Mind maps

Different types of learners / learning styles

1) Honey-Mumford model
This model consists of four learning styles: Activists, Reflectors, Theorists and
Pragmatists.
Activists favor learning by doing and prefer it to reading or listening. People with
this learning style enjoy novelty and will try anything. In addition, they like group work
because ideas can be shared and tested. (Honey and Mumford, 1986).
Reflectors, on the other hand, enjoy standing in the back and observing. Their
preferred way of learning starts with collecting as much information as possible
before making any decision. They are slow decision-makers, but this is understandable since
their decisions are based on consideration of their knowledge and the ideas they have
discovered while observing others. (Honey and Mumford, 1986).
For Theorists, it is important to fit the new information into their existing knowledge
framework. Their minds are well-organized and dislike subjectivity and ambiguity.
When faced with a problem they will usually take a one-step-at-a-time approach.
(Honey and Mumford, 1986).
Pragmatists value the practical aspects of new things they learn. They look for way in
which new idea can be used and the value of something is determined by the fact whether it
works in practice or not. Pragmatists love problem-solving situations and tend to incorporate
new ideas into their thinking (Honey and Mumford, 1986).

2) Neuro-Linguistic Programming model

This model consists of three learning styles: visual, auditory and kinaesthetic.
The model is heavily based on the senses that learners rely on while learning. The three
styles and the characteristics of the learners who prefer each of those will be presented
below.
Visual learners prefer to learn by seeing. They recall things which they have seen very
easily which is why the ideal way to present information to these learners is in the form of
diagrams, maps, posters, displays etc. (Pritchard, 2009)
Auditory learners prefer to learn by listening. The things which they can recall easily
are those related to auditory memory. These learners thrive on information presented in the
forms such as discussion, lecture, interview, hearing audio tapes etc. (Pritchard, 2009)
Kinaesthetic learners prefer to learn by doing. When they try to remember
things, those which are related with feelings of physical experiences are easiest to recall.
This type of learner enjoys physical activity, manipulating objects and similar first-hand
experience. These learners need movement and find it difficult to keep still (Pritchard, 2009).