Learning Styles for Career Development | ecadema it’s time

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Here in this article we will throw a light on different learning styles and how learners can recognize the best learning style for them to stay competitive.

What is the relation between learning styles and finding a job?

Learning styles help learners to acquire skills and knowledge through different learning styles where the learner’s brain processes information.

A learning style is opted by a learner through a unique way of learning that fits them best. Understanding a new concept is always easy if the instructor explains it to you rather than reading it.

Different learning styles have largely been debunked as a concept and depend on ways to learn, process, comprehend and retain information. After you recognize your learning style, you can choose from four types of learning styles: intuitive learning, tactile learning, visual learning, and auditory learning.

For example, in tactile learning, learners learn through watching someone complete a task and then trying it to make it better.

What is a Learning Style?

A learning style is a unique way of learning in which an individual process, applies, and retains new information. Each learning style is dominated by one of the five bodily senses, but can also be a mix of one or more bodily senses.

Why Are Learning Styles Important?

Identifying your learning style plays a pivotal role in your career growth. Learning style helps you to correlate your professional goals in the fastest and most effective manner possible. Knowing about our learning style prevents our time in learning the strategies which don’t work.

The right learning style helps you to retain information and plays a crucial role in expanding your knowledge base.

Let’s cite an example here.

Logan has been a great learner since childhood. He has the knowledge and skills to tackle a problem from the beginning, and also has the ability to grasp tough concepts with relative ease. Handling problematic situations with the correct approach can play the perfect role for his learning styles. So Logan will try for a job where he can learn and acquire information that suits his learning style. Also, after joining he informed his manager of the work styles where his performance levels are positive for the company’s growth.

Learning style and work performance

Jacob is an over-achiever and delivers amazing work with proper dedication and the right work style. The workflow is serving dividends to his efforts at being the over-achiever that he is.

Effective and efficient learning styles can help you reap the benefits later.

John works as a software programmer and works in an android game development company. His passion and expertise in computer programming or coding help him to understand the analytics of back-end metrics and make him the go-to guy when the team is in a fix. With the help of his subjective approach, he makes sure he does not miss out on any important detail, performing his tasks flawlessly. Plus, leaders and employers are always looking to add a touch of versatility to the workforce.

Different learning styles and How they work for Learners:

Everyone learns, processes, and retains information in different ways and styles. Some find it easier to learn and understand concepts visually where images are used, while others prefer a more hands-on learning approach.

Learning style theory helps individual learners to learn best when the information is presented in a way that is preferred by them and matches their learning style.

For example, For visual learners images, graphs and maps become easy ways to understand and remember new information and help them to retain it for a longer time. Contrary to that, an auditory learner may always prefer to obtain and learn information by listening to a lecture.

Let’s discuss the most popular learning frameworks which is referred to as Neil Fleming’s VARK model. Here VARK stands for:

• Visual
• Auditory
• Reading/writing
• Kinesthetic (physical)

Different learning strategies can be employed to better absorb information, according to VARK, once you figure out what type of learner you are.

The VARK theory suggests that once you are aware of the best-suited learning style, it can certainly help you learn more efficiently. Plus, supporting this reason incorporating the various learning styles gained significant popularity in the education field as knowledge of different learning styles can help educators to experiment with different learning styles and methods into the classroom in order to achieve the best learning outcomes.

There is a constant need to learn new skills and information throughout your career in order to stay ahead in the competitive economy. Furthermore, Knowing your learning style or styles could help you gain new skills to shape your career.

6 Learning Styles

Researchers have proposed over 70 different types of learning styles, but in this article, we will focus on only six of the most influential learning modes.

Let’s discuss one by one:

1. Visual Learner

A visual learner always visualizes concepts and the millennial population is observant and prefers to absorb new and complex information through visual aids.

When information is conveyed or highlighted by visual aids. These could be:

• Maps
• Graphs
• Diagrams
• Patterns
• Shapes
• Videos
• Visual presentations

In other words, visual learners prefer learning materials like:

• Color coding ideas using highlighters
• Using flowcharts and graphs
• Explaining idea using Drawing
• Using audiovisuals

2. Auditory learner

Auditory learners listen to audiobooks to understand and absorb the concepts or information. For example, an auditory learner might repeat out loud information a few times to remember and retain it for a longer time Also, auditory learners can benefit by reading a learning manual, hearing manual instructions rather than studying maps or charts.

Other activities auditory learners prefer are:

• Giving presentations
• Participating in group discussions, seminars, or training sessions to learn and grasp information
• Readings things out loud and can be repeated
• Explaining and describing concepts to others

3. Verbal learner

Verbal or linguistic learners use written and spoken words to understand and retain new information. Reading a book or writing about it can benefit them in collaborating with team members.

Verbal learners can employ these learning techniques to express themselves with ease and can be helpful.

• Using flashcards to learn definitions
• Role-playing with peers
• Writing down your work tasks
• Learning a hard skill by reading an instruction manual

4. Physical learner

Also known as kinesthetic learners, physical learning is a hands-on learning approach that values experiential learning which uses real-life situations. Examples of kinesthetic learning include fully understanding the concepts:

• On-the-job training
• Practicing a skill using role-playing
• Giving real-life examples to explain a concept
• Hearing real-life examples
• Looking for opportunities to apply what you learned

5. Social learner

This learning supports peer learning or group learning environments where each participant interacts with their peers using verbal and nonverbal communication. Social learners tend to hold a high emotional intelligence quotient and make them a great fit for self-managed teams and leaderships, where collaboration is a must.

Social learning can be implemented in a corporate world in the following ways:

• Professional learning communities
• Brainstorming sessions
• Coaching and mentoring programs like coaching circles

6. Logical learner

Logical or mathematical learners always work with a scientific approach for an immersive learning experience.

These learners are good with numbers and can even find connections between things that seem unrelated at first glance. The thriving activities for logical learners are:

• Problem-solving
• Time management practices like time blocking
• Keeping to-do lists and staying organized
• Following clearly outlined rules and procedures
• Breaking down information into charts and graphs

Keeping pace with the current scenario, Online professional trainers at ecadema, aims to deliver superior learning experiences and quality teaching providing scalable solutions and enable better learning outcomes.