Learning strategies and learning styles

Learning strategies and learning styles

1. Strategies

   • strategy use may vary depending on
     • the task
     • the stage of the learner in the learning process
     • the age
     • the context of learning
     • individual styles

2. Learning styles

   • Styles identified by Oxford
     • in her Styles Analysis Survey (1990)
     • 1.- The use of physical senses for study and work
       • Visual
         • Visual means
         • Books
         • videos
         • Graphs
       • auditory
         • Listening and speaking activities
         • Meetings
         • Lectures
         • Role-plays
         • Audiotapes
         • Debates
         • Discussions
       • hands on
         • Doing projects
         • Moving around the room
         • Working with objects
         • Playing active games
         • Conducting experiments
     • 2.- Dealing with other people
       • extroversion
         • Enjoying
           • discussions
           • Debates
           • Role plays
       • introversion
         • Working alone
         • Independent learning
     • 3.- Handling possibilities
       • Intuitive random
         • Valuing speculation about possibilities
         • Enjoying abstract thinking
         • Avoiding step-by-step instruction
       • Concrete- sequential
         • Wanting to know where they are going in their learning
         • Oriented to the present
         • Preferring one-step-at-a-time learning activities
     • 4.- Approaching tasks
       • Closure iriented
         • Focusing carefully on all tasks
         • Wanting rapid decisions
         • Preferring neatness and structure
         • Planning ahead
         • Meeting deadlines
       • open
         • Preferring to learn without deadlines or rules
         • Enjoying discovery learning
         • Accepting messiness
         • Putting off decisions
     • 5.- Dealing with ideas
       • Global
         • Concerned about getting the main idea
         • Communicating
         • Predicting what will come in a story
         • Guessing meanings
       • analytic
         • Focusing more on details
         • Preferring to have specific rules
         • Breaking broad concepts
         • Logical analysis

3. Other factors related to LS use

   • Culture
     • The culture of a student is made up of prior formal and informal educational experiences
   • Gender
     • Female students seek social approval, follow teacher’s advice on how to study.
     • Females show more interest than males
   • Age
     • Learning strategies develop with age and are used with increasing sophistication by older students.