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CHAPTER 5
What's in STYLE?
PRODUCT PREVIEW
Have you ever noticed that you take in and process information better in a particular format? Do you learn better when you read words or hear them? Do you need to touch and hold an object to understand it? For many years, cognitive psychologists (those are psychologists who explore mental processes) have conducted studies and experiments to understand how people learn, hoping to find ways to make learning easier and more efficient. In the 1970s, a theory developed that people have different styles of learning based on their senses: Visual (pictures), auditory (hearing), and kinesthetic (touch and movement.) The Learning Style Theory is also known as VAK Learning = Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic Learning. This theory states that everyone’s brain is genetically wired to prefer one of the VAK sensory modes for taking in information. The VAK theory has been discussed and debated for years. Experts agree that our brains have a preferred or dominant sensory mode for taking in and processing information for learning. Although it is not the exclusive way we learn, our preferred sensory mode influences our ability to comprehend and retain information. Knowing your preferred learning style enables you to identify resources and strategies that can help you learn more efficiently and effectively. That improves your college and career readiness!
Learning Goals By the end of this chapter you will be able to: 1. List and define VAK learning styles. 2. Explain the benefits of knowing your dominant learning style. 3. Discover your learning style. 4. List a variety of style- compatible learning strategies.
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