Cues for Visual Learners
Written by Melissa Hurley
Making up about 65% of the population, there is a large probability that you have some visual learners in your classes or private clients. Visual learners absorb and recall information best by seeing.
Singer (1980) suggested that visual perception is probably the most important source of information for sports. The visual learner learns best receiving information through their eyes. The visual learner thinks spatially in terms of shapes, patterns, symbols. Visual learners are very good at thinking laterally, tuning into the larger picture. Verbal clues stimulate the brain of visual learners in ways that further prepare them to engage in future tasks.
Try reaching your visual learners with these coaching cues:
- Look
- Watch
- Show
- Demonstrate
- Observe
- Imagine
Example Cue: “See your legs moving in a continuous motion like pistons of an engine.”
Try these tools to pass on information to your visual learning clients/members:
- Films
- Videos (great analyzing tool)
- Pictures
- Notes
- Imagery
- Diagrams
- Lists
- Schedules
- Demonstration
Think outside your normal coaching routine. Reach for your iPad and film your members, learn to draw some helpful pictures, use cues that grab your visual members, demonstrate movements or use clients that can do the movement. A picture can say a million…to those who are visual learners.
References
Brunner, R. & Hill, D. (1992). Using learning styles in coaching. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Coaching, 63(4), 26-28, 61.
Coker, C. A. (1995). Learning style and consistency across cognitive and motor settings. Perceptual Motor Skills, 81, 1023-1026.
Coker, C. A. (1996). Accommodating Students’ learning styles in physical education. Journal of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, 67(9), 66-68.
Dunn, R., Beaudry, J. S., & Klavis, A. (1989). Survey of research on learning style. Educational Leadership, 46(6), 50-58.
Mind Tools (2002). How your learning style affects your use of mnemonics. http://www.mindtools.com/mnemlsty.html
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