Sixteen General Learning Styles

Active Visual Left Brain (AVL)

Take in visual information and convert it to symbols or language, such as letters, numbers, words, or ideas.

Tend to think in a step-by-step way, systematically, alphabetically, numerically or chronologically. Like to study in groups making diagrams, outlines, and pictures for understanding.

Active Auditory Left Brain (AAL)

Best learning is by hearing the new material presented in the form of language, with words or numbers, in a detailed, step-by-step way. Think by speaking their thoughts aloud.

Work well with accurate data, facts, figures, and statistics. Enjoy discussing things with groups of people which helps them organize concepts.

Active Tactile Left Brain (ATL)

Learn sequentially through the symbolic language of letters, numbers, and words. Learn using hands and fingers, sense of touch and emotions. Often hold a pen or pencil and write to help them think and listen better.

Will find some other object if told to put their pen away. Can articulate their own feelings well and empathize with others. Enjoy working with groups of people they like. Study in groups writing down results in an organized manner.

Active Kinesthetic Left Brain (AKL) top

Think in an organized, systematic way and learn through moving their large motor muscles. Can verbalize movement activities in systematic, structured ways. They need to move a great deal and are restless having to stay in one place.

Movement can be just moving mentally from one topic to another. Tend to stick to and complete a task before moving on. Enjoy talking while moving. Enjoy learning through group activities and group hands-on learning in a structured way.

Active Visual Right Brain (AVR) top

Take in information through their eyes and are attuned to images, pictures, graphics, colors, shapes, designs, sizes, and spatial relations.

Process and think about this stimuli in a simultaneous way, seeing the whole picture at once. Only after the big picture is grasped, can they focus on its details. Like working with others who help fill in the big picture.

Active Auditory Right Brain (AAR) top

Learn best through hearing and are attuned to sounds, music, rhythms, tones of voices, and strong sensory words that give an overview of the big picture.

Attracted to beautiful sounds, sweet melodies, and pleasing voices while repelled by annoying and grating sounds such as sirens or irritating voices. Enjoy exchanging ideas with groups of people to fill in the blanks.

Active Tactile Right Brain (ATR) top

Sensitive people who tend to think globally. Look at the big picture or overview and they learn using their hands and fingers, their sense of touch and their emotions. They use intuition, imagination, language that express feelings and sensory words.

Read nonverbal communication and express themselves in nonverbal ways. Sensitive to other's feelings and their feelings are hurt easily. Work well with groups of people they like. Would rather not work alone.

Active Kinesthetic Right Brain (AKR) top

Learn by moving their gross motor muscles in a creative, imaginative, free-flowing and unstructured way. Do not think in terms of words but get information intuitively. They become highly restless if forced to stay still for too long.

Learning activities with movement are best such as learning games, exercises, or simulations with other people involved. Can think about things simultaneously and can have many projects going on at once. They see the whole picture, not the details.

Reflective Visual Left Brain (RVL) top

Take in visual information and convert it to symbols or language, such as letters, numbers, words, or ideas.

Tend to think in a step-by-step way, attending to one detail at a time and file data systematically, alphabetically, numerically or chronologically. Prefer to work alone and needs an opportunity to process visual information.

Reflective Auditory Left Brain (RAL) top

Best learning is by hearing the new material presented in the form of language, with words or numbers, in a detailed, step-by-step way. They think by speaking their thoughs aloud.

Work well with accurate data, facts, figures, and statistics. Make excellent researchers and would prefer to work alone or with only one other person. Use conversation to clarify understanding.

Reflective Tactile Left Brain (RTL) top

Learn sequentially through the symbolic language of letters, numbers, and words. Learn using hands and fingers, sense of touch and emotions. Often hold a pen or pencil and write to help them think and listen bette

Will find some other object if told to put their pen away. Can articulate their own feelings well and empathized with others. Prefer to work alone but will work with someone they like, taking notes to orangize thoughts and materials.

Reflective Kinesthetic Left Brain (RKL) top

Think in an organized, systematic way and learn through moving their large motor muscles. Can verbalize movement activities in systematic, structured ways. They need to move a great deal and are restless having to stay in one place.

Movement can be just moving mentally from one topic to another. Tend to stick to and complete a task before moving on. Enjoy talking while moving. Are content to work or study alone. Must be given time to be methodical and process in steps..

Reflective Visual Right Brain (RVR) top

Take in information through their eyes and are attuned to images, pictures, graphics, colors, shapes, designs, sizes, and spatial relations.

Process and think about this stimuli in a simultaneous way, seeing the whole picture at once. Only after they grasp the big picture can they focus on its details. Need an opportunity to reflect on and understand the whole visual picture.

Reflective Auditory Right Brain (RAR) top

Learn best through hearing and are attuned to sounds, music, rhythms, tones of voice, and strong sensory words that give an overview of the big picture.

Attracted to beautiful sounds, sweet melodies, and pleasing voices while repelled by annoying and grating sounds such as sirens or irritating voices. Prefer to work alone or with one person at a time who has a pleasing verbal manner.

Reflective Tactile Right Brain (RTR) top

Sensitive people who tend to think globally. Look at the big picture or overview and they learn using their hands and fingers, their sense of touch and their emotions. They use intuition, imagination, language that express feelings and sensory words.

Read nonverbal communication and express themselves in nonverbal ways. Sensititive to other's feelings and their feelings are hurt easily. Will work only with people they like or work alone. Need time to process feelings and the whole picture.

Reflective Kinesthetic Right Brain (RKR) top

Learn by moving their gross motor muscles in a creative, imaginative, free-flowing and unstructured way. Do not think in terms of words but get information intuitively. They become highly restless if forced to stay still for too long.

Learning activities with movement are best such as learning games, exercises, or simulations with other people involved. Can think about things simultaneously and can have many projects going on at once. They see the whole picture, not the details.

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