Why Johnny Can't Learn Code

There are four identified types of learners in the world - Auditory, Visual, Tactile, and Kinesthetic.¹ Auditory learners absorb information and are at their best in situations that require the use of hearing. Visual people form `pictures' in their mind to learn and to interact with their environment. Tactile individuals are those who need to touch and feel to absorb information best. Kinesthetics are people who require action and body movement. Most humans exhibit some combination of all types but tend to favor one type overwhelmingly over the other types.

When we apply the characteristics of these learning types to the issue of learning Morse code, the fact that so many claim they cannot learn code becomes a little easier to understand. The process of learning Morse code would go something along these lines: hear the code, process the code, write the code. Repeat this enough and your nervous system builds a pathway between the ear, the brain, and the hand. The ear detects the dits and dahs and sends them to the brain for processing. The brain processes the audio and tells the hand to write the character. Pretty simple. As long as you are not a visual learner.

Visual learners learn best by forming pictures in their mind. They absorb information best when the instructor or teacher draws a diagram on the board. They are the ones you see in class or conversation, staring somewhere unseen as they try to write or read these mental pictures. The natural Morse code learning path for them would be: hear the code, picture the code, process the code, write the code. This works until the visual person gets to the higher code speeds. Once above a certain level the brain simply does not have enough time to accomplish the extra processing step it must do in order to learn and to execute the skill.

Some folks who find the code to be easy will tell you that they hear the rhythm of the code, and that they don't listen for individual characters but hear the words. These comments are dead giveaways that the hams that do well with Morse code are auditory learners. And just as Ted Williams and Tony Gwynn can't understand why anyone is unable to hit a 95 MPH fastball, auditory learners cannot fathom how in the world morse code could be difficult.

And while it is more difficult for some learning types, I am not suggesting is that it is impossible for visual learners to learn code. What I am suggesting is that perhaps it is time for a little understanding for those who are having difficulty learning morse code. A supportive environment will go a long way toward helping the frustrated visual types and increase the chances that they will someday overcome their learning barrier and move to the next level of licensing if they so choose. Perhaps someone has a method for learning code that can be tailored to each specific learning type.

Just as a teacher must adapt his or her teaching methods to enhance learning for all types, so must the Amateur Radio community adjust its attitude to help everyone become better. The first step is understanding the issue.

More information about learning styles can be found here:

http://www.metamath.com/lsweb/dvclearn.htm

http://bsd-server.nc.edu/virtcol/ss/learn.html

1-http://www.latitudes.org/learn01.html