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| LEARNING STYLES |
A. Definition of
Student Learning Styles
Student
learning styles are key to developing performance in learning. Each student
must have different learning styles. Knowing these different student learning
styles can help teachers in delivering learning materials to all students so
that learning outcomes will be more effective.
According
to Bobbi DePorter and Mike Hernacki in his Quantum Learning pages 110-111,
learning styles are a combination of how he absorbs, and then organizes and
processes information ".
Meanwhile,
according to James and Gardner in his book "Learning Style" page 42
"learning style is a complex way in which students perceive and feel most
effective and efficient in processing, storing and recalling what they have
learned".
Dunn
and Dunn in his Educational Psychology (Sugihartono: 2007: 53 explains that:
"learning styles are a collection of personal characteristics that make
learning effective for some people and ineffective for others." Meaningful
learning styles relate to how children learn, Learning the most liked.
According
to Nasution in his book Various Education in Teaching and Learning Process,
(2009: 94) learning style is a consistent way done by a student in capturing
the stimulus or information, how to remember, think and solve problems.
Based
on some of the above definitions, learning styles can be summed up as a way of
a person in receiving learning outcomes with an optimal level of acceptance
compared with other ways. Everyone has their own learning styles. The
introduction of learning styles is very important. For teachers by knowing the
learning styles of each student then the teacher can apply appropriate
techniques and strategies both in learning and in self-development. Only with
the appropriate application will the success rate be higher. A student must
also understand the type of learning style. Thus, he has had the ability to
know himself better and know his needs. The introduction of learning styles
will provide the right service to what and how best to be provided and done so
that learning can take place optimally.
B. Type or Tife
Student Learning Style
In
reality, a person's learning style is a combination of several learning styles.
Here we recognize there are three learning styles, namely: visual learning
style, auditory, and kinetetik. Each learning style is divided into two,
namely: the external (depending on the external media as the source of
information) and the internal (depending on how we manage the mind and
imagination) (Didang, 2006).
Learning
styles are the tendency of students to adapt specific strategies in their
learning as a form of responsibility to obtain a learning approach that suits
the demands of learning in the classroom / school as well as the demands of the
subjects (Slamento, 2003).
Whereas
in the book Quantum Learning, learning style sesorang only divided into 3 types
or modalities of learning a person that is: 1) learning style or 2) learning
style or visual modalities; 2) Auditory or kinesthetic learning style. The
three learning styles are known as VAK. In practice each of us learns by using
these three modlaitas at a certain stage, most people are more likely to be in
one of the three.
1. Visual (learn by looking)
Visual
learning style (visual learner) emphasizes the sharpness of the eyes /
eyesight. That is, concrete evidence must be shown first so that students
understand. The characteristics of students who have a visual learning style is
a high need to see and also capture information visually before they understand
it.
Students
with visual learning styles more easily remember what they see, such as body
language / facial expression, diagrams, picture textbooks and video, so they
can understand well about position / location, shape, number, and color. Visual
students tend to be neat and orderly and not bothered by the commotion, but
they are difficult to accept verbal instructions.
Students
who have a visual learning style capture lessons through pictorial material. In
addition, he has a strong sensitivity to color, in addition to having a
sufficient understanding of the artistic problem. It's just that he usually has
constraints to dialogue directly because it is too reactive to the sound, so it
is difficult to follow the advice orally and often misinterpret the word or
speech.
Visual
acuity, more prominent in some people, is very powerful in a person. The reason
is that "in the brain there are more devices for processing visual
information than all other senses". Meanwhile, according to the object
"the problem of vision is classified into three groups, which see the
shape, look in and see the color".
a) Characteristics of visual learning styles:
1) Talk rather quickly
2) Mementingkan appearance in dress / presentation
3) Not easily disturbed by the commotion
4) Given the views, rather than the heard
5) Prefer reading from reading
6) The reader is fast and diligent
7) Often know what to say, but not clever choose words
8) Prefer a demonstration rather than a speech
9) Prefers music rather than art
10) Have problems remembering verbal instructions unless
written, and often ask people for help to repeat them
b) Strategies to simplify the visual learning process:
1. Use visual materials such as, drawings, diagrams and
maps.
