Cognitive Learning Styles

Cognitive learning styles are the information processing habits of an individual. Unlike individual differences in abilities, cognition describes a person's typical mode of thinking, perceiving, remembering, or problem solving. Cognitive style is usually described as a personality dimension which influences attitudes, values, and social interaction.

For example, ask yourself how you process experiences and knowledge and how you organize and retain information. Do you need to visualize the task before starting? Do you approach learning and teaching sequentially or randomly? Do you work quickly or deliberately? These are examples of cognitive learning style characteristics.

The biological basis for cognitive learning styles is grounded in brain theory.

There may be a dozen or more cognitive learning style theories which psychologists have developed models for. In this tutorial, we will focus on these four:

1. Multiple Intelligence (MI) – Howard Gardner

2. Mental Self Government – Robert Sternberg

3. Modalities

4. Concrete/Abstract – Anthony Gregorc