Understanding the Different Learning Styles

The thought that every person is unique in his/her own way goes way beyond the scopes of aesthetics. Just as every person has their own favorite flavor of ice cream, each and every person in this planet has his/her own preferred learning style as well. And this idea is truly fascinating once you get to know how many learning styles there are.

Not everyone likes the sweet and rich flavour of chocolate ice cream, and not everyone agrees that the subtle aroma of vanilla ice cream would suit their taste buds. These preferred tastes could have been acquired through how that person was raised, but can also stem from the person’s unique attitude and preferences. The same can also be true for learning styles as well, as these preferences could have their roots from how they were raised, or they could have been the result of the natural inclination of a person to a specific learning style.

What are learning styles?

We have been talking a lot about ice creams and learning styles, but as I’m sure that you already know what ice creams are, let us then discuss what learning styles are. No, it is not martial arts taught at a hidden city deep within the mountain ranges of Tibet, instead it is a collective term for seven different approaches to learning which all have unique characteristics from each other.

These styles are often accompanied by a sense (touch, hearing, seeing) which the person finds most interesting in order for them to be fully drawn into learning and not lose focus. However, these styles can also be adjusted to suit the studying preference of an individual not just in the sensory organ they enjoy using most, but also to how amount of people involved when studying. And before we go on to how to maximize learning with these learning styles, we must first find out what learning style you are most inclined to.

Why is it important to know the learning style?

It of top priority to determine your preferred learning style first before anything else as this will allow you to focus your time and energy into a specific learning style in order for you to maximize learning. If you were to blindly practice all seven of these without knowing what learning style suits you, then you are only planting good seeds in bad soil.

How to determine your learning style

Before doctors can cure a disease you have, they must first determine what disease you may have.

First, imagine that you are leaning something new and that new learning has fascinated you so much that you want to share that knowledge to somebody else. If you have imagined yourself learning what you learned in a library or somewhere in which you are in a solitary state, then you might have a solitary learning style. However, if you imagined yourself learning in a classroom filled with other people, then you may just happen to have a social learning style.

Nest up; imagine yourself trying to teach what you have learned to another person. If you imagined yourself trying to discuss it to someone verbally, then you might have a verbal learning style. If what you imagined was yourself reading the source material for someone else, then you may have an auditory learning style. If you felt the need to do actions to further emphasize certain areas of what you learned, then you might just have a physical learning style.

When you thought of the situation, did you think about how pictures would have helped to better demonstrate your point? If so, then you might have a visual learning style. Lastly, if you have wondered why you are trying to teach someone else when you are supposed to determine your own learning style, then you might just have a logical learning style.

The seven learning styles and how you can maximize learning with them

1. Visual learning style

The visual learning style is a style which makes use of pictures or images in order to inspire interest into learning. The use of pictures or images can also be used to make learners understand the topic more by presenting diagrams, charts, or graphs to give a visual representation of the topic.

To maximize learning with this learning style, you can utilize visually attractive pictures or well-drawn diagrams in order to help aid in the smooth flow of knowledge which you will learn. These types of individuals excel at studying using well-made outlines as well as they often have a strong inclination to any visual cues and can remember what they outlined well.

2. Auditory learning style

Auditory learning style is a learning style which utilizes the sense of hearing to maximize learning. These kinds of individuals have a strong sense of awareness and are capable of learning faster when something is read to them rather than when they are asked to study something themselves.

These individuals excel at learning when they pay attention to class. So if you have an auditory learning style, it is highly advisable for you to pay attention to what your teacher or professor is discussing in order for you to maximize learning. You can also use video discussions in the internet or use audio books to supplement your preferred learning style.

3. Verbal learning style

Individuals who prefer the verbal learning style excel at learning when they speak what they have learned out loudly. They also do well when writing down notes; however the results would not be as good as when they actually get to verbally express their learning.

If you have a verbal learning style, then it is advisable for you to utilize what maximizes your learning capabilities by speaking what you have studied out loud. This can help you better understand the topic due to the fact that you are imitating a professor’s discussion. Or if you are studying where you are not able to verbally express your learning, then you can write outlines or summaries of the topics to supplement your learning style.

4. Physical learning style

The physical learning style is one of the more eccentric learning styles but is also very effective when learning certain subjects such as chemistry where you have to deal with experiments a lot. Physical learning style utilizes physical involvement when learning which could either mean that you utilize body movements to make emphasis on certain points, or that you would need first-hand experience for you to truly understand the topic.

It would be highly recommended for those who have a physical learning style to try to involve you physically when trying to study or review to maximize learning. You may have a hard time trying to remember which knot to use in certain situations, or what chemicals can create the most visible reactions. But once you experience them for yourself, then you will start to understand the topic better.

5. Logical learning style

The logical learning style is quite difficult to apply in certain situations but is still effective in certain subjects just like the physical learning style. The logical learning style utilizes logic and reasoning to make the individual understand the topic better. Rather than writing down an outline of the events that happened in history, the individual can make assumptions as to what how these events could have been related in order for them to remember the details better.

It would be a great excise for individuals who have a logical learning style to study and work on word problems to make use of their logically inclined learning style. Logical learning style is very useful for subjects like science and physics which need a lot of reasoning to arrive at a desired answer.

6. Social learning style

The next learning style is known as the social learning style. This, as the name suggests, makes use of a social environment to maximize learning. These individuals often have a better time with learning when in a classroom setting where there are a lot of other people or with a study group where 2-4 persons are studying simultaneously.

The social learning style relies mostly on collective knowledge of all the individuals studying together. This means that whenever someone has a question, another person from the group can answer it for them which make understanding the topic better as a lot of heads are working together for one goal. This makes the social learning style considerably effective especially when you have a lot of intellectual individuals in your group.

7. Solitary self-study

In contrast to the social learning style, we have the solitary learning style. A learning style which focuses on you and the connection you have with what you are studying. This roughly translates to you studying better when you are alone.

Individuals who have this learning style prefer quite places where they can focus on studying the topic by themselves. Away from distractions and noise which can cause them to lose focus on what they are studying. It is highly recommended for these individuals to study in a library, your room, or anywhere you find comfort in studying to greatly increase the amount of studying you can do without any distractions.

Did you know that regardless of your learning style, a good tutor can always find a way to adjust their teaching style to suit your preferences? And a good tutor can always be found here at FamilyTutor. We are Singapore’s number one home tuition agency with thousands of tutors who are both capable and flexible to teach you everything you need to know about Science, Math, Chemistry, Physics, English, Chinese, Hindi, and more. We make sure our rates are at market value to make sure that you get quality tutoring at a reasonable price. All it takes is a few clicks of a button and you will be set to learn in a learning style suited for you.

Carelle

Carelle is a teacher who has been through the ups and downs of the teacher and learner life. She wishes for every learner to gain educational satisfaction that will help embody the people they want to be in the future.

Understanding the Different Learning Styles

What are learning styles?

Why is it important to know the learning style?

How to determine your learning style

The seven learning styles and how you can maximize learning with them

1. Visual learning style

2. Auditory learning style

3. Verbal learning style

4. Physical learning style

5. Logical learning style

6. Social learning style

7. Solitary self-study

Carelle

Tell Carelle Below What You Think About Her Post!

About FamilyTutor!

Related Posts!

How to Become a Patient Home Tutor

How to Stay Motivated in Studying

9 Things That Make International School Education Worth the Investment

Follow Us On Facebook!

Our Service!

Education Levels

National Exams

Math & Science Subjects

Language Subjects

Humanities Subjects

About Us

Contact Us

Location

For Parents

For Tutors