Achieve Better Results By Knowing Your Learning Style

Often people give up study, or feel that they are not smart enough to study. Most of the time it is because they have been trying to learn in a way that does not fit with their learning style.

Learning styles

The good news is that once you find your learning style, you will be surprised about how capable you are. Study will become easier, you will learn more and you will get the most out of your study.

• Visual: If you are a visual learner you learn best through visual images like graphs, pictures and diagrams.
• Auditory: People who are auditory learners learn best through listening to information and conversations, as well as when listening to music.
• Verbal: you learn best through reading and writing.
• Kinesthetic: Those who are kinesthetic learners, learn best when they are physically doing a task, or when they are moving.
• Logical: Mainly used by people with mathematical minds, the logical learning style involves learning through logic, reasoning and systems.
• Social: People who are social learners, learn best through talking and working in groups.

Do you naturally lean towards one of these? If so, keep reading for specific study tips suited to each style.

Visual

If you are a visual learner, you learn best when you “see” your learning. Some study tips you may want to try include:

• Use colour to highlight chunks of text you want to remember.
• Write down quotes on colourful paper and put them up on your wall.
• Include illustrations as you take notes. Doodling may help lock learning into your memory through visual association.
• Use a different colour font to type-up different concepts, and information that you want to remember.
• Use outlines, pictures, charts, diagrams and visual symbols to represent ideas and information.
• Watch videos about topics you are studying in class

Auditory

If you’re an auditory learner, you tend to do best when you hear information. You are likely to remember things better if you hear them, and often music may play a big part in your memory.

Some tips to help aural learners study include:

• Read your study notes and answers out loud.
• Record your lessons or lectures.
• Bring your readings to a few key points. Record yourself on your phone or with a small tape recorder going over key ideas. Listen back to this recording when you have spare moments to yourself.
• Use word association. Mnemonic devices, such as songs or rhymes, are great. Make up a song or a jingle that relates to key areas of study.
• Make an acronym of your learnings and memorise it by saying it out loud.

Verbal

Verbal learners are excellent with words, both written and spoken. They learn best when reading, speaking or listening to information. Verbal learners will generally be good writers, public speakers and debaters.

Tips for verbal learners:

• Teach and explain to others key topics from your studies.
• Rewrite your reading materials in your own words.
• Summarise key points and write flash cards to stick on your walls or around where you study.
• Read your study material out loud. Instead of using a monotone voice to go over a procedure, turn it into a lively and energetic speech. Not only does this help your recall, you get to practice your dramatic presence!
• Make up a song or set key points of your sudy to a familiar song, jingle or theme.

Physical

If you find it hard to just sit and read or listen to lectures, and much prefer to learn while doing things, then you may be a physical learner. You learn best while moving, doing or having a hands-on experience.

Study tips for physical learners:

• While you are reading your notes, pace or walk around, reading them out loud.
• Tape yourself reading your notes or record your lectures, then listen back to them while doing an activity like exercise, riding a bike, driving or making dinner.
• Take frequent study breaks and go outside for fresh air.
• Make physical representations of the things that you are studying. For example, if you are studying the anatomy of a dog, make a Play-Doh model of a dog.
• Keep your fingers busy while you study. Grab a stress ball or Fidget spinner or trace words with your finger as you read them to engage your fingers in the studying.
• Make flashcards of key study points.
• Make up study songs, Mnemonics or jingles which contain key study points.

Logical

Logical learners are great at recognising patterns. They are often very good at maths and logical reasoning. They may also love making lists, itineraries, and creating order.

If you think you may be a logical learner the below tips may help you in your studies:

• As you learn, make a list of the key points. Keep this list in numbered, sequential order, and keep adding to it as you work your way through your study. Every time you add a point, read over the list again.
• Avoid Verbatim Note-Taking, When listening to a trainer, hone in on the key points.
• Make a chart which flows through the step-by-step sequence of your learning.
• As you go through your learning, whether it be reading, listening to a tutorial or watching a video, try to find patterns, associations and relationships between the concepts and ideas.
• Create graphs and charts to compliment your learning materials.
• Aim to understand the content of your learning rather than learning through repetition. This will help you to better absorb the information.

Social

Social learners thrive when other people are around. They love a good chat and they learn best around people and in discussion with people.

Tips for social learners include:

• Make sure you make some friends and create a study group. Having a Study group will allow you to talk about your learning with someone who is at relatively the same point in their studies.
• Chat to your family and friends about ideas and topics that you are studying.
• Read your answers aloud. If there is a willing listener your house, you could read to them and ask for feedback.
• Engage in class discussions. Offer analyses, ask questions, and propose theories to keep your mind sharp and free of daydreams. By engaging in discussions, you can better understand the material and perhaps even gain a new perspective on something.
• Make a presentation of key learnings and deliver it to someone you know.
• Get a whiteboard or mirror and a white board marker. Teach a class on what you are learning to someone that you know, or to an empty room.

 Once you know what your learning style is, you’re set to look at what sort of career or type of study will be the best for you! Whether its online, in class or a blend of the two, Enable College has you covered. Contact our course advisers on 1300 157 750 to have a chat about what course might fit you the best!