Some of us love strawberries, some of us only like them with cream, and some of us don’t like them at all.
We all have different preferences when it comes to the foods we eat, the clothes we wear, the music we listen to and YES, you guessed it, the way we like to learn.
Our brains remember things in different ways. Some people have no problem remembering something they heard years ago, while another person will be able to vividly recall a photograph they saw when they were a child. There are those who grasp game concepts quickly and enjoy learning through activities. Because we are all so different, it's important to understand how your learning style can help you with your studies.
Three Learning Styles
There are three main cognitive learning styles:
Visual
Auditory
Tactile
If you learn best by listening, your style is auditory. If you learn best by reading or seeing the work, your style is visual, and if you learn best by doing something like a quiz or a game, then your learning style is tactile.
Getting to know and understand what learning style you prefer can help you make the most out of your study time. In this blog, we will discuss the different methods for each learning style, and provide you with tips and tricks to help you maximise your time.
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners learn best by hearing and listening. They will comprehend things they have heard, and retain that information in their memory well. Auditory learners have brains that like to store information based on the way it sounds. Teachers at ME Education are able to identify these students by noticing if they like to hum or talk to themselves, read their work out loud, and if they prefer spoken instructions rather than written ones.
If you are not sure if you are an auditory learner, ask yourself what you do, if you need to remember something. If you feel the need to say it out loud to yourself, chances are good you prefer an auditory learning style.
Tips for Auditory Learners
Be sure you can always hear what your teacher is saying.
Read out loud: When learning something new, read it aloud to yourself.
Try recording yourself reading your study material, then play it back and listen to your own voice teach the work.
Ask a friend to read to you.
Have someone ask you test questions and answer them out loud.
Remember that your ears are your best friend when it comes to learning so make sure you are hearing your study work and not just looking at it.
Visual Learners
Visual learners like to read and see pictures. If images seem to linger in your memory than your brain might just prefer sight as a method of learning. Visual learners like to imagine concepts in their mind by conjuring up images or imaginary movies. They are able to picture what they are studying in their minds eye.
ME teachers identify our visual learners by noticing if they prefer their desks to be neat and tidy, if they are attracted to bright colours, if they often close their eyes to imagine what’s being said and if they tend to watch things, instead of listening, especially when they become bored. Visual style students will have a little more trouble with spoken directions and can get easily distracted by sounds.
If you are not sure if you are a visual learner, ask yourself what you remember most about people when you first meet them. Is it their faces, their names or their conversation? Most visual learners will easily recall people’s faces, but may have a harder time remembering their names.
Tips for Visual Learners
Try sitting close to the chalkboard so you can see what the teacher is doing.
When the teacher explains a difficult concept – try visualising it in your mind.
Flashcards and writing notes are a great way for visual learners to study.
Spider diagrams, mind-maps or drawing pictures helps visual learners to SEE how the concepts connect. Use bright colours and try making a colour coding system.
Remember that your eyes are your best friend when it comes to learning so make sure you are seeing your study work and not just hearing it.
Tactile Learners
Tactile learners learn best by ‘doing.’ They like to touch, play, engage and incorporate physical movement into the way they learn. These students are extremely busy, animated and may have a hard time sitting still and listening. They talk with their hands and really love being physically active.
An ME teacher would cater to a student like this by encouraging them to solve puzzles, play learning games or build models relating to the coursework. Because these students like to be physically active, they also require frequent breaks to keep their focus. Teachers need to be especially patient with tactile learners as they tend to fidget and need to move around a lot.
If you are not sure if you are a tactile learner, ask yourself if you enjoy touching things and taking them apart only to put them back together again. If you need to move around often that is also a sign of a tactile learner. In many cases, tactile learners are really great at sports. If you have no problem remembering things that were done but struggle to remember what you heard or saw while doing them, you are very likely a tactile learner.
Tips for tactile Learners
If you are studying a subject that allows for it, try acting the concepts out.
Use building, computer games, moving and drawing however you can within your studies.
Try walking around while you study or any type of movement that will help you retain information. Rocking, tapping your foot, fidgeting and even chewing gum have actually been shown to help tactile learners.
Teach your fellow students the work by writing concepts on a chalkboard or creating games.
Ensure you give yourself the short, frequent breaks you need to maximise your concentration.
Remember that your body is your best friend when it comes to learning so make sure you are doing something to help with your studies and not just seeing or hearing it.
To learn more about how our teachers are able to adapt to each students learning style or how to enrol students, call us at 2383 0300 or WhatsApp 9298 3538 for free assessment and consultation!
