Every day we learn new things, but sometimes it’s challenging to remember everything. Over the years, there are many barriers in the form of attention span, memory, and other activities and responsibilities that can interfere with the learning process. However, there are ways to surpass those obstacles with concepts of learning styles.
We all retain information in a different way, and that is why it is important to identify your learning style, which will boost your learning experience.
What is a learning style?
It’s an individual learning style based on the type of learner and learning preferences and relates to how you assimilate information best.
How people learn differs from person to person, and the benefit of personalized learning is that you can have more than one learning style or mix them all together.
The 4 main learning styles
Every student has their own learning strategy on how to remember things more efficiently, but 4 styles stand out:
Visual
Visual aid is one of the most common ways to help effective learning. Students who prefer this learning method use charts, maps, diagrams, tables, and other visuals to process information.
For example, in trigonometry, it’s always easier if you visualize the pyramid for math problem-solving.
Photos and videos are also considered as visual aids, but students mostly use shapes and patterns. For visual learners the most important thing is to visually make connections in study materials.
They say “ A picture is worth 1000s of words”. Visualizing a picture while describing it can be similar to remembering 1000 words of a concept you are trying to learn. That is the potential power of visual learning.
Auditory
This is a receptive learning style, where students respond well to sound and music to better retain knowledge. Hearing or speaking the words makes lectures more understandable and easier to remember.
For example, when studying a foreign language, there are often group discussions and recorded lessons for learning and repeating.
Another example can be learning the lyrics of songs. If you listen to a song enough times, you can memorize the lyrics word to word regardless of how long the lyrics are. Keep that in mind if you are this type of learner!
Reading/Writing
Students who use reading and writing as a preferred learning style excel at written assignments. They best absorb the knowledge through writing a thesis, describing charts and diagrams, or taking written quizzes. Summarizing lessons in notebooks is usually their choice of action.
Kinesthetic
Hands-on activities are a way to go with kinesthetic learners. They like to learn through personal experience, practice, examples, or simulations. Recreating experiments by themselves helps them to strengthen their knowledge.
Other learning style variants
Aside from the VARK model, there are many different types of learning styles that are less well-known among student ranks.Â
Logical
Logical learners rely on logic and analytical skills to grasp a subject. They seek connections, causes, patterns, and results in their learning. After gathering all the information, they create mind maps and organize all of the materials into a system, a model, a scheme, or a structure.
Social
These types of learners prefer educational lessons that involve peer work or participation. With this method, they get the best of both worlds—socializing and a better understanding of the subject. Cooperation is vital, as they gain many ideas from listening and talking to others.
This can also be used as a teaching method, with activities such as role-playing and sharing notes and stories.
Solitary
Individual learners prefer to study alone and do not enjoy interacting with other students. They excel in independent work and develop a problem-solving mindset, usually keeping diaries of accomplished work.
Nature
Nature learners thrive when they are in a calm and relaxing natural environment. It’s easier for them to focus and retain knowledge if they are outdoors, or at least that their study place is surrounded by nature.
How do learning styles affect students in online schools?
Online schools like EduWW give students the freedom to find their learning style. All learning styles are valid if they contribute to successful studying.
With self-paced learning on a 24/7 accessible platform and constant support from tutors, students are able to develop and take advantage of learning styles that suit them.
In Conclusion
Every person is unique, including their way of learning. It’s important to understand your learning style because it makes it easier to acquire knowledge, leading to better academic accomplishments.
And remember, while learning styles are still a valid way to improve your studying, adding hard work, commitment, and developing good study habits is the ultimate combo for a quality educational journey!
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How learning styles affect learning?
The best way to absorb information differs from student to student, and that’s why it’s important to know your learning style. Once you find it, it will make studying go smoothly and more efficiently, and it may give you some extra time for extracurricular activities.
How do you determine your learning style?
The best approach is to try various types a few times to see which one helps you be the most productive. You can also try combining them; it may be even more effective.
Are there really different learning styles?
For years, the learning styles theory has waited to be accepted. It took time for schools to acknowledge the uniqueness of students and that different learning styles are real and helpful for students in a big way.
How does knowing your learning style help you be successful?
By making it easier to obtain knowledge! Easing learning with study techniques will lead to better information retention, followed by motivation to try and study more. And the more you know, the more successful you will be!
