The focus is on Christian Education, but covers generalized principles of education as well.

1. Learning Styles and
Modes of Learning
Presented by Celia Munson
(Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center)

2. There Are Many Models of
Learning Styles
Here are three common
ones.

3. Kolb’s Learning Style Model
 Diverging (feeling and watching - CE/RO)
 Assimilating (watching and thinking -
AC/RO)
 Converging (doing and thinking - AC/AE)
 Accommodating (doing and feeling -
CE/AE)

4. Honey and Mumford
 Activists: 'Having an Experience'
 Reflectors: 'Reviewing the Experience'
 Theorists: 'Concluding from the
Experience'
 Pragmatists: 'Planning the next steps'

5. McCarthy
 Collaborative Learners: primarily interested in
personal meaning.
 Analytic Learners: primarily interested in
acquiring facts in order to deepen their
understanding of concepts and processes.
 Common Sense Learners: primarily interested
in how things work.
 Dynamic Learners: primarily interested in
self-directed discovery.

6. These three are very similar…
Kolb/ Lewin Honey/
Mumford
McCarthy
Accommodating Activist Collaborative
Diverging Reflector Analytical
Assimilating Theorist Common-sense
Converging Pragmatist Dynamic

7. We will focus on “Natural Learning
Styles” as developed by Bernice
McCarthy

8. Type 1: Collaborative Learner
Collaborative learners like to work and learn
with other people. They like to talk/interact
with others while learning. They like essay
questions over fill in the blanks. They desire
discussion.
“The Collaborative Learner is at risk in many classrooms for
two reasons. First, this learner is very good at looking at the
broad picture but is not usually as good at details. … The
second characteristic that puts Collaborative Learners at risk
is that they have to talk in order to learn.” (LeFever, 133)

9. Type 2: Analytical Learner
Analytic learners fit into the category of
“good student” or “smart” in most schools.
This is because their learning style is most
suited to the typical education done in
classrooms. They tend to like to work alone
and gather information. They like using a
desk or table. They want to learn new facts.

10. Type 3: Common-Sense Learner
Common Sense learners also like to
work alone. They are less concerned
with “facts” as they are with solving
problems. They like to work with their
hands. They want things to be
practical.

11. Type 4: Dynamic Learner
Dynamic learners like to brainstorm. They
like to take learning to move into new
territory. They are curious, using guesses or
hunches to see where they go. They tend
toward being creative and leaders within a
group. They are future-oriented.

12. These Types of Learners relate to
Systems of Learning
Collaborative relates to Feeling
Analytical relates to Thinking
Common Sense relates to Doing
Dynamic relates to Integration of the above

13. A teacher must be a “dynamic
synergist” utilizing and integrating
different systems and theories of
learning.
Cognitive Theories
Humanistic Theories
Behavioral Theories

14. Bringing It Together
Theories of
Learning
Systems
of
Learning
Learning
Goal
Target
Learner
Cognitive Thinking Knowledge/
Understanding
Analytical
Humanistic/
Affective
Feeling Attitude Collabor-
ational
Behavioral Doing Skill Common-
Sense
Eclectic Integration Integration Dynamic

15. Modes of Learning
Related to learning styles is modes of learning (or
methods of learning). What form of stimulus is
most likely, by the student, to be taken in and
incorporated in the learning process.
There are different models for this, but we will talk
about the simplest: VAK (or VAT/K)

16. VAK (or VAT/K)
 V: Visual Learners (Remember 75% of what
they see)
 A: Auditory Learners (Remember 75% of what
they hear)
 T/K Tactile/Kinesthetic (Remembering is tied
to touching and moving)

18. Therefore:
Know Thyself
Know Thy Students
Knowing the type of learner and modality of
learning you work best with, and knowing the
same with your students will help you learn to
adapt to be an effective teacher with all of your
students (not just the ones similar to yourself).

19. LeFever Notes that the
Types of Learners also
Describe a Process of
Learning. She calls this
“Natural Learning Process.”

20. NLP Step #1
Prepare the class for learning. Help them
“understand why what is about to be
studied is important. … Begin with
what they already know or feel or
need.” (LeFever,131) This is in the
area of the Collaborative Learner.
<The “HOOK” and “HEART”>

21. NLP Step 2
Teach new things. Provide the
knowledge input into the class
instruction. This is the most interesting
part for the analytic learner.
<The “BOOK” and “HEAD”>
……BUT DON’T STOP HERE!!

22. NLP Step 3
Test the new knowledge in a “safe
laboratory”. Does this information
apply? Is it useful? Does it work? This
is where Common Sense learners
shine.
<The “LOOK” and “HANDS”>

23. NLP Step 4
Take it into the future. How can what
was learned be used in the future. How
does it affect their lives. How does it
change the world and change who they
are. This is where Dynamic learners
tend to take over.
<The “TOOK” and “HABIT”>

24. Epilogue
Consider a passage from the Book
of Deuteronomy, the “Shema”.
This is God’s command in how to
teach and train the children of the
people of Israel.

25. Shema (Deut. 6:4-9)
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is
one. Love the LORD your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your
strength. These commandments that I give you
today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them
on your children. Talk about them when you sit at
home and when you walk along the road, when
you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as
symbols on your hands and bind them on your
foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your
houses and on your gates.

26. Think about it:
 Systems of Learning
Feeling Love God with all your
heart
Thinking Love God with all your
mind
Doing Love God with all your
strength

27. Think about it:
 Modes of Learning
Auditory Hear, O Israel
Talk about them
Visual Visual symbols
Write them down
Tactile/Kinesthetic Impress them, tie them,
bind them
When sitting/walking

28. Think about it:
 Learning Theories
Cognitive Information: God is one. Talk about it.
Memorize Commands.
Behavioral Behavior: Mark head, hands, and doors as
reminders. Obey commands
Humanistic Feelings/Values: Change value system.
Have individualized instruction and
incorporate it with everyday behavior.
Express Love.

29. Some References
Ford, LeRoy. Design for Teaching and Training: A Self-Study Guide to Lesson Planning. Eugene, OR:
Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2002.
Knight, Lizette. Maximum Learning and Teaching: Asian Perspectivee. Baguio City, Philippines,
MLK Equip Publishing, 2009.
LeFever, Marlene. “Learning Styles” in Introducing Christian Education: Foundations for the 21st
Century, Michael Anthony, ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2001.
LeFrancois, Guy R. Psychology for Teaching. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing, 1988.
Yount, William R. “Learning Theory for Christian Teachers” in Introducing Christian Education:
Foundations for the 21st Century, Michael Anthony, ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books,
2001.
Yount, William R. Called to Teach: An Introduction to the Ministry of Teaching. Nashville, TN:
Broadman and Holman, 1999.
“Kolb Learning Styles,” http://www.businessballs.com/kolblearningstyles.htm

30. Learning Styles and
Modes of Learning
Presented by Celia Munson
(Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center)