Visual Learners in Small Groups

Let's get back to our in-depth discussion on the impact of learning styles in small groups. Click here if you missed the overview of the VARK Learning Styles method, and click here to see an overview of the Visual Learning Style.

Right now I'd like to discuss how Visual Learners are impacted within a small group.

How They Feel

First things first—Visual Learners don't get much attention from traditional small groups. And it starts with curriculum.

Visual Learners love looking at charts, graphs, diagrams—any kind of image that visually organizes data and concepts. But very few small-group Bible studies include anything like that. Nor do many studies attempt to structure their material in a way that is visually interesting or organized.

The primary reason for this is that small groups are almost entirely based on talking. Think about it—fellowship, discussion, prayer requests, questions and answers, and even worship are based on talking. It's all ears and mouths, with no eyes.

That isn't to say that Visual Learners in your small group don't like talking, or that they can't learn through listening, or that they don't enjoy participating in a discussion. But it does mean that they could be more stimulated and would probably retain more of what they hear if your group included a wider variety of activities.

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