2. Use colors to filter out important things.
3. Encourage children to read illustrated books.
4. Use multi-media (eg computers and videos).
5. Encourage the child to try to illustrate his ideas
into the picture.
2. Auditory learning style (learning by listening)
Auditory
learning style has the ability to absorb information from the ear / hearing.
Students who have an auditorial learning style can learn faster by using verbal
discussions and listening to what the teacher says. Auditorial students have a
sensitivity to music and either in oral activity, they speak with a patterned
rhythm, usually fluent speakers, like to discuss and explain everything at
length. Students with this type of learning style are easily distracted by
noise and weakness in visual activity.
Appropriate
learning method for learner model like this should pay attention to physical
condition of learner. Children who have an auditory learning style can learn
faster by using verbal discussions and listening to what the teacher says. Our
auditory minds are stronger than we realize. Our ears continually capture and
store auditory information, even without us knowing it. And "when we make
our own voice by talking, some important areas of our brain become
active".
a)
Characteristics of an auditory learning style:
1) When work likes bicaa to yourself
2) Neat appearance
3) Easily disturbed by the commotion
4) Learn by listening and remembering what is being
discussed rather than viewed
5) Nice to read aloud and listen
6) Moving their lips and uttering the writing in the book
while reading
7) Usually he is an eloquent speaker
8) Better to spell out loud than to write it down
9) Prefer verbal jokes rather than reading comics
10) Having problems with work involving Visual
11) Speak in a patterned rhythm
12) Can repeat and imitate tone, rhythm and sound color
b)
Strategies to facilitate the auditory child's learning process:
1. Encourage the child to participate in discussions both
in the classroom and within the family.
2. Encourage the child to read the subject matter out
loud.
3. Use music to teach children.
4. Discuss ideas with children verbally.
5. Let the child record the subject matter into the tape
and encourage him to listen to it before going to sleep.
3. Kinesthetic learning style (learning by moving,
working and touching)
Kinesthetic
learning style is a learning activity by moving, working and touching. Learners
of this type have a uniqueness in learning that is always moving, the activity
of the five senses, and touch. Learners are hard to sit still for hours because
their desire for activity and exploration is very strong. They feel they can
learn better if the process is accompanied by physical activity. Students with
this type like to try and generally less neat and weak in verbal activity.
a)
The characteristics of kinesthetic learning styles:
1) Speak slowly
2) Neat appearance
3) Not too easily disturbed by situations of commotion
4) Learning through manipulation and practice
5) Memorize by walking and seeing
6) Using the finger as a guide when reading
7) Feeling difficult to write but great at telling
stories
8) Likes books and they reflect action with body movement
while reading
9) Love the busy game
10) Can not remember geography, unless they have ever
been there
11) Touch people to get their attention Using words that
contain action
b)
Strategies to facilitate the kinesthetic child's learning process:
1. Do not force children to learn for hours.
2. Encourage the child to learn while exploring the
environment (for example: take him or her to read while biking, use actual
objects to learn new concepts).
3. Allow the child to chew gum while studying.
4. Use bright colors to filter out important things in
the reading.
5. Allow children to learn while listening to music.
Meanwhile,
according to Fleming and Mills in Slamento (2003) proposed a learning style
category in four Visual, Auditory, Read-write, Kinestetic rashes known as short
VARK. Here's a learning style explanation (Learning Style) by Fleming and
Mills:
1.
Visual Style (V)
Visiual learning
(Visual Learning Style) is a learning style by looking so that the eye plays an
important role. Visual learning style is done by someone to obtain information
by looking at pictures, diagrams, maps, posters, graphics, text data such as
writing, and so on
The tendency of
Visual Learning Style usually involves describing information in the form of
maps, diagrams, garfik, flow charts and visual symbols such as arrows, circles,
hierarchies and other materials that instructors use to present things that can
be conveyed in words. This includes also designs, patterns, forms and other
formats used to mark and convey information.
