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Learning Modality

by Darren Smith, CFII/MEI
Getting the Most From Your Flight Training, April, 2008
CFI Navigation:  General Info CFI Certificate | CFI Ground School SyllabusTactics for the Professional CFI | Technical Presentations | Sample Budget while in Training | Things Flight Instructors Worry About | CFI Liability | What it Takes to Be a CFI | Advice to the New CFILearning Modality

How Do You Learn Best?

Ever given that question some thought?  All our lives, we've been taught in a way that was convenient for the teacher but not the most effective way for the student to absorb it.  Take a look around and you'll notice that the face of educating pilots is changing.  Nearly gone are the days of going down to the airport or local Junior College to take a ground school.  We've long had cassette and video tape learning and now DVDs sold here on this website and a hundred other places are the latest wave of learning opportunities.  Ask the King family, they've become millionaires at it.

Over the last few years, computer based training has started to take root.  One regional airline offers its pilots an online indoctrination course.  Gone are the days of sitting in airline ground school for two weeks.  A quick search of the website will lead you to online ground schools.  With their snazzy flash graphics, there is sizzle and a little substance for everyone.

None of these efforts have come close to answering the question we started with.  How Do You Learn Best?

A lot of smart folks in the educational psychology field came up with the phrase "learning modality" more than 20 years ago.  Like any good evidence based practitioner, these psychologists came up with three major ways in which we learn.  These learning preferences are:  VISUAL, AUDITORY, and TACTILE.  So let's explore each of these three and figure out which one suits you best.  Consider this table for a brief overview of learning modality.

If You...
You're a:
You Learn Best by:
  1. Like to read notes
  2. Like to watch demonstrations
  3. Look at illustrations & diagrams
  4. Distracted by visual stimuli
  5. Your learning area must not be too bright
  6. Prefer art class
  7. Prefer to share something that happened to you in writing.
  8. Emotions are expressed through facial expressions
  9. Use a map at Disneyland
  10. Think of something, you picture it in your mind's eye
  11. Write things out to see if they look right.
  12. Prefer to teach people by written directions.
  13. Like to read things that have pictures.





VISUAL
LEARNER


  • Being shown how to accomplish it.
  • Emphasizing the aesthetics
  • Diagrams, illustrations, animations, and other visual cues.
  • Appreciating the fine details
  • A place to study which has no distracting pictures, images, artwork
  • Classroom instruction that emphasizes these elements.
  • Visualize yourself performing the task
  • Powerpoint/Blackboard presentations
  1. When you try to spell something, you sound it out.
  2. Would rather be in music class.
  3. While standing in a line, you're likely to talk to the person next to you.
  4. Easily become distracted by sounds around you.
  5. Sing along when listening to music.
  6. Your learning area must not be too noisy
  7. Prefer to share something that happened to you by telling it.
  8. Emotions are expressed through verbal expressions
  9. Talk to the tour guide at Disneyland
  10. Think of something, you imagine what it sounds like or imagine hearing it in your mind's eye
  11. Sound things out to see if it's right.
  12. Prefer to teach people by telling them.
  13. Like to read things that have dialogue.







AUDITORY
LEARNER

  • Audio tapes of lectures
  • Presentations that include audio
  • Music
  • Explaining what you've learned to others
  • One to one interaction with an instructor.
  • A quiet place to study.
  • Hearing people describe theories in detail.
  • Classroom learning
  1. Like to do things with your hands.
  2. While standing in a line, you're likely to fidget.
  3. Would rather go to shop class
  4. Easily become distracted by physical discomfort.
  5. Tap your feet or move while listening to music.
  6. Your learning area must be comfortable.
  7. Prefer to share something that happened to you by demonstrating.
  8. Emotions are expressed through physical expressions
  9. Go to the first thing that looks interesting at Disneyland
  10. Think of something, you imagine what it feels to be near it/with it/hold it.
  11. You must write something first to know if it's spelled right.
  12. Prefer to teach people by acting it out.
  13. Like to read things that have puzzles or logic that engages you in problem solving.







TACTILE
LEARNER

  • Physical tasks such as putting things together.
  • Diagramming
  • Sorting items
  • Writing
  • Making models
  • One on one learning
  • Taking notes on reading or classroom activities
  • Underline or highlight notes, books.

Scoring

Give yourself a point for each item.  The category with the most points best describes you.  While not all people will score solidly in one learning modality, consider the diagram at the right and you'll picture yourself where you are.

You will likely incorporate a few of each of the learning modalities in your daily life.  Some fall straight in the middle -- the hub.  These folks can maximize any learning opportunity to get the most out of it.

If you're in the combination area between two of the modalities, consider the table above and you'll find that a combination of the two different learning preferences will provide the best opportunity for you to learn the most.

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