Learning Styles Quick Reference Guide

Ever wonder how your diverse workforce learns and processes information? We've put together a quick guide on the most common learning styles.

Visual Learners
Learning Memory Problem Solving Communication Language Misc
Learn by seeing;

Benefit from demonstrations;

Form mental pictures;
Particularly enjoy training that uses video a variety of
visual aids		 Remember faces;

Forget names;

Take detailed notes & refer to them later;
Recall colors & shapes easily		 Deliberate;

Plan in advance;

Organize thoughts by writing them down;

Keep lists of problems or things to do Refer to instructions		 Talk quickly but rarely at length;

Become impatient if extensive listening is required		 Uses visual words such as see, look, watch

I “see” what you mean

I “see” it clearly now		 Affected by color of room;

Affected by order or chaos;

Seldom get lost;

Are often easily distracted
Auditory Learners
Learning Memory Problem Solving Communication Language Misc
Learn by hearing;
Benefit from verbal instruction;

Speak aloud to self to reinforce direction;

Especially enjoy discussion as part of learning process

Remember names;

Forget faces;

Remember by hearing then repeating;

Take cryptic notes to help with process of under-standing but rarely refer to notes later

Talk problems out or think them through verbally;

Talk to self;

Slightly indecisive;

Prefer instructions stated verbally

Enjoy listening but have a hard time waiting to talk;

Is bothered by pauses or silence in a conversation;

Go into long detailed descriptions;

Use internal dialogue to work through problems

Uses verbal words such as ask, listen, hear, tell

That “rings” a bell

I “hear” you

Speak with a melodious voice;

Do not always trust feelings;

Like background music;

Toys are distracting
Kinaesthetic Learners
Learning Memory Problem Solving Communication Language Misc

Learn by doing;

Benefit from hands-on involvement;

“Feel” way through experiences;

Need to understand some of the big picture before applying the detail;

Prefer training that involves skills practice and activities with physical movement

Remember events;

Forget details;

Take notes to help with process of learning but rarely look at them later for
reference

Attack problems physically;

Impulsive;

Often select solutions involving greatest activity;

Might need guidance through steps of a problem Rarely refer to formal instructions

Gesture when speaking;

Have to work hard at listening effectively;

Stand close;

Pace when thinking;

Frequently pause or interrupt self when speaking

Uses action words such as impact, get, take, make, understand

I “get” the picture

I “feel good” about that

I’ll “handle” that 

Let’s jump in

Can’t sit still too long;

Listen better when touched;

Doodle a lot;

Toys keep hands busy & help the mind
Conceptual Learners
Learning Memory Problem Solving Communication Language Misc

Learn primarily through a thinking process;

Benefit from understanding background that leads up to specifics;

Need to discuss concepts in general & use examples to support points; 

Enjoy case studies and experiential learning

Remember the context of events;

Places and conversations;

Remember some details;

Take notes in bulletpoint format (in own words) and sometimes refer to notes later to help recall points of interest

Step back from problems to understand the context and scope of the situation;

Typically follow a process that helps narrow alternatives

Move eyes a lot when speaking; look up to think; Need space;

Often speak “beyond” other participants;

Tendency to make issues bigger or more complex than they need to be in the training environment

Use clarifying phrases when speaking

Let’s see if this example fits the situation

Help me understand…

Does that make sense?

Enjoy knowing
the research;

Are frustrated
when examples are used
without presenting the
general concept first;

Need to know “why