Some students sit through hours of lectures and retain all the information presented while others benefit more from hands-on lab classes. Reason? Students have different learning styles, which present both teachers and students with a problem when classes are taught in one set way that might only benefit one kind of learner. Students can however, help themselves by finding out what kind of learner style they belong to and customize their study habits to that particular style.
There are three major groups of learners, which are Kinesthetic, Visual and Auditory. These groups represent three very different kinds of students, who are all presented with difficulties during their education.
Visual Learner
The visual learner will often lose focus during long oral lectures, especially if these are not accompanied by drawings and illustrations. The visual learner takes mental pictures of information given, so in order for this kind of learner to retain information, oral or written, presentations of new information must contain diagrams and drawings, preferably in color. The visual learner can't concentrate with a lot of activity around him and will focus better and learn faster in a quiet study environment.
Visual learners are often:
- Good spellers
- Fast readers
- Great at seeing the big picture but often forgets smaller details
- Good at remembering faces but has a hard time remembering names
The visual learner will benefit from:
- Color-coded notes
- Using drawings to illustrate
- Outlining information
- Using mind maps and flash cards
Kinesthetic Learner
Kinesthetic learners are described as the students in the classroom, who have problems sitting still and who often bounce their legs while tapping their fingers on the desks. They are often referred to as hyperactive students with concentration issues.
Kinesthetic learners are often:
- Gifted performers
- Naturally athletic
To get the most of an education the kinesthetic learner can:
- Choose classes with hands-on labs
- Study with (loud) music in the background
- Use memory and flash cards
- Study in small groups
- Take breaks often during study
Auditory Learner
For the auditory learner, oral presentations are crucial for understanding a subject, as this kind of learner has the ability to remember speeches and lectures in detail but has a hard time with written text. Having to read long texts is pointless and will not be retained by the auditory learner unless it is read aloud.
The auditory learner often has:
- Strong language skills
- A well-developed vocabulary
- The ability to follow spoken directions well
- A hard time remembering faces but easily remembers names
For the auditory learner to get the most out of classes it can be helpful to:
- Record lectures
- Use word associations
- Listen to audiotapes
- Read notes aloud
- Sit in the front of the class where the teacher can easily be seen and heard.
- Study and discuss subjects with other students
For more on how to study read
Sources:
Penn State Learning Center: http://www2.yk.psu.edu/learncenter/students/learnstyles.shtml
Study Guides and Strategies: http://www.studygs.net
Cuyamaca College Student Resources: http://www.cuyamaca.edu/eops/DSPS/dspsresources.asp
Julie Refnov Mortensen - I was born and raised in Denmark, but have always suffered from a severe case of the travel bug, which have taken me all over the ...