People who have
Visual Learning Style have characteristics or characteristics, among others: 1)
Always see the lips of teachers who are teaching; 2) Likes written
instructions, photos and illustrations for viewing; 3) When the instructions
for doing something are usually given to see other new friends acting alone; 4)
Tend to use body movements to express or change a word when expressing
something; 5) Less likes to talk in front of groups and less like to listen to
others; 6) Usually can not recall information provided orally; 7) Likes
diagrams, calendars and time-line graphs to remember the part of events; 8)
Always observe all the physical elements of the learning environment; 9)
Prefers demonstrations rather than verbal explanations; 10) Usually this type
can sit quietly in the middle of a noisy or crowded situation without feeling
disturbed; 11) Organize learning materials carefully; 12) Trying to remember
and understand using diagrams, tables and maps; 13) Studying the material by
reading notes and making a summary
Based on the
characteristics of the Visual Learning Style, the appropriate medium or medium for
the Visual Learner Tife learning style include: 1) a teacher who uses body
language or images in a state of explanation; 2) Media images, videos, posters
and so on; 3) Books that contain many diagrams or drawings; 4) Flow chart; 5)
Graphs; 6) Marking important parts of teaching materials using different
colors; 7) Visual symbols. Therefore identify the characteristics of learning
styles of students so that teachers can choose the right media or media
The Learning
Strategies for Visual Learner's Tife learning style according to Mansur HR are
as follows: (a) Let them sit on the front bench so they can immediately see
what the teacher is writing or depicting on the board. (B) Make more charts,
diagrams, flow charts in explaining things. (C) Play the movie. (D) Ask them to
write down the key points to be memorized. (E) Use various illustrations and
drawings. (F) Rewrite what is on the board. (G) Use different colors on the
writing.
2.
Aural or Auditory Learning (A)
Learning Style
Auditory is a learning style that a person does to gain information by
utilizing the ear senses. Therefore they rely heavily on ears to achieve
learning success, such as listening to lectures, radio, dialogue, discussion
and so on This Learning Style describes the preference for information being
heard or spoken. Students with this modality learn best from lectures,
tutorials, group discussion tapes, talk and talk about materials. It includes
speaking in a loud voice or talking to yourself.
Based on the above
explanation, the characteristics or characteristics of Auditory Learner
learning styles include: 1) Be able to remember well what they say and what
others say; 2) Given well with the way always utter with a loud tone and
repeating the sentence; 3) Very fond of group discussion; 4) Likes longer
discussions especially for things they do not understand; 5) Be able to
remember well the material discussed in groups or classes; 6) Get to know lots
of songs or TV commercials and can even mimic them correctly and completely; 7)
Likes to speak; 8) Lack of reading assignment (and generally not a good
reader); 9) Less able to remember well what he has just read; 10) Lack of
working on writing or writing tasks; 11) Less attention to new things in the
surrounding environment such as: the presence of a new child, a new bulletin
board etc; 12) It is difficult to work quietly without making a sound; 13)
Easily disturbed by sound concentration and also difficult to concentrate when
there is no sound at all
In accordance with
these characteristics, the media or facilities suitable for the learning style
of tife Aural or Auditory Learning include: 1) Attending classes; 2)
Discussion; 3) Discussing a topic with friends; 4) Discussing a topic together
with the teacher; 5) Explaining new ideas to others; 6) Using the recorder; 7)
Remembering stories, examples or interesting jokes; 8) Explain the material
obtained visually (images, power point etc.)
The learning
strategies for Aural or Auditory Learning style according to Mansur HR are as
follows: (a) Use audio in learning (music, radio, etc.), (b) When learning, let
them read aloud and loud. (C) Often question them. (D) Create a class
discussion. (E) Using the recording. (F) Let them explain in words. (G) Let
them write what they understand about a subject. (H) Learning in groups.
