Learning Styles: Understanding How You Learn Best

It is from learning that we are able to gather all our understanding of the world, and finally apply it to grow or achieve what we want to do. From struggling student or motivated academic and dedicated professional, the learning journey is one that never ends but always begins with a rewarding feeling! But even so, the quality of our learning process really relies on a deep understanding of how we prefer to learn. Enter learning styles. Understanding your style of learning can lead to better study habits, enhanced knowledge retention, and the realization of your full academic potential.

In this extensive guide, we will be discussing what learning styles are and how you can better understand your own way of learning. Researchers have created various models for learning styles, and we’ll explore some of the most popular models and its members, as well as the benefits to learning in a manner consistent with your own preferences. Prepare to go on a journey of self-discovery as you uncover the keys to learning effectively and in a manner that not only serves you best but one which is enjoyable.

What are Learning Styles?

Before we dive into the specifics, let’s first define what we mean by “learning styles.”

Definition of Learning Styles

Learning styles are the preferences individuals have for perceiving, processing, and retaining information. The sensory styles are visual, auditory and kinesthetic; the cognitive styles are analytical and global and the social learning style is individual or group based.

It’s essential to understand that there is not wrong or right learning style. Every person learns differently, and these preferences have a very powerful effect on the learning process.

The VARK Model

The VARK model is one of the most well-known and commonly used to categorize learning styles. There are four primary learning modalities that this model identifies:

It sounds obvious, but some people simply learn best through visual media. They are applicable for visual learners, but they can serve as visuals aid like pictures, diagrams and schematics, charts and maps likewise. Typically have a good visual memory and can remember things in the form of images.

On the other hand, auditory learners learn best when they hear information. They do well with lectures, meet and greets, audios. Because of their excellent auditory memory, they tend to remember what you have said easily.

Reading/writing: some students have a preference for reading and writing. They also increase their retention by taking notes, pulling out the nuggets of information and otherwise engaging with written materials. These students are almost always extremely text based learners and often end up speaking or “Writing” answers and equations to demonstrate understanding.
Kinesthetic: Those who are kinesthetic learners learn best through hands-on involvement. They like to do, they want experiments, application from real life. In many cases they have a very high degree of body awareness and learn best with kinesthetic material.

Other Learning Style Models

Though the VARK model is commonly used, other models of learning styles provide further insight and variation.

Experiential Learning Theory (Kolb): This theory breaks down the learning cycle in four stages — Concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization and active experimentation.
Honey and Mumford’s Learning Styles: developed according to the traits of how people learn, act or solve problems. H&M describe this as a style in our approach to learning.

In addition to the VARK model, these models form a construction for understanding the different types of learners/processors.

Characteristics of Each Learning Style

Like I said above each of these learning styles have own preferences and strengths and some challenges if we will not support them properly. If you can understand these characteristics then that will help you to adopt the right learning process and allow you to gain the best out of your potential.

Visual Learners

A Visual is someone who processes information most effectively when presented in images or graphs. Visual Learning: Visual learners remember images, figures and spatial understanding.

Preferences:

Use diagrams, charts, mind maps and videos.
Take pleasure in color-coding/visual organization of information.
Usually Exhibit Spatial Intelligence, and can visualize ideas fairly conveniently

Potential Challenges:

Tends to have a low tolerance for long talks or verbal only communication
Could struggle to interpret information which is conveyed textually only.

Tips to Study your way if You are a Visual Learner

Visual aids (e.g. flashcards, diagrams, mind maps etc.)
Color-coding and highlighting — in examination(s) making sure to emphasis the wording used in the question text is imperative.
Watch Video or Documentaries on The Subject
Draw images or hierarchies of content.
Organize your thoughts and ideas with a whiteboard or sticky notes.

Auditory Learners

Auditory Learners are individuals who learn best through hearing and speaking. They are good listeners as well, and enjoy speaking or debating as do many.

Preferences:

Prefer learning through lectures, group discussions, and spoken content.
Benefit from verbal explanations and group interactions.
Usually have good auditory memory and are able to remember things that they hear.

Potential Challenges:

Might find it difficult to read a lot of text or visuals only presentations
Might have difficulty learning in noisy settings.

Tips for Auditory Learners:

Listen to recordings of classes.
Talk to people, or yourself about concepts.
Engage in study circles and colloquiums
Listen to Audiobooks or Podcasts
Think of rhymes or jingles to assist in memory.

Read/Write Learners

We wrote a lot, until and unless they understood the written word. Read more → Writer /Note Taker: They like reading, writing and taking notes.… they have strong preference to textυal learning materials.

Preferences:

Like to learn by reading from textbooks, articles and notes.
Practice detailed note-taking and writing concise summaries.
Got language and grammar mastered 99% of the time.

Potential Challenges:

Difficulty with visual/auditory learning materials.
May have difficulty learning in distracting environments.

How to Study: Read/Write learners

Be sure to record notes and then write these notes in your personal voice.

Create Summaries and Outlines

Buy books and articles that relate to the topic.
Peel that onion longer, with essays or research papers.
Jump online onto forums or boards and get to know the ins and outs of the solutions that provide you with such a unique approach to your topic.

Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners are primarily hands-on and learn best through experience and physical activity. Your child is hyper-aware of their body and frequently excels in motor-based activities.

Preferences:

Prefer to learn by doing, through labs or real-world examples.
Learn by moving and engaging the physical body.
Sometimes show strong spatial reasoning skills with interest in construction or invention.

Potential Challenges:

May lacks patience for sitting still or working with abstract ideas.
Have difficulty learning in a traditional classroom.

Tips on Studying for Kinesthetic Learner:

Learn through hands-on activities and experiments
Break them into pieces, perform some movement and stretching in between.
Use this stuff to real life scenarios or projects.
Role-playing or simulations of the material

Benefits of Understanding Your Learning Style

The key is that once you get to know the type of learning style you posses it surely has a great influence on your learning journey and academic success.

Improved Study Habits

You will be more efficient and retain information better when you study in ways that suit your learning style. So if you’re a visual learner, you may draw diagrams or mind maps to group related ideas together. You may prefer to record lectures and play them back. 6.

Improved Motivation and Participation

Learning is so much fun and engaging when you know how you learn. This might help to boost your motivation and make you eager to work on your study materials.

Reduced Stress and Anxiety

By identifying your learning style you may be able to lower frustration and anxiety due to challenges when learning. Confidence arises from using learning styles that you enjoy, for example.

Enhanced Academic Performance

This is how you can register better grades and overall academic performance with appropriate learning strategies. Who adults without understanding how they learn best in order to take charge of their education to rise up to their fullest potential?

Assessing Your Learning Style

Alrigth, now that you are aware of the various types of learning it is time to identify yours. There are many ways to find out what your learning style is, and it is often best to use a combination of methods for the most accurate and comprehensive knowledge.

VARK Questionnaire

VARK questionnaire is a pad used for identification of a learning style of an individual A questionnaire that asks you some multiple-choice questions about the way you learn and engage with new material.

You can take the VARK questionnaire online by searching “VARK questionnaire” on your favorite search engine. The survey is free and typically will take about 5-10 minutes to complete.

Read/Write Interpreting the Results: When you complete the questionnaire, your scores will be made to each learning style (Visual Aural Read/Write Kinesthetic). The person with the most scores indicates their dominant learning style(s).

Know Your Taste: VARK website will tell you in depth about every learning taste and propose personal guidelines for study based on your effects.

Reflection and Watching out for Oneself

VARK questionnaire: Self Reflection and observation also contribute in identifying the learning methods you prefer. Reflect on your past learning and try to answer the following questions:

What kinds of learning have you enjoyed the most?
What are the techniques that you use to learn something, and then retain it properly?
What Is Your Normal Reaction To The New Information or Work?
What are the best study skills for you?
When are you most likely to learn best?

Examining your experience and reviewing your current studies can help you appreciate your learning tastes better and recognize strategies that leverage what you do well.

Experimentation

Just remember trying different methods to find out which is more effective.

Experiment: If you are typically a person who learns by reading and writing (verbal/linguistic learning style) try adding more pictures or activities into your study routine. Move to audio recordings, group settings if you are dominantly a visual learner.

Experiment: See how your relationship with reading changes by trying different methods and tracks the results. Trailing methods to observe the results.

Add and Modify: Incorporate and fine-tune the lessons you have learned from your observations to create a personalized version that will uniquely suit your learning style.

Learning Styles and Career Choices

It can also prove very useful in working out what profession to choose, by understanding the style of learning that you have. By choosing a career that matches your learning style, you are likely to enjoy your work more, be successful in it and be better at what you do due to the way you learn.

Visual Learners: People who are visual learners often do well in jobs that require visual design, and data analysis careers, they also make an excellent fit for architecture or fields that involve spatial reasoning.
Careers for auditory learners: People, who like to learn through listening or hearing things, might enjoy certain jobs such as those in communication, teaching and training.

Read/Write Learners Read/write learners may do best in careers related to writing, research, editing or law.

Kinesthetic learners: For kinesthetic learners, hands-on work — like in healthcare, engineering or the performing arts — might bring the most fulfillment.

Certainly, your learning style alone cannot determine the perfect path for you and it is just one consideration to make when researching careers, but it can offer some very useful tips as to where you should be looking based on what type of learner you are.

Conclusion: Embrace Your Unique Learning Style

Here your learning style is very important, it can help you to do every aspect of the studying perfectly. Recognizing your preferences and adjusting your approach to learning can help you understand better, develop effective study skills, and attain higher academic achievements.

In conclusion, there is no one idealistic learning style. Too soon, however, we realize that not all of us learn the same and understanding how you best take in information can be a huge facilitator for potential. Try different types, find out what it is that suits you best and then have fun with the way of lifelong learning.

Call to Action

We urge you to complete the vary questionnaire and find out what your preferred learning style(s) is. And share your results — and any takeaways you had — in the comments. Do you have any study techniques that you feel are worth a mention from the article below? What other strategies for learning do you think are useful?

Let’s carry on the conversation and inspire each other to be more efficient, engaged learners.