How Online Learning Can Cater for All Learning Styles

Online courses often consist primarily of text, limiting access to some student learning styles. This standard form of online classroom may work well for learners who thrive from reading, but students who have other learning styles may find learning within this sort of environment difficult.

Understanding the different styles of learning and how learners thrive can give you the knowledge needed to form innovative and dynamic online learning solutions. As a result, online classes can be made more beneficial to all.

Types of Learning Styles

Learning styles and preferences take on a variety of forms—and not all people fit neatly into one category. It’s generally accepted that most people will fit into one of the four learning styles depicted in the  VARK model of learning:

Applying VARK to Online Learning

Let's take a look at how the VARK model of learning applies to online, or eLearning programs:

1 – Visual Learners

Visual learners often learn best when they have access to visual aids in the online classroom, as opposed to reading only text. Therefore, you must ensure your content contains visual aids and prompts to break up the text throughout your modules and courses.

Use content such as:

2 – Auditory Learners

Auditory learners retain information best when they hear sound, rhythm, and music. Visual and text content may not always help these learners take in the information presented to them, so it’s important that training contains audio features throughout.

Look to incorporate:

3 – Reading/ Writing Learners

Reading/writing learners prefer to learn through written words. As such, traditional online learning courses bode well to them as the content is usually text-heavy. It can be easy to assume these learners are catered for without much innovation but be sure to account for them when building your content.

Include items like:

4 – Kinaesthetic Learners

Kinaesthetic learners retain information best by engaging in activities and being hands-on with their learning.  These learners are the hardest to cater to in an online environment as it is difficult to be “hands-on” behind a screen.

Be innovative with content by including: