Click on the link for the complete document:    Successful Strategies for Learning

 

 

 

VISUAL LEARNER (seeing and reading)

 

If you are a visual learner, you like to see what you are learning. You learn by reading or looking at things.  You understand and remember by sight. In your head, you can picture what you are learning.

 

 

As a visual learner, you might be neat about your surroundings and possessions. You often close your eyes to visualize or remember something, and you will find something to watch when you become bored. You may have difficulty with spoken directions and may be easily distracted by sounds. You are attracted to color and to spoken language (like stories) that is rich in imagery.

 

Here are some things visual learners like you can do to learn better:

• Avoid distractions during study times (TV, cell phone, bright lights, nearby conversations)
• Try to visualize things that you hear or things that are read to you
• Replace word with symbols and abbreviations to save time when writing
• Use highlighters of different colors to distinguish between important ideas and details
• Draw pictures to help explain new concepts and then explain the pictures
• Use flashcards to learn new words and ideas (use both sides)
• Color code flashcards, diagrams, organizational tools (course binders, etc.)
• Use additional space on paper to add descriptive notes and sketches
• Write down key words, ideas, or instructions as soon as you hear them
• Use graphs, charts, and diagrams to explain 
• Watch instructional and interesting videos (YouTube, Khan, etc.)
• Sit near the front of the classroom. (It won't mean you're the teacher's pet!)
• Have your eyesight checked on a regular basis

 

 

Remember that you need to SEE things, not just hear things, to learn well.

 

 

 

 

TACTILE LEARNER  (moving and touching)

 

 

If you are a tactile learner (aka kinesthetic), you learn by experiencing a topic.  You are a "hands-on" learner who prefers to move, build, touch or draw what you learn, and you tend to learn better when some type of physical activity is involved. You need to be active and take frequent breaks, you often speak with your hands and with gestures, and you may have difficulty sitting still. 

 

As a tactile learner, you like to take things apart and put things together, and you tend to find reasons to tinker or move around when you become bored. You may be very well coordinated and have good athletic ability. You more easily remember things that you have personally done better than details of what you watched or heard.  

 

 

 

Here are some things tactile learners like you can do to learn better: 

• Use a computer to reinforce learning through the sense of touch
• Build flashcards and play concentration games to increase recall and arrange them in groups to show relationships among ideas
• Build diagrams and pictures
• Teach someone what you know
• Color code your different class binders, folders, etc. to save time
• Trace words with your finger to learn spelling (finger spelling)
• Participate in activities that involve touching, building, moving, drawing or acting out stories.
• Walk around, rock in a chair, tap a pencil or chew gum while reading or studying at home.
• Take frequent “brain” breaks during reading or studying periods (frequent, but not long).
• Quietly move your foot, or hold on to something while learning
• Visualize and plan how to break large projects into smaller tasks for completion
• Watch instructional and interesting videos (YouTube, Khan, etc.)

 

 

 

 

 

Remember that you learn best by DOING, not just by reading, seeing, or hearing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

AUDITORY LEARNER  (hearing and listening)

 

If you are an auditory learner, you understand and remember what you hear when you purposely listen.  You store information by the way it sounds, and you have an easier time understanding spoken instructions than written ones. You often learn by reading out loud or talking to yourself or others because you need to hear information in order to understand it.  

 

People may think you are not paying attention, even though you may be listening and understanding everything being said.  You may find complex charts and diagrams difficult to figure out, and you may need to read through text more than once to understand.  As an auditory learner, you probably hum or talk to yourself or others if you become bored or when you're writing.

 

Here are some Helpful Hints for Audio Learners like you to learn better:

• Study new material by reading it out loud
• Make mnemonic devices to remember (example: TGIF)
• Listen to electronic audio books
• Avoid auditory distractions around you (try quiet music without lyrics)
• Use flashcards to learn new words; read them out loud
• Move your lips as you read directions and questions
• Read stories, assignments, questions and directions out loud
• Record yourself spelling and defining words (on your cell phone) and then listen to the recording
• Review for tests with others; tell them what you know
• Brainstorm ideas with others
• Sit where you can hear
• Watch instructional and interesting videos (YouTube, Khan, etc.)
• Have your hearing checked regularly

 

 

Remember that you need to HEAR things, not just see things, to learn well.

 

 

 

Click on the link for the complete document:     Hints for Learning Styles(2).docx