Everybody has a personal learning style that works best for them. Many people use different styles according to the subject matter or the circumstances. You just have to find which one or ones work for your brain and senses. Find out more about learning styles here, and watch your comprehension and retention improve considerably.
Verbal or Linguistic
Verbal learners rely on spoken and written words. The traditional classroom and lesson plan is generally set up for this type of student. Consider yourself lucky if you’re a verbal learner, because you probably won’t need to do much tweaking in order to master the material. Unfortunately, because there are six other learning styles, many students may be zoning out, because their brains just aren’t processing the information they’re being presented with.
Even if you have it easy, it helps to understand the other learning styles, because this knowledge may prevent misunderstandings and help you empathize with somebody who’s struggling. This information will also come in handy in the future, when you have supervisors, colleagues, or subordinates with different learning styles.
Visual or Spatial
Visual learners are happiest when their classes or textbooks give them opportunities to peruse photographs, graphs, charts, diagrams, maps, and videos. When the AV cart rolls in, or a biology teacher pulls out the skeleton, the visual learner jumps for joy. Visual learners prefer to read books or notes than listen to lectures or discussions. If your class does not provide enough visual stimulation, rely on the Internet to find resources that do offer images. You might also find it helpful to take notes in the forms of sketches rather than written paragraphs.
Aural or Musical
Aural learners learn through their sense of hearing. These folks are happy to listen to a lecture or podcast. The alphabet song is a perfect example of a learning technique that’s geared toward this style. It’s probable that many musicians and linguists are primarily aural learners. These learners may also like to talk to themselves or repeat things aloud to facilitate memorization. When preparing for a test, try to find a study partner who can ask you questions out loud. You can also create rhymes or sayings as mnemonic techniques.
Physical or Kinesthetic
Physical learners rely on their sense of touch. For example, such a learner may prefer to actually go through the motions of a task as opposed to just relying on written instructions or being told how to do it. A great study idea for a kinesthetic learner is to read a textbook on the treadmill or listen to a lecture while walking or running.
The truth is that children have far more opportunities to exercise physical learning than teens and adults. Kids may be taught counting or arithmetic with buttons or dice. Unfortunately, many cultures expect older students to sit still and quietly in class, and these students may be labeled as behavioral problems if they can’t. Kinesthetic learners are likely to play sports or go into trades that allow them to work with their hands.
Social or Interpersonal
Social learners do better when they’re interacting with other people while learning. These students enjoy working with lab partners and participating in group projects. Social learners are happy to go to class, and they probably like to ask questions or engage in cross-talk with other students. If you’re an interpersonal learner, find a study partner or group to work with outside of class.
Solitary or Intrapersonal
Solitary learners are those who learn better when they’re alone. They hate going to class and the distractions of group work. Their brains work better when they can focus in quiet. Many solo learners prefer to take online courses, so see if you have these options when you register.
Keep in mind that your instructor’s own personal learning style likely colors the way they teach the material. It’s usually a matter of luck as to who your professor is, although of course, in certain subjects, you’re more likely to find faculty with similar styles. Regardless of the course, you can maximize your learning by making tweaks that honor your own personal learning style. The truth is that the Internet and digital technology has made it more possible to supplement your classroom learning and make the information work for you.
