The Visual Spatial Learner (Pt. 1 of 3)

A seemingly bright child who struggles with school work may in fact be a visual spatial learner. Most importantly there is often a mismatch between instruction and this style of thinking and learning. Educational Consultant Jeffrey Freed gives his advice and students from Elementary, Middle, and High School share what it is like to be this type of learner. This is the first of three parts to help you identify and take action on this ever growing problem in education today.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• visual spatial
• underachievement
• learning style
• drop-out

[gpcolo]

Keep up the efforts in discovering how you learn and think. There are many others out there just like you.Some of our greatest minds in this world are those with a predominately visual spatial way of thought.

[vnbm]

My son finds writing challenging, (I'm concerned about whether he has dispraxia), he likes to be read to and is practicing reading. He has a good memory for history and science because he can perceive images in his mind's eye about the subject.

He is also very hooked on the computer screen, for classic cartoons etc.

Do you have advice on channeling his strengths and improving his weaknesses?

[gpcolo]

@vnbm Writing can be very hard for a visual spatial child. Motor movements cannot not keep up with the pace of their thought processes. Writing is usually the most frustrating component and one that causes many to dislike school. Things like recording directions, allowing more time, getting copies of notes in class will help. Your son should also be encouraged to learn keyboarding skills (though those may be needed int he future). (Continued in next reply)

[gpcolo]

@vnbm The use of a device called an Alphasmart could really help and the school may already have them. The most important thing though is to be sure your son's visual strengths are used to get at his weaknesses and that every teacher he has knows that he is a visual learner. For example, if he struggles with spelling just have him visualize and see the word as a picture. He will be able to see 3-dimensionally and most likely be able to spell it forwards and backwards.

[gpcolo]

@vnbm There is much online about the visual spatial learner and books from Linda Silverman (Upside Down Brilliance)and Jeff Freed's (Right Brain Children in a Left Brain World) would also be helpful.

[EverLearningMan]

I always wondered why I was such a bad learner in school? Now at age 44 I know!

I am a visual learner. I think with my right brain. I have to see it to understand how it works

[waltzingmathile]

"actually in their heads they think they've done it, because they're so good with visual imagery" is exactly what I go through sometimes! But not quite with homework cos I never do them. I sometimes mix up reality with stories I've read, movies I've watched and my dreams too! Oh my god. Thanks for these videos btw. I'm 21 years old, been wondering why the past 5 years of school has been challenging for me to go through. Think I've found my answer. :)

[Keitaro2011]

I think I'm a visual spatial learner!

[vnbm]

My 7 year old son exhibits these traits, so does my husband. they are both left handed as well. My husband struggled with writing and reading in school, but he's fine now. They are also rather unorganized, but highly creative. This lack of sequential organization in our small home, rather bothers me, since I have to deal not just with my husband and son, but with my 4 year old daughter, 18 month toddler and 4 month old infant son as well.