Types of Learning Style Models

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People learn in different ways. And a learning style is a person’s preferred way of learning.

Each of us has a natural preference for the way in which we prefer to receive, process, and impart
information. Because people have preferred ways of learning, much research has went into
discovering the different styles. Some models are based on personality types, while others are based
on brain dominance.

Over the years several theories and types of Learning Style Models have been developed.

Types of Learning Style Models include:

4MAT Learning Style Model

Gregorc mind styles model

Kolb Learning Style Model

VAK Learning Preference

Honey Mumford Learning Style

Felder-Silverman Learning Style

Herrmann’s Brain Dominance HBDI

Left-brain and Right-brain Preferences

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator MBTI

Fleming’s VAK model

Fleming’s VAK (Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic) model is one of the most common and widely-used
categorizations of learning styles. The VAK model provides a simple way to explain and understand
learning styles. Fleming believed that there were three categories of learner’s preferences.

Visual – These learners prefer to learn by seeing. They think in pictures. They like visual aids such as
overhead slides, diagrams, and handouts.

Auditory – These learners prefer to learn through listening. They like lectures, discussions, and tapes.

Kinesthetic – These learners prefer to learn through experience by moving, touching, and doing. They
like active exploration of the world such as science projects, building structures or models, and active
experiments.

The Kolb Learning Style Model

Kolb’s learning theory defines four distinct learning styles. These learning styles can be viewed on a
continuum across two dimensions, based on how people perceive information (concrete vs. abstract)
and process information (active vs. reflective).

Convergers – These learners prefer to learn by solving problems and doing technical tasks, and they
are good at finding practical uses for ideas. They like concepts and active experimentation.

Divergers – These learners prefer to learn by observation, brainstorming and gathering information.
They are imaginative and sensitive. They like practical experience and reflection.

Assimilators – These learners prefer to learn by putting information in concise logical order, and
using reflective observation. They like abstract modeling and theoretical reasoning.

Accommodators – These learners prefer to take a practical, experiential approach.   They are people-
oriented, hands on learners, who rely on feelings more than logical analysis. They like practical
experience and active testing.

The Honey-Mumford Model

Honey Mumford learning styles are very similar to Kolb’s. They also have defined four distinct
learning styles.

Activist – These learners prefer challenges brought by new experiences and activities. They dive right
into new experience to learn from them.  They are great at problem solving and role-playing, and
enjoy small group discussions.

Reflector – These learners prefer to learn by watching, thinking about what they have observed. They
are cautious people and would start with investigation or observation before making any
commitment. They collect and analyze data before making any kind of decision.
Theorist – These learners prefer to think things through step-by-step. They like complex and logical
theories as they tend to analyze and synthesize situations, principles, and other processes. They
typically prefer listening to lectures, reading, and making models.

Pragmatist – These learners prefer to take what they have learned and apply it to see if it works. They
enjoy experimenting or applying theories in practice.  They like laboratories, doing field work, and
observations.

Felder-Silverman Learning Style Model

The Felder-Silverman Model examines specific areas of personality that contribute to learning. They
are active or reflective, sensing or intuitive, visual or verbal, inductive or deductive, and sequential or
global. A combination of these styles makes up the individuals learning preferences.

Sensing – These learners prefer concrete thinking, practical, concerned with facts and procedures

Intuitive – These learners prefer conceptual thinking, innovative, concerned with theories and
meanings

Visual – These learners prefer visual representations, pictures, diagrams, and flow charts

Verbal – These learners prefer written and spoken explanations

Active – These learners prefer to try things out, working with others in groups

Reflective – These learners prefer thinking things through, working alone or with familiar partner

Sequential – These learners prefer linear thinking, orderly, learns in small incremental steps

Global – These learners prefer holistic thinking, systems thinkers, learns in large leaps

The 4MAT Model

Bernice McCarthy created the 4MAT System. The 4MAT System identifies four learning styles based
on brain dominance theory.

Innovative/Imaginative Learners – These learners prefer co-operative learning and brainstorming.

They are interested in personal meaning and making connections.

Analytic Learners – These learners prefer lectures and analysis of data. They are interested in
acquiring facts in order to deepen their understanding of concepts and processes.

Common Sense – These learners prefer concrete experiential learning activities. They are interested
in how things work interested in how things work.

Dynamic Learners – These learners prefer roles-playing and games.  They are interested in self-
directed discovery and rely heavily on their own intuition.
The Gregorc Model
Anthony Gregorc Model is based on brain hemisphere research. It is based on the existence of
perceptions, and falls on a continuum rather than being polar extremes.

Concrete Sequential – These learners prefer order, logical sequence, following directions,
predictability getting facts, hands-on activities, step-by-step instructions, and real life examples.

Concrete Random – These learners prefer experimenting to find answers, taking risks, using their
intuition, and solving problems independently.

Abstract Sequential – These learners prefer solitude, prefer well-organized material, analyzing
situations before making a decision or acting, and applying logic in solving or finding solutions to
problems.

Abstract Random – These learners prefer focusing on relationships and their emotions, listening to
others, bringing harmony to group situations, establishing healthy relationships with others, focusing
on the issues at hand.

Hermann Brain Dominance

The Herrmann Brain Dominant Instrument is a based on the idea that one side of the brain is
dominant over the other. The two halves of the brain are then divided into a front and back half,
making four sections in the brain. Individuals are dominant in one of these four areas, which is
evident by their personality type.

Quadrant A: Left cerebral hemisphere – Theorists (analytical)

Quadrant B: Left limbic system – Organizers (sequential)

Quadrant C: Right limbic system – Humanitarians (interpersonal)

Quadrant D: Right cerebral hemisphere – Innovators (imaginative)

Theorists – These learners prefer lecture, facts, and details, critical thinking, textbooks and readings,
etc. They are factually-oriented learner, takes a logical, analytical, quantitative approach to learning
tasks

Organizers – These learners prefer to learn by outlining, checklists, exercises and problem solving
with steps, policies, and procedures. They learn in a sequential and organized way, and when
instructional exercises are structured and detailed.

Humanitarians – These learners prefer brainstorming, metaphors, illustrations and pictures, mind
mapping and synthesis, and holistic approaches. They are interpersonal, emotional and kinesthetic.

Innovators – These learners prefer cooperative learning and group discussion, role-playing, and
dramatization. They take a holistic approach and are very visual.