Learning Styles

STUDENTS' LEARNING STYLES

Remember that your students have their own ways of learning new material. You may have to try several approaches to explain difficult concepts in order to reach all of your tutees.

Here are a few clues for tutors to help them work with the three types of learners.

1. Auditory learner

• Prefers lecture classes
• Can tell you answers to problems step-by-step, but not on paper
• Often moves mouth or talks out loud when reading and working problems
• Becomes bored and fidgety when assignments are to be done silently in class.

Tutor's Role

• Talk out loud
• Say every step instead of just writing on the board
• Encourage students to talk through concepts in their heads
• Once the students have talked the problem through, have them carefully write each step as they are saying it.

2. Visual learner:

• Must write down all directions and assignments
• Prefers having lectures backed-up with a text and hand-outs
• Maneuvers in class so he can see what the instructor/tutor writes on the board.

Tutor's Role

• Encourage students to visualize the problem
• Let them use as much paper as they want
• On tests, encourage students to write all formulas on their paper as soon as they are handed the exam.

3. Tactile kinesthetic:

• Easily distracted
• Lacks concentration
• Prefers class projects
• Tends to be very unorganized

Tutors' Role

• Keep distractions to a minimum
• Encourage them to clear their work space of other materials
• Have them work on one problem at a time
• Let them have a break after a pre-determined goal has been met