Reducing Stress using Dunn and Dunn Learning Styles
Getting the best from your young person is about understanding them and knowing them inside out. Today I want to explain why you should look at different learning styles to understand your child.
Rita and Kenneth Dunn were psychologists who came up with this model over 20 years of research, with the majority of the information presented in the 1970s. It has five elements which incorporates the VARK learning styles model, but is much more holistic, looking at the whole area around the child. Their theory considers the emotional, environmental, physiological, psychological and sociological factors, and their impact on the learner’s ability to learn.
By analysing these factors and their influence on your child, you can set them up for homework success!
Physiological
Consideration of what is best for their body including the mind, and what helps them respond to the learning task. That means that some students may be more alert at certain times of day based on what they have eaten. Drawing from VARK (see this blog post for more explanation of VARK) the physiological aspect considers whether the learner is visual, auditory, or kinaesthetic to understand whether things like moving to music, fidget toys, or chewing gum will affect the student’s body feelings in a way that helps them.
Fidget spinners can help some people concentrate
Auditory learners prefer listening to what they are learning
Environmental
Adapting the environment to your learner can enhance their studying performance. Environmental considerations are things like the temperature of the room, the seating arrangements, any sounds or smells, and the lighting. For some learners, having visual aids around them (Visual learners) or having background noise might have a big impact, whereas others may find it a distraction.
Some young people prefer working in soft seating
Others prefer working at a desk
Sociological
The sociological aspect of learning considers their VARK learning styles, as well as whether they can study independently, or require presence or support from peers or people in authority. This aspect of the Dunn & Dunn theory can be profoundly underestimated.
Some young people need a parent or teacher to oversee their learning
Others prefer studying independently
Psychological
The psychological element refers to information processing and looks at two key comparisons.
Analytical vs Global: Do they analyse small details, or look at the bigger picture?
Reflective vs Impulsive: Do they reflect and plan, or do they dive right in and learn by doing?
Is it small detail or bigger picture thinking?
Emotional
The emotional aspects of learning look at whether they are a motivated individual, whether they are able and willing to take responsibility for their learning, the level of persistence they can give to a task, and the structure they need to learn. Are they motivated to learn, or do they require external motivation, such as rewards? Do they need to be encouraged along the way? Will they stick to a task or do they give up easily? Do they need structured instructions or do they just go for it?
Want to learn more? My publication, A Guide To Learning Styles, has a detailed quiz for VARK and a checklist for Dunn and Dunn, so you can discover your child’s learning styles, how they integrate, and how to apply them to your child.
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£7.99A Guide to Learning Styles This 27 page downloadable book...