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Why is it important to understand the learning style of others?

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Understanding the learning style of others is important for anyone who ever teaches or works with other people (which includes almost everybody). Even if you are simply trying to tell someone about your upcoming deadline, you can greatly enhance the probability of them understanding what you’re saying if you work with their learning style.

The most obvious setting in which it is crucial to understand the learning styles of others is in one that is academic. As a teacher, it is crucial to your student’s comprehension that you learn not just to teach from your own learning style (which is the natural tendency) but to incorporate all styles. Lecturing is fine; it can be very informative. However, try to include instructional technology and class participation that will make the learning relevant to everyone’s needs and enjoyable.

As a supervisor, you can either repeat yourself over and over again unsuccessfully to your employees, or you can learn to help them understand the first time. Use handouts in meetings; have pictures. Let groups of people do a quick hands-on exercise that will help prepare them for the project.

Unfortunately, many people are insensitive to the learning styles of others, thinking that other people should just “listen better” or “pay attention.” Attempting to meet people’s learning needs is not babying them or fostering laziness; it is making an effort to speak in their language! Imagine trying to pass a sociology course that was being taught in Korean when your only fluent language is English. This is what a kinesthetic learner feels like in a class taught by someone whose learning style (and teaching style) is primarily auditory.

Next Page: How can someone discover his or her learning style?

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