ENGLISHUNIT-2TypesofLearningStyles.docx

Types of Learning Styles

· Discover your learning style and select learning strategies that best suit your preferences

Learning Styles and Study Habits

Much research has been done on the ways that individuals learn. Understanding how you learn is useful when determining how to best approach your college courses. To be successful, it is useful to understand what method of learning works best for you. Knowing your preferred learning style can help you improve your study habits. Learning styles are often divided into three primary categories:
· Visual: The student prefers pictures, images, and the graphic display of information to learn. An example would be looking at an illustration that showed how to do something.
· Aural: The student prefers sound as a way to learn. Examples would be listening to a lecture or a podcast.
· Kinesthetic: The student prefers using their body, hands, and sense of touch. An example would be doing something physical, such as examining an object rather than reading about it or looking at an illustration.
If you are an auditory learner, you may find it helpful to record the class lectures. Also, you might consider recording tutoring and study group sessions. Because you learn best from audio sources, you want to listen to the information as much as possible. When in class, be sure to participate in class discussions and debates. When studying, consider reading your textbook aloud or asking a classmate to quiz you verbally on the material.
For the visual learner, your study habits may include drawing diagrams in the margins of the text you are reading. Highlighting and underlining information may also help you retain the materials. Creating mind maps is useful for visual learners. Copying your notes onto notepads may be useful as well as creating flash cards.
The tactile, or kinesthetic, learner learns best by doing. If this description applies to you, consider doing something while you read. Walk around while reading or consider riding a stationary bicycle. To learn a new concept, make something with clay that will help you remember the material. Bouncing a ball while you repeat terms may be a useful study strategy.
Whether you are taking courses online or in a classroom, knowing your learning style can significantly improve your success. If you want to discover more about your learning style, feel free to take one of the online learning style questionnaires. Here is a link to the Vark Questionnaire at
http://vark-learn.com/the-vark-questionnaire/
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