An about learning theory for engineering students
The world does not pay for a person who knows.
But it pays for what a person does with what he knows — laurence lee
Now to know something and make a living out of it we need to learn that thing.We meet and see so many people around us.Some learn to become failures and sum learn nothing but are highly successful in life..They make multi millionaires .
But how do we learn?
There are many theories in psychology on learning methods such as Piaget’s Developmental Theory ,Constructivism ,Right Brain/Left Brain Thinking,Brain-Based Learning ,Multiple Intelligences,Neuroscience,Observational Learning,Behaviorism etc.. Let us discuss them later in detail ,but first let us see the basics of learning styles.. We all are empty vessels which need to be filled.We all learn in different ways..
There are basically three different type of learners.
Visual learners(video learners)
Visual learners learn best what they see in pictures,maps,diagram,films ,flow charts etc.“Show me i”ll understand”.They like colors and fashion and needs quiet study time. So if you are a visual learner try to find sketches,photographs,videos,C.D’s or any visual representation of the course material you want to study.
Verbal learners(Audio learners)
Verbal learners get more out of words–written and spoken explanations.They enjoy music and can’t keep quiet for long periods..Our traditional teaching style is based upon this style.The teacher teaches and students listen. So if you are a verbal learner working in groups can be effective.You can gain understanding by hearing your classmates explain.Many females continue as audio learners.
Kinesthetic learners (action learners)
Kinesthetic learners learn best by doing or experiencing.They acquire information fastest when participating in a drama presentation, science lab, dance, or other active activity.They like martial arts,good at sportss and takes breaks while studying. Many males maintain their kinesthetic abilities through out their lives.Some kinesthetic learners have a hard time sitting in the classroom.In our present education system ,It often becomes very difficult to address the needs of kinesthetic learners.
It is interesting to note that throughout the educational process students enter through different arenas…normally as children we enter as kinesthetic learners ,but in the third or fourth year we tend to adapt ourselves to the visual learning. Many learners use both their audio and video abilities.But good learners are capable of processing the information presented in all the three styles.
Although this is a general and a simple model of learning styles..but it may vary from types of education and education levels..and form the most advanced learning styles which I would be discussing later.. Also in one of the lectures I heard of the interrelation of the above styles with sleeping pattern. or how we sleep.
Audio learners often talk while they are fast asleep.
Video learners exhibit facial expressions like smiling and certain emotions.
While kinesthetic learners tend to move their their body parts..
So the next time before going to bed don’t forget to ask your mom to note down your sleeping pattern….It may help you know what learner you really are…