Styles of Learning

Processing Information

Seeing and hearing Reflecting and acting Reasoning logically and

intuitively Analyzing and visualizing

People take in and process information in different ways by:

Training Methods

Lecturing Demonstrating Focusing on principles Focusing on applications Emphasizing memorization Emphasizing understanding

Training methods also vary, including:

Learning Styles

Active Learners Reflective Learners Sensing Learners Intuitive Learners

Visual Learners Verbal Learners Sequential Learners Global Learners

Different Learning Styles include:

Active and Reflective Learners

Active learners do well in a group with members taking turns explaining topics to each other.

Reflective learners do well by reviewing material and asking questions, rather than just memorizing it.

A preference for a particular category may be strong, although a balance of the two is desirable.

Everybody is active sometimes and reflective sometimes.

SENSING AND INTUITIVE LEARNERS

Sensing learners remember and understand information best if they see how it connects to the real world.

An intuitive learner in a class that deals primarily with memorization and rote may have trouble with boredom.

Again, a preference for one or the other may be strong, but to be an effective learner, one needs to function both ways.

Everybody is sensing sometimes and intuitive sometimes.

Visual and Verbal Learners

Visual learners remember best what they see (pictures, diagrams, films & demonstrations.)

Verbal learners get more out of words (written and spoken explanations.)

Most people are visual learners, and everyone learns more when information is presented both visually and verbally.

Global Learners

Global learners who lack sequential thinking abilities, may have difficulties until they have the big picture. Even after they have it, the details may be fuzzy.

They tend to learn in large jumps, absorbing

material randomly without seeing connections, and then suddenly "getting it.“

They solve problems quickly once they grasp the big picture, but may have difficulty explaining how they did it.

Many people think they are global, since everyone has experienced confusion followed by a sudden flash of understanding. What makes one global or not is what happens before the light bulb goes on.

Sequential Learners

Sequential learners may not fully understand the material but they can still do something with it (solve problems or pass a test) since the pieces they have absorbed are logically connected.

They tend to gain understanding in linear steps, with each step following logically from the previous one.

Trainers confronted by low test grades, unresponsive classes, and poor attendance know something is not working. They may become overly critical of the agents, which can make things worse.

When conflicts exist between learning styles of agents and the teaching style of the trainer, agents may:

Become bored and inattentive Do poorly on tests Get discouraged with the course,

curriculum and themselves

Conflicts

To overcome these issues, trainers should strive

for a balance of instructional methods (as opposed

to trying to teach each student exclusively according to his or her preferences.) If this balance is achieved, agents will be taught partly in a manner they prefer, which leads to an increased comfort level and willingness to learn, and partly in a less preferred manner, which provides practice in new ways of thinking and solving problems. More importantly…

Overcoming Issues

DIRECTV can reduce the loss of potentially excellent agents.