Who are we?
Learning style is a concept utilized worldwide. For the past 30+ years, the International Learning Styles Network (ILSN) has been helping both children and adults reach their full learning potential. In 1996, Professor Rita Dunn began replacing the original assessments with updated online versions that catered to both Analytic and Global learners and include both text and graphic images. The venerable research upon which the Dunn and Dunn Model was built continues as the assessments are improved. We created this website to provide parents, students, individuals, schools and business with the resources to begin a process that enables everyone—from 6 to 106—to begin learning and working smarter.
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The ILSN is comprised of 23 International Centers in 11 countries that provide training, direction and support for the use of the Dunn & Dunn Model worldwide. 11 centers
3 centers 1 center 2 centers 1 center 1 center 1 center 1 center 1 center 1 center View a complete list of centers » |
What are Learning Styles?
Regardless of whom you ask, parents or teachers, each will tell you that children learn in different ways. Although how humans learn is a complex subject, there is one basic assumption that is undeniable--one size does not fit all! Everyone has learning strengths and preferences even though people do not necessarily learn in the same ways. The importance of identifying learning style is that it not only provides each person (child or adult) with his or her unique set of strengths, it provides teachers with an organized approach for the application of individualized instruction in the classroom. At the same time, parents are better prepared in assisting their children with homework. This includes providing the right setting and various other aspects of learning environments related to improved achievement, behaviors and attitudes toward learning. Because visual intelligence does not fully develop until 2nd or 3rd grade (ages 7-8) and auditory intelligence does not fully develop until 5th or 6th grade (ages 10-11), understanding a student's strengths is essential to rewarding learning experiences both in the classroom and at home.
The Dunn & Dunn Model
Professor Rita Dunn (1929-2009) co-authored each assessment currently offered at LearningStyles.net. The Dunn and Dunn Model dates back to the late 1960s after Drs. Rita and Kenneth Dunn reviewed over 80 years of research on the subject of how children learn differently. The assessments we offer replace those previously developed by the Dunns. While there are those who continue to obfuscate the value of learning style, over 850 articles based on quantitative and experiential research conclude just the opposite. Learning style DOES make a difference; just ask those parents, teachers and students who have benefited through the understanding that one size does not fit all! Respecting the diversity of differences means no one is left behind!
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The following domains, also known as strands, and their elements as identified by our K-12 assessments include: sound, light, temperature, seating design motivation, task persistence, conformity, structure alone, pairs, peers, team, with an adult, with variety auditory, visual, tactual, kinesthetic, time of day, intake, mobility analytic/global, impulsive/reflective Our adult assessment, The Building Excellence (BE) Survey identifies the following: auditory, visual word, visual picture, tactual and/or kinesthetic, verbal analytic/global, impulsive/reflective sound, light, temperature, seating design time of day, intake, mobility motivation, task persistence, conformity, structure alone, pairs, small group, large group, authority, variety |
View a sample assessment report showing how these elements are measured. |
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