Learning Styles

One of the really big breakthroughs in learning in recent years as been the discovery of 'Learning Styles'. Most people have a some sort of idea as to how they learn best, such as reading out loud, using pictures to illustrate work or by pacing up and down whilst looking over notes. Some people prefer to see things written things down whereas other will be far happier being told them.

This is the basis of Learning Styles. Once you find yours, you can easily find other methods which are suited to your style.

Find out your own Learning Style here

I highly recommend you do this, as it really quick to complete and has some good tips for each style at the end.

If you already know your Learning Style, have a look at these 10 Quick Tips for each Style:

Auditory Learner

1. Say aloud the information to be learned/have someone read the information to you/read it into a tape recorder and replay it.
2. Read your work out loud. Summarise what you have read on tape.
3. Say words inside your head silently.
4. Brainstorm (or MindMap if you know how) ideas with others. Form study groups.
5. When possible, learn information through tapes, television, oral reports, rhymes
and songs, podcasts (check out iTunes University), lectures (check out the Open University), panel and group discussions, and oral questions and answers.
6. Use a ruler assist you in keeping your place while you are reading or working with printed materials.
7. Tape class lectures (Ask Teacher for permission!).
8. Meet with classmates before and/or after class to discuss material.
9. Speak out loud as you are writing.
10. Write out and test yourself using FlashCards (or you could use flashcard software, which we will be talking about at a future time). Read these out loud.

Kinesthetic (Touch) Learner

1. Keep your desk clear of distracting objects.
2. Cover the page you’re not reading
3. If you are distracted by noise, turn off the radio; wear earplugs or wear headphones to block out the noise. If you want sound, listen to soft music.
4. Divide your work into short study sessions. Get a timer. After 20 minutes or when a task is completed, give yourself a reward, a cookie, a walk around the block, listen to one song, etc.
5. Sit as close to the teacher as possible, or sit in the center of the room by quiet students.
6. When studying, use a multi-sensory approach (hearing, seeing, touching and doing) as much as possible.
7. Use models, real objects, and materials that can be touched and moved. For
example, learn geography through handling and studying a globe. A revision cube (we will explain this in the future) and creating information leaflets should also benefit you.
8. When possible draw what you are learning.
9. When possible, role play, type, take notes, or construct models to learn the information.
10. Try to teach other people. This should be great as to teach something, you really have to know it inside out!

Visual Learner

1. Take notes, make pictures, graphs, and charts. Use flashcards and highlight key details in different colours.
2. Sit close to the teacher so that you can watch his /her face and gestures.
3. Take notes or make lists as you listen to directions. (post-it notes are good for this)
4. Carefully check instructions written on the board and on handouts.
5. Imagine pictures of the information you are suppose to remember.
6. Use color coding as cues to important information.
7. Maintain class notes and outlines of important information to study.
8. Try to read and study in well lit, quiet place.
9. Record homework assignments in a date book, on a note pad, or a specially
designed assignment sheet. You can get Apps on your iPod/iPhone for this!
10. Keep a note pad with you at all times. Write out everything for frequent and quick visual review.

Thank you to Odessa College for a lot of this excellent advice.