Learning Styles and Learning Practices in General,

Learning Styles and Learning Practices

In general, psychological theorists and educators acknowledge that learning occurs quite differently in different individuals. Some people learn best by observing, whereas others learn best by listening, and still others learn best by participating or experiencing something more tangible in connection with the subject matter (Akkoyunlu, & Soylu, 2008). There are numerous theories about how people learn, and one of the most commonly used is Kolb's Learning Style Inventory (LSI), that categorizes learning according to the following broad distinctions: Concrete Experience or considering things substantially the way they are presented; Abstract Conceptualization or considering things as ideas and theories that represent or incorporate what is represented; Active Experimentation or forming conclusions based on what is represented and conducting experiments to confirm those conclusions; and Reflective Observation or determining whether what they have concluded is true by observation (Akkoyunlu, & Soylu, 2008 p. 185) .

I prefer different learning styles in different circumstances because I recognize that my preferred learning style varies based on the situation. Focusing on and applying the type of learning that suits me best improves the speed and quality of my learning, just as described by Chickering and Gamson (1991). In different situations, I have used all seven learning styles mentioned by Chickering and Gamson (1991), namely: visual, auditory, verbal, physical, logical, social, and solitary learning styles. In college, I have found that collaborative and social learning, especially in the form of direct cooperation with faculty, aids my learning tremendously. It seems to enhance my intellectual commitment and helps me expands my career-horizon awareness, exactly as described in the literature (Chickering & Gamson, 1991).