by Ice Dragon

Created on: January 28, 2009   Last Updated: February 06, 2009

Some people say they are more of a "hands-on" learner. Some insist that they are a visual learner. Yet others swear that they learn best by just hearing what's being taught a few times. However, the truth is that there is no one way that is better than others all the time.

Not only does it depend on WHAT is being taught, but also WHO is being taught. The best instructors use the three main techniques when teaching: auditory, visual, and hands-on. Everyone uses all three techniques in both learning and teaching but, depending on age and subject matter, may use one more than another.

For example, when I got my 2 year degree in small engine repair, the instructor always used all three techniques of teaching, and opened his lecture with: "I'm gonna tell ya what I'm gonna tell ya, I'm gonna tell ya, then I'm gonna tell ya what I told ya." This would be the auditory technique. He would explain what he's teaching three different times, in slightly different ways. The lectures would also include the various parts he was lecturing about: transmissions, brakes, the four-stroke cycle of an engine as compared to a two-stroke. That would be the visual portion. Finally, after the lecture and demonstration, we would each get the part in question and play with it a bit. That was the hands-on portion. One of the things I took away from that class (and didn't include above as it isn't a major learning technique since you have to learn the subject first) is that if you want to learn something better, have an even better understanding of it: teach it to someone that doesn't know that material. You get an even broader view of whatever the subject is if you teach it to someone else, they might ask questions and make points that you never thought of.

Now if you're teaching a young child, chances are that they're not going to sit still long enough for you to explain something once, let alone three times.

You have to grab their attention with the material. This would be more the hands-on and visual techniques, and a lesser focus on the auditory.

An example would be a puzzle in the shape of the United States, where each state is a puzzle piece, and they have to fit together correctly. Or, for the older children that have more patience and maturity, teaching a craft such as knitting, candle-making, or wood carving.

For an adult, again depending on the subject matter, a primarily visual and audio style of teaching might be the best. A foreign language class or history classes are great examples of this style, as there really are no hands on stuff to help, unless you're in an archaeology class.

Some people however, prefer to learn things on their own without being taught by someone else. The most popular medium for this would be from books. Computer languages, cooking, and crafts are examples of this, and it is about sixty percent visual, forty percent hands-on. You read what is in the book or instructions a few times to make sure you understand it, and then you do it while still referencing the book or manual. The trouble with this way of learning, however, is that you're never completely sure you did something correctly unless it makes itself known in a spectacular way like breaking, melting or catching fire.

There are benefits to each of the three learning styles I presented. However, some things are learned better one way over another.

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