What Type of Learner Are You?
Understanding what type of learner you are can help you to excel in your studies. There are specifically 4 different learning styles; Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic and Reading & Writing. Each learning type responds best to a different method of teaching. We’re going to explore each one so that you can find out which learning style suits you best.
Visual
Visual learners best take in information by visualising relationships and ideas. Maps, charts, diagrams and even essays work well for visual learners, as they can see the information in front of them. Many visual learners need quiet time to themselves to study and may find themselves distracted by noises around them. They often speak fast and they may prefer to work alone rather than in groups.
If you are a Visual learner, you may find that you;
- Cover your notes with diagrams and drawings
- Remember faces better than you remember names
- Prefer reading stories as opposed to listening to them
- Find spelling easy
Tips for Visual learners
- Use colour coding to your advantage
- Draw or outline information
- Turn your sentences into easy to understand diagrams
- Copy any diagrams used to teach you
Auditory
Auditory learners are all ears. They often prefer to listen to information, as opposed to reading it or seeing it visually in front of them. Auditory learners may speak and read slowly in order to comprehend information better. They tend to be straight-forward thinkers and may repeat things they hear out loud in order to gain a better understanding.
If you are an Auditory learner, you may find that you;
- Get distracted by other noise easily
- Find it difficult to work quietly for a long time
- Find it easy to remember what other people have said
- Listen to others well
Tips for Auditory learners
- Record any lectures and watch videos (like our Brooks and Kirk Tutorial Videos!)
- Read aloud whenever possible
- Participate in group discussions
- Record any notes after writing
Kinesthetic
Kinesthetic learners are the most hands-on learning type. They learn best by physically doing things and may get fidgety if forced to sit for long periods of time. Kinesthetic learners excel when they are participating in activities or solving problems in a hands-on manner. They also tend to have good co-ordination.
If you are a Kinesthetic learner, you may find that you;
- Excel in sports
- Have trouble sitting still for a long time
- Fiddle with objects whilst thinking
- Enjoy building, making things and being creative
Tips for Kinesthetic learners
- Study in blocks with frequent breaks
- Toss tennis/small balls whilst thinking
- Use memory games after making notes
Reading & Writing
Reading and writing learners like using the written word. They take information in best by reading texts and can further absorb information by rephrasing it. The traditional college lecture and note-taking environment works well for the reading/writing learning style.
If you are a Reading and Writing learner, you may find that you;
- Love making lists
- Enjoy reading and writing
- Prefer having written directions
- Like taking quizzes to test your knowledge
Tips for Reading and Writing learners
- Review your notes after writing them
- Translate visual information into written statements
- Rewrite ideas in your own words
If you’re still not sure which learning style is most relevant to you, take this Learning Style Assessment to find out for sure! Let us know what result you got!