When someone is having trouble learning, the first thing Mary Louise recommends at her center is an evaluation to determine that individual's "thumbprint for learning." Mary Louise first checks for sensory integration before she evaluates learning styles and mind process patterns. She checks to see if their eyes can track a moving object, if the right and left hemispheres of their brain work well together, and whether or not they are crossing the midline. Then she checks to see if they are primarily a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner. A few simple questions and activities can tell her a lot about how to structure a plan for a particular person's thumbprint for learning.

1). The conscious mind
2). The subconscious mind
3). The unconscious mind.

It is easier to retrieve data from the conscious mind than the subconscious mind. Generally, data from the unconscious mind is difficult to retrieve. Each of the three learning modalities stores and processes information in one of the three parts of the mind, known as, the three states of consciousness. There are six separate patterns that we humans use to process information: AKV, AVK, VAK, VKA, and KVA. When we can identify which pattern each person uses, we can understand how to teach or train them using their learning style and process pattern.

Example:

Let's pretend that "Joe" is a Kinesthetic, Visual, Auditory (KVA) learner. Information that Joe touches or moves is stored in his conscious mind. Athletic activities may come very easily to him. The visual information that he retrieves from his subconscious mind supports his kinesthetic information. This means that Joe will do his best when he can see and touch what he is learning.

The auditory information is stored in his unconscious mind. Thus, Joe has a lot of difficulty remembering what he hears and doesn't like to talk about his feelings. He may struggle trying to sit still doing seat work when he can't move his large muscles. He may also lose his focus when he listens to lectures and forget directions that people say to him.

Some KVA´s are labeled ADD or ADHD depending upon the amount of stimulation their conscious or subconscious brain requires to stay focused. Many KVA's love to work on the computer or take things apart and put them back together.

Another type of learning pattern, the KAV, may also be labeled ADD or ADHD. This type of learner is a toucher and a mover who finds it more difficult to remember what he/she sees. Reading and writing are not a KAV's favorite activity since they have to work harder to stay focused on a visual task. They may have to reread a
paragraph in order to understand what it says. They enjoy moving and talking. KAV's are often good actors, cheerleaders, and coaches.

This is an example of just two of the six "thumbprints" or learning patterns that are used for processing information. Each of us has our own learning style and process pattern. When we know how a person learns, we can help him/her achieve success by structuring a learning environment around his/her way of learning.

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