E-Motivate

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In an earlier article, I wrote about the importance of knowing what kind of a learner you are (visual, auditory, kinesthetic). But what if you are the one doing the teaching?

Whether you are teaching in a classroom, giving a presentation, or training new hires it is important to identify and speak to their learning style. This makes you more effective.

THe best way to figure out someone’s learning style is to ask questions. It doesn’t do much good to directly ask them how they learn as most of us are not aware of our learning syle. BUt if you listen to HOW they answer and observe their behaviors you will usually get a good indicator. 

Visual learners respond best by seeing. They like visual aids such as charts and graphs and will often draw such aids in their notes. They use visual-inspired language such as “the way I see it…” or “I saw somewhere that…”.

When you know ahead of time that you will work with visual learners, it is a good idea to have visual aids prepared. If you have to adjust on the fly, it is important to match their visual language. “As you see” and similar phrases will help lock in information. When presenting data, it is also important to describe it as vividly as possible which will help the visual learner paint a mental picture.

 Auditory learners will use words that imply things they have heard, such as “I heard somewhere” or “I hear you”. They also tend to be more distracted by background noises, and thier attention will easily be drawn to noise.

When working with auditory learners, visual aids are not as effective. They want to hear data described. It is important to pay attention to the environment around you with these learners. Excessive noise and poor audio equipment can cause you to quickly lose the audiance.

Kinesthetic learners are rarer, but can also be the most challenging to work with. They often use language that describe how they feel such as “I feel that…”. Kinesthetic learners also tend to enjoy personal contact. They are quick to shake hands (perhaps even hug), and will often do things like pat people on the back or touch their shoulders to reinforce a point. They may also use hand gestures, even when listening.

Kinesthetic learners learn better from participation, which is what can make them such a challenge to work with. Motion catches their eye. Moving around the stage and using your hands to reinforce points helps them a lot. Questions and answers will also go a long way.

 When preparing a presentation, it is important to be prepared for various learning styles (especially if you are speaking to a group). You can then adjust your presentation as you observe how the audiance reacts. Remember to treat your audiance as a participating member of the presentation and you will quickly pick up on their learning style.