What’s your preferred perceptual modality?
Once you stop learning, you start dying.
Albert Einstein
We each learn in a different way. I, for one, best grasp new content when I write it down, long-hand; I take copious notes, many of which I never look at again because the act of writing helped me to absorb the ideas. My husband, on the other hand, learns best by watching a video or by listening to a podcast.
Scientists have identified seven “perceptual modalities” — aka preferred learning styles:
Visual learners need to read written words and see process diagrams, such as videos, technical manuals, and PowerPoint presentations.
Aural learners learn by hearing content, such as a traditional lecture or podcast.
Print learners, like me, absorb content by taking notes.
Tactile, or haptic, learners require a hands-on approach, learning by doing.
Olfactory learners’ recall is tied to their sense of taste and smell.
Interactive learners grasp concepts by examining all sides, such as by debating a concept with others or engaging in a Q&A forum.
Kinesthetic learners, similar to tactile learners, learn through movement, benefiting from workshops, training exercises, and role playing.
The best technical documentation presents the same information in a variety of formats, recognizing that your customers and users utilize a variety of these diverse learning styles. However, not all forms of technical documentation suit all types of products and services; for example, I have yet to recommend an olfactory approach to any of the technical firms I most often work with.
For most technical firms, customer-facing technical documentation for visual, aural, and interactive learners suffice. For example, for Motors@Work, a cloud-based software-as-a-service that provides analytics that enable its clients to optimize the performance of their motor-driven systems, I developed how-to videos and printable quick-start guides (see below) for its visual- and aural-learning users; inside the software, Motors@Work also offers a Q&A-style glossary for interactive learners inside the cloud-based platform.
Which types of content will your customers find most helpful? Sign up for your initial consultation today.