3.
Read - Write
In addition to
learning styles that emphasize the listening aspect, there are also learning
styles that have more aspects of reading and writing. In someone who has a
learning style like this he will more easily understand the learning materials
by reading or writing. The medium or media that is suitable for learning style
tife Read - Write, among others: Dictionary, Handout, Textbooks, Notes, Lists,
Essays, Read the manual and share other types of activities related to reading
and writing.
The learning strategy
for learning style tife Read - Write, among others 1) Write the words
repeatedly; 2) Read your notes (silently) repeatedly; 3) Rewrite ideas or
information with different sentences; 4) Translate all diagrams, pictures, and
so on into words.
4.
Kinestetic or Tactile Learner (K)
Kinesthetic Learning
Styles) is a way of learning that a person does to get information by doing
movement, touch, practice or a direct learning experience. This Learning Style
leads to experience and practice (simulation or real, though the experience
involves other modalities.This includes demonstrations, Simulations, videos and
movies of the original lesson, as well as case studies, exercises and
applications.
Based on the above
explanation, cirri or characteristics Kinestetic learning style or Tactile
Learner, among others; 1) Love to touch everything it encounters; 2) Difficult
to keep silent; 3) Likes to do everything by hand; 4) Usually have good body
coordination; 5) Likes to use real objects as learning aids; 6) Learning abstract
things (mathematical symbols, maps etc); 7) Considering well when physically
active in the learning process; 8) Enjoy the opportunity to organize or handle
physically the learning materials; 9) Often trying to make notes just to occupy
themselves without utilizing the records; 10) Love the use of computers 11)
Express interest and interest in something physically by working
enthusiastically; 12) It is difficult to ask whether to remain silent or to be
in a place for some time without physical activity; 13) Often play around with
objects around while listening or doing something
Based on these
characteristics, the medium or means that can be used for the Kinestetic or
Tactile Learner Learning Styles, among others 1) Using all the five senses:
sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing; 2) Laboratory; 3) Field visit; 4) Speakers
who provide real life examples; 5) Application; 6) Exhibition, sample,
photography; 7) Collection of various kinds of plants, insects and so on.
Learning strategies
for learning style Kinestetic tactile or Tactile Learner, according to Mansur
HR are as follows: (a) Expand the practice field. (B) Conduct demonstrations or
live performances of a process. (C) Make models or examples. (D) Learning does
not have to be seated formally, it can be done by sitting in a comfortable
position, although not usually done by other students. E) Expand the practice
in the laboratory. (F) It is possible to memorize something while moving,
walking or pacing for example. (G) Expand simulation and role playing. (H) Let
the student stand while explaining something.
C. Ways To Know Or
Learn About Student Learning Styles
How
to know or know the style of learning according to Wijaya Kusumah students in
http://www.gayabelajar.net we can do, among others through:
1) Using detailed observation of each learner through the
use of various teaching methods in the classroom. To familiarize learners who
have an auditory learning style, use lecture methods in general. Next notice
and note the learners who like to listen diligently to the end. From here we
can simply classify the types of learners with a more prominent auditory style.
2) By assigning tasks to learners to perform work that
requires the unification of separate parts, for example, uniting the model of
the house where the parts are separated. There are three possible ways in which
to unite the model of this house, (1) is to practice hands-on by trying to
unite parts of the house after looking at the pieces; (2) is to look at the
design drawings of the house as a whole, just starting to unify; And (3) is to
read the written instructions the steps required to build the house from
beginning to end.
3) Conduct survey or learning style test. This style of
learning test usually involves the services of a particular consultant or
psychologist. Because this learning style test uses a well-tested methodology,
it is usually a high-accuracy survey or style test that makes it easy for
teachers to get to know the learning style of the learner.
