Many people have different styles and techniques they use to learn and study. You might have found that you’d rather have visual cues in the form of slideshows that depict important information, compared to just reading a bunch of words on paper.
Knowing your preferred learning style can help you develop effective study habits, be more productive with your time management and improve the quality of your learning. You may find that you prefer more than one learning style, and that’s completely fine! This means that you can integrate different techniques to make your study more engaging and insightful.
This post will help you discover which learning style suits you the best, and suggest learning techniques you can implement into your study.
1. Visual (Spatial): You prefer the use of pictures and images.
Suggested learning techniques include:
- Use colour and layout to organise your spatial awareness
- Draw mind maps, diagrams, charts, pictures and annotate your notes
- Use highlighters to outline links and important information in your notes, textbooks and handouts
2. Aural (Auditory-Musical): You prefer the use of sound and music.
Suggested learning techniques:
- Use rhyme, sound and music in your learning
- Create mnemonics or acrostics to the tune of a song
- Listen to your favourite song while studying to help anchor your emotions and keep you focused
- Listen to a podcast, or watch a video on Youtube related to the content that may help you understand it better
3. Verbal (Linguistic): You prefer the use of words in speech and writing.
Suggested learning techniques:
- Re-write your own notes and key information on cue cards
- Record information as an audio file which you can listen back to
- Read content out loud to yourself
- Practice reciting information to a family member or friend
4. Physical (Kinaesthetic): You prefer the use of your body, hands and sense of touch.
Suggested learning techniques:
- Draw diagrams and charts
- Use physical objects
- Participate in physical activity while reading or memorising content. Can be by pacing or walking around, jogging on a treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle.
- Role-play by yourself or with someone else to practice skills and behaviours
5. Logical (Mathematical): You prefer the use of reason, logic and systems.
Suggested learning techniques:
- Try to understand reasons behind the information
- Create a list of dot points by taking key points from the content
- Write reminders or important information on sticky/post-it notes
- Classify and group information
6. Social (Interpersonal): You prefer learning with other people and in a group.
Suggested learning techniques:
- Aim to work with other people as much as you can
- Role-play information in a group
- Have someone test you on what you know
- Discuss content, ideas and questions you have with others
7. Solitary (Intrapersonal): You prefer the use of self/independent study and working alone.
Suggested learning techniques:
- Plan out your own personal study schedule
- Carryout your own independent research to better understand the content
- Set yourself study goals that align with your personal beliefs and values
- Write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal/diary to reflect
- Find a quiet place to work with minimal distraction
So which learning style is most effective for you? Take time to consider which learning style suits you best, and once you implement some techniques into how you study, you’ll find that it will be easier for you to understand and learn new content.
