Types of Learning Style

Learning style can be categorized into three categories. They are as follows: (1) cognitive styles, (2) affective styles, and (3) physiological styles.

Cognitive Styles

This style includes the aspect of brains which perceive meaning and interact with the world. It is often used to predict student achievement and to help students understand their cognitive strength and weaknesses. There are some characteristics of cognitive styles. They are as follows:

a. Analytical skill: identify simple figure hidden in a simple complex field: use the critical element of a problem in different way.

b. Spatial skill: recognize and create objects mentally.

c. Discrimination skill: give more attention on important things and are able to avoid distractions in a question.

d. Categorization skill: understand and form quickly information which is accurate, complete, and organized.

e. Sequential processing skill: understand more information presented by the teacher in a step-by-step.

f. Simultaneous processing skill: make their own conclusion about the materials.

g. Memory skill: detect and remember easily the difficult things in the lesson.

Affective styles

Affective styles of learning are a style of learning by-product of personality, cultural environment, parental and peer pressures and school influences. There are some characteristics of affective styles. They are as follows.

a. Persistence orientation: willingness to work at a task until completion.

b. Verbal risk orientation: willingness to express opinions, speak out.

c. Grouping preference: preference for whole class, large group, small group or dyadic grouping.

d. Verbal-Spatial preference: preference for verbal or non verbal activities.

e. Manipulative preference: preference for “hands-on” activities.

Physiological styles

This style includes perceptual modes and environmental factors that effect learning perceptual response portion of the inventory describes the initial response to information as a visual or emotive response. There are some characteristics of physiological styles. They are as follows.

a. Perceptual response: to initial reaction to information is visual, auditory or emotive.

b. Study time preference: preference for study time in early morning, late morning, afternoon or evening.

c. Posture preference: preference for formal or informal study arrangement.

d. Mobility preference: preference for moving about and taking breaks or working until finished.

e. Sound preference: preference for quite study o background sound.

f. Lighting preference: preference for brighter or dimmer study areas.

g. Temperature preference: preference for studying in a cooler or warmer environmental.