In this unit, the objective is to introduce students to learning about different learning styles, and to help them identify their preferred learning styles in order to become more effective learners.

The unit looks at common descriptions of learning styles (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic) in the context of theories of multiple intelligences. Learners are encouraged to explore different learning styles to discover their strengths and weaknesses, and to try different strategies to strengthen weaker areas so that they can learn more effectively in a variety of contexts.

This is a short and concise unit that serves as an introduction to further research on learning styles. Learners are reminded that, while they may have a dominant style, they should work at developing their weaker styles to give themselves a choice of learning methods.

This unit would work well in conjunction with the unit on 'Memory skills', which covers more of the strategies for learning with a dominant style.

Extension

• Work through this unit with the whole class. Ask students to work in pairs and find out how best the other one learns.
• Ask students to work on their own to identify what they each find to be the most difficult type of learning. Pair students up and ask them to find a solution for their partner and suggest ways in which they could learn something.
• Ask students to investigate the sites suggested in the unit and share any useful information they find with others.
• Ask students to consciously work on those areas where they feel they are the weakest.