What’s Your Learning Style: How Do You Learn Best?

Have you ever been in a class where the teacher just talks or lectures for the whole lesson? Isn’t that awful?! Not for some…

Don’t you hate it when it’s lab day in science class and you have to play with beakers and Bunsen burners? Not for some…

Isn’t it awful when the teacher doesn’t write any notes on the blackboard but just draws silly pictures all over the place? Not for some…

What does this mean??

No two students learn the same way – students have different learning styles! What is good for one student can be terrible for the next.
There are many different categories of learning styles and many different learning style inventories that you can use to find out what type of learner you are.
Here’s a basic summary of three basic learning styles and a brief overview of what it means for you as a learner.

auditory learner

A student with an auditory learning style learns best when information is presented orally. In a classroom, this type of student likes the teachers to give lectures, as this is the easiest way to assimilate new information. Recording a lecture and listening to it later on CD or iPod is helpful for memory.

tips

• Rewrite notes the same day you heard them
• Organize notes by highlighting them three times and repeating them out loud
• Record lessons and listen to them while you train
• Discuss math problems aloud with someone else

kinesthetic

A student with a kinesthetic learning style learns best when there is hands-on activity—learning by doing. In a classroom environment, this type of student likes when teachers provide opportunities to create things…models, sketches, constructions, or manipulations of something tangible. Field trips are helpful because the student can experience and participate in the learning.

tips

• Study small chunks of information at a time
• Take frequent breaks and exercise
• Try to create a body movement that represents a concept
• Walk around while studying notes or flashcards

Visually

A student with a visual learning style learns best when information is organized and presented in a systematic manner. In a classroom, students with a visual learning style prefer outlines, bullet points, and examples with a visual organizer. Creating mental images helps students learn better.

tips

• Use colored pens/highlighters to sequence different steps or strategies
• Draw a picture to represent a concept
• Create mnemonics to remember difficult or long material
• Create Venn diagrams to represent concepts

It is important to know your learning style and understand what type of learner you are. If your teacher isn’t using teaching methods that suit your specific learning style, you now have the knowledge to tailor the lessons to your specific needs!

Thanks to Teresa Molter