The University of Arizona

Faculty Corner: Lesson 2 - Learning Styles

Content/Organization/Overview

This lesson emphasizes the importance of students knowing their own particular learning style to enable them to find learning and study strategies that can make these processes easier. Also, learning styles can and do develop and change over time.

Common problems students have with learning styles:

  • Students often have preconceived notions that are difficult to modify, such as 'I do my best studying late at night.'
  • Students may have no knowledge of their learning style
  • Students do not know how to adapt studying and learning to their learning style
  • Many students find it difficult to change study habits

For discussion:

  • Emphasis on the fact that learning styles can and do change, along with comparison of results based on specific strategies can help students to see which strategies are more compatible with their own learning styles.
  • Many students find it difficult to change study habits. This can seriously affect academic achievement at the University level for new students. A discussion on the difference in expectations may help to motivate students to develop good strategies.

Activities and Assignments that would complement this lesson:

  • Have list activities for studying and learning that would complement their learning style and make a plan as to how they will implement them

Follow up:

  • As a way to measure the success of new studying and learning strategies, students can compare academic progress with the introduction of a new strategy. Have students do a chart that shows the new strategies and the grades in their classes. For example, changing study time to mornings and turning off the radio - math grades 68,76,87,90 = a successful strategy