Should You Assess Different Learning Styles?

We define learning styles as how people prefer to learn.

When learning styles conflict, it becomes more difficult to communicate, learn or teach.  The better you understand the learning styles of your target audience, the greater your chances of creating a learning environment that makes sense and gets results.

While various learning style models have been around for decades, training needs assessment experts recommend three steps to identify the learning preferencesof others so you can adapt your approach to those around you:

1. Select a learning styles model that resonates most for you and identify your personal learning preferences. For example, on one end of the spectrum “chronological learners” like to gather new information in a step-by-step fashion in order to understand the bigger picture.  On the other end of the continuum, “conceptual learners” like to understand the big picture and context first before they digest any details.  Similarly, “visual learners” prefer pictures, charts and videos while “verbal learners” tend to prefer to read information at their own pace.
2. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of your personal learning preference and ask others to provide feedback. 
3. Create a plan to expand the way you learn (and teach), so that you can learn (and teach) in new ways to increase your ability to influence others in a way that works for various learning styles.