The three learning styles in the VAK model are visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Visual learners prefer images, maps and graphic organisers; auditory learners learn through listening and speaking in lectures, discussions, case studies and role plays; kinesthetic learners learn hands-on through practical experience. Trainers who match session activities to these styles help the whole group learn better.
Last updated · Bodhih Insights team · reviewed by Siddharthan VGJ, Founder
Visual Learners prefer the use of images, maps and graphical organizers to access and understand new information.
Auditory Learners best understand new content through listening and speaking through activities such as lectures, group discussions, case studies and role plays.
Kinesthetic Learners best understand information through tactile presentation of information. These are hands-on learners who learn best through figuring out things by practical experience.
This is referred to as the VAK model. Participant preferred learning modes should be matched with appropriate learning strategies as they have significant influence on their behavior and learning. Identifying your participants as visual, auditory or kinesthetic learners and aligning your overall training curriculum with these learning styles will prove to be beneficial for the entire classroom. By understanding what kind of learners your participants are, you can gain a better perspective on how to implement these learning styles into your session plans and study techniques.
Quick answers
How should trainers use learning styles in a session?
Identify whether participants lean towards visual, auditory or kinesthetic learning and align the curriculum and session plans to match. In practice that means combining images and diagrams, discussion and role plays, and hands-on practical activities, so each participant's preferred mode is served and the whole classroom benefits.
