Customized Study Tips For The 3 Types of Learning Styles

There is still much debate about whether these styles are formed during their early childhood or are intrinsically present since birth. What can be said for certain though is that these students benefit greatly from using these styles to their advantage. Instead of trying to adapt to the 'right' way to learn, you should try to figure out what your style is and how you can capitalize on it! Also remember, not everyone fits into these neat boxes. Most students should use a combination of the study tips below. It may take some experimentation before you find the best technique for you. Read on to figure out your learning style and tips on how to optimize your study plan.

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners prefer to get information by listening. They need to hear it to know it. With strong listening skills and a better grasp of the material when they hear it, auditory learners might have difficulty with reading long chunks of text. These learners also prefer listening to podcasts or recorded lectures rather than reading the textbook or doing an experiment. They prefer to give oral presentations rather than written reports. At times, they may have problems with writing and difficulty following written directions or maps. Auditory learners remember conversations, discussions and even songs really easily. People with strong auditory preferences might also be less comfortable reading body language and facial expressions, preferring to talk about things instead.

Here are some study tips for you if you think this describes you:

• Ask your professor if you can record class discussions and lectures. If you can, then you can always listen to it again on your own rather than reading your notes. It also frees you up during class to pay attention to whatever the professor is saying without the burden of having to take notes. Audiobooks would also be better for you, compared to reading novels.
• When you do have to do readings for class, try to read out loud whenever possible. You can do this in your room, if you are worried about disturbing other students. Reading aloud will help you focus on the message rather than get distracted by the written word.
• Ask questions. Ask your professors, friends, and other students if you are confused about something. Hearing an explanation will help you get a better understanding. Similarly, explaining difficult concepts out loud to an imaginary audience will also help you get a better grasp of the concept.
• Vocal mnemonic devices can help you remember formulas, definitions, and other information. Try to use mnemonic device with sounds or connect it to a song you will remember to memorize difficult lists and formulas.
• Try studying with a friend. When you take part in a discussion and hear the information, it will help you understand and remember the concepts better. Thinking about the conversation during your exam or presentation will also help jog your memory better than trying to remember a page full of words.
• Study in quiet environments. Auditory learners are more susceptible than most people to being distracted by background music or conversations. Because you may find it easier to focus on sounds, too many sounds might overwhelm you and take away your focus.  

Visual Learners

Unlike auditory learners, visual learners need to see it to know it. They have a strong sense of color and design. They may also possess a really strong artistic ability. They can visualize different concepts and prefer to process information through sketching it out or modelling it. Visual learners might also have difficulty with spoken directions and trouble following podcasts or lectures. Visual learners often fear misinterpreting words because they understand pictures and diagrams better. While they might have an overreaction to sounds and have to take a longer time to process a conversation or speech, they can create strong pictures in their minds as they read.

If you think you process better information visually, read on for study tips that may help you:

• When reading ahead or preparing for class, preview chapters by skimming. Take note of the headings, sub-headings, highlighted definitions, and so on. This will give you a structure, mentally, to put all the information in as you read.
• Use highlighters and colors to identify important sections. You can try color-coding your notes, like, using a blue highlighter for definitions, an orange one for important concepts and a green one for formulas, for example.
• When you are in a lecture, look at the speaker and focus on the board, especially if your professor is using visual aids or a presentation. Try to visualize the different concepts like a story being performed in your head.
• Sit close to the front of the room so that you are closer to the speaker. This will help remove distractions, such as other laptop screens, talking students, or people walking in or out of the lecture hall and help you focus only on your professor. Similarly, try to not open your laptop or switch on your phone. Instead, take notes on paper so that you are not distracted by your screen.
• When taking notes from your readings, class, or just reorganizing and revising your concepts mind maps, concept trees, timelines and other visual aids can help you visualize abstract and vague concepts. They can help you draw connections between different parts of what you've learnt and put it all into place, visually.
• When you are trying to memorize short pieces of information, such as definitions, formulas, or theories, use flashcards. Flashcards will help you picture the  formula or definition later better than just highlighting it or reading it. This is partly because when you try to picture it, you can easily remember a flashcard rather than a few words from a sea of words.

Kinesthetic/Tactile Learners

Kinesthetic learners absorb information by doing. They prefer hands-on learning where they can participate in what they are learning. As natural doers, kinesthetic learners might not be suited to the traditional classroom. They might need to get up and walk around, or get physically involved in their learning. They are good with their hands. They tend to be good with building models and can assemble parts intuitively, without reading directions. Kinesthetic learners also have good spatial reasoning skills. They learn better when physical activity is involved; often, they are better at remembering things they've done rather than heard or read. They may also be very well coordinated and posess strong athletic abilities. They need to actively engage with their learning material and tend to get fidgety if they have been sitting down for a long period of time.

If you feel like you need to learn in a tactile, hands-on way, these tips might help you:

• Use flashcards. These are good for visual learners because they can isolate the information. But for kinesthetic learners, it provides a physical piece of information they can turn over and interact with as they learn. So, write your notes down on index cards and walk around reciting them to memorize them better.
• Kinesthetic learners tend to be less distracted by music than other learners. Many claim that it helps part of their brain 'tune out' and allows them to concentrate on what they are reading. This, of course, depends on your personal preference, as well as the type of music you are listening to.
• Acting out information, words or events with simple gestures can help you recall them later. Using physical models or objects to visualize difficult concepts can help you remember the story when you are being tested on it. Real-life examples and relatable stories are great mnemonic devices for tactile learners.
• Use a highlighter or pencil to underline as you read. This keeps your hand moving and gives you something non-distracting to do as you read. Alternatively, you could tap a pencil, squeeze a stress ball, or even roll around a piece of string as you read to keep your hands from becoming a distraction.
• Change your study environment frequently. Switching positions and setting will keep you from feeling overwhelmed by the monotony if you are reading or listening to a lecture.
• When possible, you should try to "do" your assignments, projects or experiments in an active way. If you are in class, write notes as you listen. This gives you something to focus on. Taking hand written notes or typing notes during lectures or while you read is helpful because the process of writing it down will aid you in processing the information.