Learning Styles

Running Head: Learning Styles

Team Green: Designed Training, Maximizing Learning for Individuals

Israel Lancaster, Shantanique Thomas, Lakeshia Alston

Webster University

Introduction

        An essential part of establishing and sustaining success within an organization is to understand the importance of human resources and it’s direct relationship to human assets. Core competency is essential for an organization to proudly distinguish themselves from their competitors; based on capability—knowledge, expertise, and skill. Human Resources should be the primary core competence in a successful organization regardless of the range of goods or services the company provides. One important component of HR is training and development. The recruiting and hiring process should focus on obtaining based on performance and potential.         Part of the organization initiatives should be focused on obtaining diverse talent, therefore no organization will recruit candidates with the same exact learning abilities. When talented individuals join the organization, they bring various skills and abilities but require adequate training in core areas in order to align with the organization policies and standards. Managers must understand the different types of learning styles within the workforce, and offer support at all times throughout training and development for every individual.

        The organization must be equipped to offer extensive training designed to maximize learning for individuals with various preferences. In a diverse organization, individuals possess and obtain skills and knowledge on different scales due to learning preferences. Some members are best suited as visual learners, some as auditory learners, some reading and writing, and some kinesthetic. Of course members in an organization learn by using a variety of these styles but typically one method is predominant of the other. The organization that can provide training that maximizes learning and opportunities for individuals will increase their flexibility and establish a cohesive learning organization prepared, and adaptable for a rapid changing environment.

        An organization success is partially determined by leadership ability to establish a learning culture, open to innovation, sharing of information, and an emphasis on training and development. Individuals within an organization must be equipped with specified traits such as quickness, responsiveness, and be able to adapt to changing demands. Therefore training programs must be efficient enough to provide information that will enhance the skills and abilities of associates. Strategies must remain directed towards increasing the competence of the organization, by supporting individuals.

        An individual that learns through reading and writing may require a more detailed approach when it comes to training and development. In today’s age of technology, PowerPoint presentations and Computer based training may not be the best training resource for those whose learning style is reading and writing. Let’s take for example, the annual sexual harassment training that most organizations are required to hold for all of their employees. In order to take into consideration the learning style of reading and writing, the organization may include handouts or pamphlets that include consist of the presentation slides that may be used, or verbiage that covers the main points of the guest speaker. Although this is a very common learning style, today’s technology and common ways of delivering training do not always cater to these individuals.

        The aural or auditory style is geared towards the individual who is more inclined to learn by talking, discussing, or questioning. This learning style would excel and gain large amounts of knowledge from training that was conducted in open forums or small group settings. For example, a training session that includes the introduction to a new product and how to properly market it to customers could be held in a group setting with the opportunity to ask questions. Having the main speaker introduce and speak about the details of the product is just one way to jump-start the learning process for an aural learner. Although most presentations are usually given verbally, giving individuals the chance to ask questions and discuss the topic at hand is one of the many ways to support the aural learning style.