Everyone is an individual in every sense of the word. We think, take in information, and express ourselves differently from each other. I personally never connected this idea to how I learned in school. While I was content with my B-average grade, there was a level of academic success that I didn’t reach, frankly until I went to grad school. And of course, it was easily discouraging to see some of my peers excelling or understanding lessons better than I did. This is where learning styles can be the bridge to success.
I firmly believe that once you figure out HOW you learn about the world around you, the sky’s the limit for your success. You are also not limited to having just one learning style. I like to think that I have a hybrid of 2-3 learning styles. Most of us are aware of three or four styles, so I’m going to touch on those plus a few more that you should consider:
Visual – Visual learners prefer using images to make sense of the world. They tend to learn best through charts, graphs, and color-coded systems. They have a holistic perspective and want to see the big picture before the finer details.
Aural – Auditory learners prefer information that can be heard. They learn best through discussion or spoken explanations. Receiving feedback and exchanging ideas are main methods to gain information.
Kinesthetic – Kinesthetic learners rely on experience and physicality to learn. They learn best through trial and error or demonstrations. The common phrase “learn by doing” is the foundation of their method.
Reading/Writing – This learning style focuses on the printed word as the main medium for information. Learners with this style prefer to take notes and create lists for organization. The actual writing of the tasks and its details is significant to people with this learning style.
Logical – Logical learners use math and logic as the main tools of their reasoning. This means finding patterns and grouping information into different categories to make sense of something. These individuals will back up their claims with numbers and examples.
Social – Social learners enjoy the aspects of interacting with other people to learn. They are empowered by exchanging ideas with others and feed off of the cohesive energy of the group. Naturally, these individuals seek careers with significant social components such as counseling or teaching.
Solitary – Solitary learners are introspective and spend time working through their own thoughts. They use self-analysis to learn and prefer spending time with themselves. These individuals are more goal-oriented and find dissatisfaction if they are not on a path with a specific destination.
You can find learning style resources below, and highly recommend that you take the VARK questionnaire to get started. Not only will you find out what type of learner you are, but also tips you can use for school and work to be successful. What are your learning styles?
https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/types-of-learning-styles/