Perceptual Learning: Definition and Examples

Our senses allow us to perceive the world around us. This process can be thought of as perceptual learning, or the taking in of information from the environment through the body's senses. We all know that we have five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

There are seven specific methods through which people learn, with each relying on one sense more than the others. Let's investigate each one.

Perceptual Learning Styles and How to Accommodate Them

Visual Learning

About 65% of the entire population learn best through perceiving information through their eyes. There are actually two types of perceptual learners that depend on their eyes: visual learners and print-oriented learners.

Visual Learners need to see something to learn it. Basically, visual learners need to see and observe in order to learn. In math, for instance, they might need to watch an example be worked for them before they're able to comprehend a math problem.

Let's imagine a teacher, Mrs. Hesher, is considering using perceptual learning methods in her history class. If Mrs. Hesher wants to accommodate all perceptual learning modes in her unit on the Roman Empire, how could she do it? Mrs. Hesher should consider playing a movie depicting Ancient Rome and the Roman Empire, or showing lots of pictures of the Roman Empire to her class to accommodate the visual learners.

Example of visual learning: Studying ancient structures through images.

Aural Learning

Even though this scenario seems to be a standard form of educating, only about 30% of the population actually learn best through listening. The bulk of education is presented verbally with an instructor at the front of the classroom and students sitting in chairs listening to the information. Aural learners take in information best when they hear it.

To support aural learners, Mrs. Heshner could give a traditional lecture on the Roman Empire.

Kinesthetic and Haptic Learning

Once again, there are two distinct learning styles that rely on our body's sense of touch. Approximately 5% of the population can be considered to be either kinesthetic or haptic learners. While this doesn't seem like a large number, remember that in a school with 1,000 students, 50 will fit into this category. Those 50 students deserve to have their specific means of learning accommodated just like the rest of students.

Haptic Learners are experiential learners; they need to experience something to really learn it. They need to be able to hold, touch, and manipulate it to incorporate the information into their long-term memory. They might need to use blocks to experience math concepts before understanding how to add and subtract, or use sand writing techniques to begin the writing process.

Example of kinesthetic learning: Hands-on activities for better understanding.

Interactive Learning

While taste isn't specific to our forms of learning, using the mouth by way of talking is specific to a form of perceptual learning. Interactive learners need to be able to talk about what they're learning. They need to be able to express ideas or predictions, hear and respond to other's ideas, and share feelings about what they're learning. Without this time of reflection on the concepts, interactive learners have a difficult time retaining information.

Small-group discussions are a great way for Mrs. Hesher to support her interactive learners while offering all students another avenue to investigate and explore the concepts of the Roman Empire.

Olfactory Learning

Olfactory learners are those that associate learned information with smells present at the time of learning. Research shows that the sense of smell and memory are strongly tied together, so being able to connect a smell with learned information can be a key to learning for some people.

To support olfactory learners, Mrs. Hesher might use an oil diffuser to add a specific Italian-themed scent to the room during information presentation and during any testing; the smell will trigger the information.

Overview of different perceptual learning styles.

Summary of Perceptual Learning Styles

Here's a table summarizing the different perceptual learning styles and how they can be accommodated in a classroom setting:

Learning Style	Description	Example Accommodation
Visual	Learns best by seeing and observing.	Show movies, pictures, and diagrams.
Aural	Learns best by hearing information.	Give lectures and play audio recordings.
Kinesthetic	Learns best through physical movement.	Incorporate movement-based activities.
Haptic	Learns best by touching and manipulating objects.	Use hands-on activities and tactile materials.
Interactive	Learns best by discussing and sharing ideas.	Facilitate small-group discussions.
Olfactory	Learns best by associating information with smells.	Use specific scents to trigger memory.