Knowing the different learning styles and understanding which one works best for you will serve as a beneficial aid in your education. Not only will it help you grasp how you should be studying, but it will give you some insight into why you may have had some education related problems in the past. Three of the most common learning styles are: visual, auditory and tactile or kinesthetic. All three vary by the ways you are able to best listen, absorb information and learn. There are various tests you can take to help you determine which learning style best describes you, if you aren't already sure which one it is. These tests can be found online, in books and through the school system. The web is a great place to find these tests and more often than not, they're fast, easy to take and free! If you are a visual learner, you learn best through seeing. You may have a hard time following lectures or speeches given by your teachers and grow frustrated when there aren't any visual props to help you take in the information. But, being able to see the body language of your teacher and his or her facial expressions while they are lecturing will be helpful to you, as will sitting in the front of the classroom. Learning styles for the visual student include, visual displays, such as diagrams, illustrated text books, overhead transparencies, videos and handouts. Another one of the learning styles is Auditory. If this style applies to you, you might struggle with reading comprehension until you hear it out loud. You learn best by listening, verbal lectures, discussion and talking things through. If you have a hard time understanding your homework or reading assignments, try reading them out loud to yourself and see if there are any improvements with your comprehension once you have finished. The last of the learning styles is tactile or kinesthetic. People that learn this way often have a hard time sitting still. Spending hours in a classroom might be difficult for the tactile learner because they work best when they're able to move around. In example, reading while working out is fantastic for a tactile learner because they learn through moving, doing and touching. Any type of "hands on" learning activities will work well for the tactile learner. Knowing which of the learning styles applies to you will save you a lot of unnecessary frustration and stress throughout your educational career. Children, teens and adults will do better throughout their years in school if they understand the difference between being a visual, auditory or kinesthetic learner. Schools usually offer free tests, questionnaires and/or programs to help determine which type of the learning styles best fits you. Talk to your school or college counselor and see if they offer any kind of service like this that would increase your awareness of how you learn and the best ways for you to study. Your grades, well being and stress levels will all change for the better once you begin to help yourself learn in the healthiest way possible based on the learning styles. |
