LEARNING STYLES
As a learner, we tend to dream for the best way to assimilate and understand what is being taught to us, but the thing about that is we all have different ways of understanding things. And want to understand and have as much information as possible. This will help you to discover yourself and develop your learning capacity.
WHAT IS A LEARNING STYLE?
Learning style can be defined as the different ways of striving and understanding theories that its goal is to come for the different types of an individual learning capacity. Whether you are a student thinking are there other ways of enhancing your knowledge and get better grades or a teacher that want to find different methods of teaching to people. Whether you are in an educational environment, doing distance education or you are finding new methods to learn. Finding new ways to understand and retain the information you gain is one of the most important aspects. It is obvious that everyone has a different way of learning things as we all have different personalities, and among us possess more than one learning style in with one is more dominant than the others, but this depends on what you are learning.
There are about 7 different types of learning styles but some experts think that there are at least seven.
VERBAL LEARNING
These types of learners are called linguistic learners, and they learn at best with words that are spoken or written. Learners with this style love reading, languages, and putting words on paper. Basically, you adore words. In the school system, they deal a lot with books, and you can use this to your advantage in re-reading books and then try to re-write them in your notes using your own words to describe what you have read. This will help you to boost your memories and help you to gain a more broad understanding.
VISUAL LEARNING
Visual learners like using pictures and other types of graphic images to learn, like drawings, charts, maps, infographics etc, to gain fresh information. You can look at the drawing of what you are learning and try to redraw it from your memory. You can also change some words to symbols and signs for better understanding. Highlight colors that can get your attention. These types of learners can gain more from online learning and videos of the course you are studying. You can try having flesh cards for learning.
AUDITORY LEARNING
These learners gain understanding by what they hear, and it works best with discussions, either in groups or one on one conversation. They are good learners for the setting of the classroom and lectures. They are less fond of reading, words and note taking. They prefer to listen rather than reading, they would prefer discussions in their exams. You can use podcasts on the courses taught and also listen to radio stations that are discussing any related topics.
KINESTHETIC LEARNING
This is the act of performing the action and learning on the way. They must ensure they demonstrate what they are learning; this doesn’t mean that they are rough or that they take action without thinking, but it helps them to think of how to make it easier and grows their thinking capacity by challenging themselves on solving the matter. Most of us apply this learning style within our learning at some point. This learner uses realistic instances and problems to solve and understand theories.
LOGICAL LEARNING
These learners depend on logical reasoning to understand the information that is given to them. A logical learner loves to work through issues, get insight on the causes and impact it has. Find relationships, associations on concepts about the matter to maximize their learning capacity.
SOCIAL LEARNING
These learners learn through interactions with others; they love discussions, share ideas, and getting information from other people. They also enjoy study groups. They further from having a study partner to try to connect with and undertake the learning together. Most educational settings have group work where the learners meet in virtual study groups when they are unable to meet in person.
SOLITARY LEARNING
This is opposite to the social learning style; there are also known as intrapersonal learners, they learn whilst being on their own without disturbances or distractions in a very quiet place to best understand information or topics rather in a group; they find it hard to concentrate with people around. They do better when reading alone, taking a break to understand what the learning. A quiet study place is best for these learners.
When you are next studying, stop and think what the best way for you to learn is. Your preferred learning style may change depending on the topic and context of the learning.