D. Factors Affecting
Students' Learning Styles
According
to Rita Dunn in (Sugihartono, 2007) pioneers in other learning styles have
found many variables that influence student learning style, dianatranya:
physical, emotional, sociological, and environment. Some people can learn well
in bright light, while others can only learn if the lighting is bleak. There
are some people who best accomplish their learning tasks in groups, while
others prefer to learn for themselves because it is more effective. Some people
choose to study with the background music accompaniment, while others can not
learn unless in a lonely atmosphere. Some people choose their work environment
neatly, but others always hold everything out for everything to be seen.
Meanwhile,
according to David Kolb in Ghufron and Risnawati, student learning styles are
influenced by personality type, habit or habit, and evolve with time and
experience.
Based
on the above explanation, many factors can influence the way and style of
student learning. In addition to the factors that exist within the person
itself (internal factors), there are many factors that come from outside the
individual itself (external factors).
1)
Internal factors that influence the learning style of students
a)
Physical factors
Physical factors
include two parts: health and disability. Health factors affect the learning
activities. Learning process will be disrupted if the health of a person is
disturbed, but it will also be tired, less excited, easily dizzy, drowsy when
the body is weak, lack of blood or any interference on the senses and body.
While the disability of the body is something that causes less good or less
perfect about the body. The defects can be blind, half blind, deaf, half deaf,
broken legs, paralyzed and others. Such a state of disability also affects a
person's learning activities.
b)
Psychological factors
There are at least
seven factors that fall into the psychological factors that influence learning.
These factors are intelligence, attention, interest, talent, motive, maturity
and readiness.
c)
Fatigue factor
Fatigue in humans
although difficult to separate but can be divided into two kinds of physical
fatigue and spiritual fatigue (psychic). Physical fatigue is seen by decreasing
the immune system. While spiritual fatigue can be seen with the lack of
interest in learning, lethargy and boredom to learn, so the interest and drive
to produce something is lost. The fatigue factor in a person is different.
Therefore, it needs a different way or learning style.
2)
External factors
a)
Family factors
Someone who learns
will receive influence from the family in the way of educating people,
relationships between family members, household atmosphere and family economic
situation.
b)
School Factors
School factors that
will affect the way or style of learning of students include teaching methods,
curriculum, teacher relationships with students, student relationships with
students, discipline or school rules, learning atmosphere, standard lessons,
the state of the building, the location of schools, and others. Teacher factors
such as teacher personality, teacher's ability to facilitate students and the
relationship between teachers and students also influence the way or style of
student learning.
c)
Community factors
Society is an
external factor that also affects the student's learning style. Societal
factors that influence the way or style of student learning include the
activities of learners in the community, mass media, social friends and
community life forms.
E. The Importance of
Knowing Student Styles
First,
the teacher. By knowing the learning styles of students, teachers can choose
teaching methods and educational media suitable for learners. In this case,
teachers' creativity is required in varying teaching methods and in the choice
of educational media. Thus, expected differences in learning styles among
learners can be accommodated well.
Nasution
(2003: 115) states that, various teaching methods have been widely applied and
tested to the Students to obtain effective results in the learning process. In
reality there is no one better teaching method than the other teaching methods.
If the various teaching methods have been established and do not show the
expected results, then another alternative that can be done by individual
teachers in the learning process is on the basis of understanding Student
learning style.
Bobbi
dePorter and Hernacki (2003: 110) mentioned that knowing different learning
styles has helped teachers everywhere to be able to approach all or nearly all
students by simply passing information in different styles.
Both
parents. For parents knowing their child's learning style, it is possible for
them to provide learning facilities that match their children's learning style
at home. This can be done by providing books and pictures for children with
visual learning styles, providing learning tapes and often discussing with
auditory-style children, and providing practical tools for children with a
kinesthetic learning style tendency.
Third,
learners. By knowing your own learning style, learners can create their
favorite atmosphere for learning. Whether it is by setting music, discussing
with friends or parents, and so on. Thus expected learners motivation can be
increased.
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