Everything you need to know about the learning styles

Why do people have different ways of learning?

Learning is an individual experience for each and everyone one of us. That’s why we all learn our own way. Our brains don’t work differently from each other when learning, it is more like we may have a different preference for doing things. There are different types of learning that adapt differently to each and every one of us. In this blogpost  I will explain the most known ones and why do people prefer them. Remember that “having a learning style does not mean that you have to stick to it. You can be familiar with a majority of them and like working with them in  different circumstances,

The different learning styles

1.Visual

Visual learning refers to those people that need to see stuff to understand it. These people are generally more familiarized with graphs, charts, and infographics than to a plain piece of text. Visual learners take in all the colors, the separations between information, and images that help explain a subject. You are a visual learner if when trying to remind some information you picture the exact spot on the textbook were you saw it on.

-If you are a visual learner search for specific resources that take advantage of today’s technology to make information more visually pleasing. Color-coding EVERYTHING helps you organize information in your mind better. When studying use flashcards. Most importantly make diagrams, charts, or tables to explain information to yourself as often as you can.

2. Auditory

Auditory learners are the type of people that like when the teacher talks. You love the lessons in which teachers tell the lesson as a story. Maybe you even take advice from music lyrics. Speaking up in class is not a big problem for you. You are good at following instructions when indicated verbally and you are a good participant in group assignments and discussions.

– If you are an auditory learner then saying what you are processing is going to help you a lot memorizing and understanding it. Recording class lessons to go through later will help you remember and hearing the lesson will tie your knowledge together. Study talking aloud and participate in class discussions to understand the subject better.

3. Reading/Writing

This type of learner is someone who needs to read or write the information as a way of processing it. They are the type of learner that when they write something down they remember it. Reading information about the lecture is better for them since they are better at memorizing. These people tend to be more articulate when they are writing than when they are writing.

-If you are a reading/writing learner then you should be taking notes with a lot of details. Reading a lot helps you understand the subject better. Putting everything in your own words when writing, ensures that the information goes through your brain ad stays there. Rereading your notes also helps a lot with understanding. 

4. Kinesthetic

Kinesthetic learners tend to be really good at sports. They have really high levels of energy and they have good hand-eye coordination. You might think that this is the worse kind of learner to be because, how do you incorporate movement with lessons?

-If you are a kinesthetic learner you can try standing up when taking lessons. It helps to keep your body a little bit more active and permitting you to pay more attention. Changing the mean with which you write, can help with your understanding. For example, when reading, highlighting helps a lot to understand what you are reading. It serves to do assignments that light up your brain such as pop-quizzes or in-class debates.

Learning ambiance

There are also two types of environments that you can have when learning social and solitary. These two are total opposites but at the same time, you could be both. It all depends on the subject you are studying or how do you feel that day.

1. Social

Social learners work a lot better in groups. They tend to understand more when discussing in groups. Telling their ideas to other people helps them understand themselves. Communication is key for them and they thrive through social interaction.

 -If you are a social learner try to not do it alone. Even if there is no one taking your subject from your friends, just talk about what your learning, and this will help a lot in getting your ideas straight.

2. Solitary

Solitary learning involves being by yourself. It is really easy to understand. This kind of person tends to self-study and needs to be alone to be able to concentrate. Solitary learners tend to be introspective and reflexive about their thought processes.

-If you are a solitary learner try to find a quiet space in which you can do independent study work. Maybe put some music on or whatever you think might help you concentrate better and separate from the rest of the world.

It is important to remember that you don’t have to be a specific type. You can have qualities from all the learning types that allow you to learn in many different ways. For example, I love when teachers make their lesson as a story (auditory), I need to color-code my notes in order to understand (visual), and it helps me to tell what I learned to other people (social). Knowing what your learning style is composed of helps you understand how you should tackle your education.