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Learning Styles: Dunn & Dunn
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Based on: Synthesis of the Dunn and Dunn Learning-Style Model Research
A Learning-Style A Day Keeps the Bad Grades Away!
Before there was a learning style model….
Too Many Students…
…Did not ENJOY learning!
Seeing the problem, educators asked questions and did some
Research….
Discovery!
• Students learn differently!
• Teaching methods that work for one confuses another!
Discovery!
• If students are taught according to their learning style:
o Students learn more!
o Students enjoy school more!
o Students attitudes and behaviors improve!
This was very good news!
Educators had to accept the idea that…
Wasn’t doing the job!
Changes were needed!
Change takes time…
After 30 Years of Research,It’s Time to Get Off the Bench!
Examine the Results: Perceptual Learning Styles
There Are Four
• Auditory Learners
• Visual Learners
• Tactile Learners
• Kinesthetic Learners
Auditory Learners
• Teaching Method – Lecture
o Begins to develop in students after 6th grade!
o 40% of the population learn this way
o Boys are neither strongly auditory nor visual even in high school
Visual Learners
• Teaching method – Reading, Writing on the board
• 30% of students don’t remember what they hear or see
Tactile Learners
• Learn with their hands
• Remember what they focus on while playing
• Often the students who are unsuccessful in school learn best tactually (hands on)!!
Kinesthetic Learner
• Best when teaching males and athletes
• Continual physical movement
• Need active bodily participation
o Not Passive Mental Thinking!
The Results are In!!
When Educating Adult Learners
• In order to:
o Increase achievement
o Enhance job performance
o Improve attitudes about learning
• Match Instructional Strategy to the Learning Style!!
Examine Just Perceptual Strengths of
Adult Learners
Adult Learners – the WRONG Way!
Perceptual Style Preferences Incorporated!
• Research over 10 years shows…
o Increased academic achievement
o Improved attitudes toward academic learning
• Design Educational Programs around Adult students’ perceptual styles:
o Maximize professional development in ALL fields
o Improve college-level instruction
In the Corporate Setting!
Bakery Firm – Driver Safety Program
• Those trained via matching instructional style:
o Scored significantly higher
o Demonstrated improved attitude
Bakery
In Human Services Fields!
Studying Anesthesiology• Using correct learning style …
o Exhibited reduced anxiety o Showed improved clinical performance
Studying Nutrition • Using correct learning style…
o Achievement test scores significantly higher
Nursing Students
Professional Development
Public School Teachers and Administrators
• Teaching Methods Congruent with LS
o Statistically higher long term retention in technology training
• Teaching Experienced Teachers about LS
o Higher achievement
o Higher attitude test scores
Learning Style Results in the Classroom
Special Education Students
• Most are Global processors
• Perceptual strengths are tactual and kinesthetic
• Most teaching is done..
o Via talking – requires auditory skills!
o Via reading – requires visual-print skills!
Special Education Students
• After two years of LS instruction
o Achieved statistically higher in standardized achievement test scores
o Some achieved as well as regular high-school students!!
Special Education Students
• Significantly higher gains across multiple grade levels in:
o Urban schools
o Suburban schools
o Rural schools
High School Special Education Students
• Prior to LS (Frontier Central HS; Hamburg, NY) [June, 1987]
o 25% passed State Competency Tests & received diplomas
• LS methodologies used in 1987-1988 o 66% passed State Competency Tests & received
diplomas
• LS methodologies used in 1988-1989o 91% successful
High School Special Education and Science
• Short- and long-term achievement gained
• Change in behavior
o Decline in lateness
o Reduced absences
o Polite and appropriate
In Order to Leave No Student Behind…
• Educators should be required to implement Learning Styles
• Especially for…
o Learning disabled
o Underachieving
o At-risk populations!
Strong Statements Regarding SPED Students
• Teachers inappropriately classify underachievers as SPED because they do not
learn conventionally
• Students who learn differently can achieve, and do with LS instruction
Strong Statements Regarding SPED Students
• Teachers should experiment with LS instruction before recommending students
for SPED
• It is immoral, and should be illegal, to classify children who learn differently as
SPED instead of teaching them the way they learn. (Dunn, Shea, Evans, & MacMurren,
1991).
Scholastically Successful Students Are
Happy Students!!
