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©Arlene Taylor, PhD Realizations Inc
There has often been an underlying assumption that students will all pretty much learn in a similar manner. This approach ignores the important issue of individual differences in personal cognitive style. There is no learning style or model that is right for everyone since each brain develops uniquely. And there certainly is no one-size-fits all. In one sense at least the human brain does not have a single favorite or learning style. It is capable of changing on a daily basis and even from hour to hour depending on what is going on in the learner’s life and in the current environment.
Each student will likely have a preferred learning style, however, defined as an individual's consistent approach to organizing and processing information during thinking. Learning style does not appear to be related to intelligence and reflects qualitative rather than quantitative differences between individuals in their thinking processes. Forty-two experimental studies based on the Dunn and Dunn Learning Style Model conducted between 1980 and 1990 showed that students whose preferred learning styles are accommodated would be expected to achieve 75% of a standard deviation higher than students who have not had their learning styles accommodated.
Here are examples based on innate brain lead.
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Left Frontal Lobe Lead
Tends to learn by:
- Acquiring facts
- Applying logical analysis to facts
- Thinking through ideas, debating
- Forming theories using the facts
- Building cases based on data
- Reasoning things through
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Right Frontal Lobe Lead
Tends to learn by:
- Using intuition
- Synthesizing content
- Creating new concepts
- Exploring possibilities
- Self-initiative
- Moving while thinking
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Left Posterior Lobes Lead
Tends to learn by:
- Acquiring skills through practice
- Organizing content
- Studying sequentially
- Applying information practically
- Repetitive structure
- Taking plenty of time to learn
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Right Posterior Lobes Lead
Tends to learn by:
- Using music and movement
- Working and playing with others
- Conversing with others
- Sharing ideas
- Comparing personal experiences
- Return demonstrations
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Left Frontal Lobe Lead
Tends to respond to:
- Formal lectures
- Data-based content
- Texts and bibliographies
- Analysis of cases won or lost
- Debate of facts
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Right Frontal Lobe Lead
Tends to respond to:
- Experimentation
- Spontaneity
- Innovation and individuality
- Humor and playfulness
- Discussions related to future cases
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Left Posterior Lobes Lead
Tends to respond to:
- Structure
- Sequential presentations
- How-to books
- Discussions of past cases
- Thorough planning
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Right Posterior Lobes Lead
Tends to respond to:
- Music and movement
- Group discussion
- Interacting with others
- Studying people-orientated cases
- Experiential opportunities
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School and Learning 
