hands to make gestures while speaking; they will also prefer obtaining an education through courses that require them to move around, such as art, cooking, and other similar courses. The kinesthetic learner will feel the need to take short breaks while learning. This type of learner will often invent reasons to be active if put under pressure. The kinesthetic learner is also a person that enjoys experiencing educational material versus seeing or hearing it.

Auditory Learners

A person who falls under the auditory learning group are often considered a flamboyant type of person. They often may appear as if they are not paying attention, but as long as they can hear they most likely are tuned in. This person may dress in an uncoordinated fashion and often intentionally miss match their clothing. Many auditory learners gain the most knowledge from educational materials when they are reading aloud. Often the auditory learner will be considered disruptive because they tend to have urges to talk to themselves and others, and even hum when they feel distracted from learning.

What do these learning behaviors mean?

When tested and placed into one or more of the learning categories listed above it becomes possible to make learning easy and fun. Many people that struggle with learning simply do so because they are not stimulated in their learning behavior. When a person is a kinesthetic learner they are likely to have difficulty learning if they must sit perfectly still. The auditory learner will struggle if they must remain silent, just as the visual learner will suffer if they only hear the learning material. Some people fall into more than one group and are easy to acclimate to learning styles that fall in one or more of their labeled groups.

Knowing your teen’s learning behavior

The best way to help a child get a good education is to know how they learn the best. A child’s learning behavior will follow them for life and parents that take the time to help provide a stimulating environment will likely see remarkable results. Knowing a child’s learning preferences before they hit high school will be essential to helping them along the way. High school is the last stop before college, knowing how their children learn will enable parents to secure their continued education.

College and Learning Behaviors

If an individual starts college and is fully aware of their specific learning preferences, they are likely to fare far better. If the classroom does not allow the freedom to be a kinesthetic learner, the dorm room does. Taking work home and doing it after class is often the best way to deal with certain learning behaviors. When able to be in their ‘element’ learners of all ages can grasp the material easier. Taking the time to learn and help children understand their best learning methods helps parents to stand behind their children and help them learn even the toughest of courses.

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Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he offers advice to students and parents about understanding learning behaviors and aims to encourage further study with an Applied Certification for Behavior Analysis.