What Are Learning Styles & Why
Are They Important?
  
Learning styles are the different ways that
people perceive, process and learn information. Different
people prefer to learn in different ways. To accommodate this
as educators we try to present content in different ways to
suit different types of learners and to offer different types
of learning activities.
As learners ourselves, we can make our
own learning more effective and more enjoyable by considering
our own preferred learning styles. As you develop your individualised
professional development plan, include the kinds of resources
you find easy to use, and the kinds of activities you enjoy
and which most assist your learning.
If you are not sure what your own preferred
learning style is, there is some information here that you
might find interesting and helpful. Understanding your own
preferred learning styles can make you both a better learner
and a better teacher. You can make good use of the approaches
to learning that come easily to you, and begin to develop
some of the learning strategies that you might be weaker in,
thus maximising your capacity to learn.
There have been several different approaches
to analysing and categorising learning style differences.
Some of the most widely used models are discussed here briefly,
and related to different professional development strategies
that you might find useful. There are also links to more information
and, where available, to inventories and quizzes that can
help you identify your learning preferences.
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