Remember Anything

Why is it that some people require total silence to focus and absorb all that they study, while others need heavy metal music blaring in the background if they want the lessons to stick? Why do some students rush to get the front seat in class, earnestly reciting and participating in class, while others prefer to sit at the back and mysteriously get good grades even if they seem to be invisible in class? The answer is simple: everyone learns things differently.

Everyone has his or her own unique way of absorbing information, and this is one definitive factor that can make or break a student’s performance in class. Matching a student with a learning style that does not suit him or her will result in a minimal amount of information actually getting through to the student. This often leads to the poor student being labeled as a dunce in the class.

So if you are a teacher who wishes to enhance your lesson plan, a student who cannot seem to get anything in mind, or a working professional who wants to work more efficiently, then you may want to take a learning styles inventory to determine which of the following learning styles would suit you best.

Visual

You learn by seeing. Note-taking, reading and observing are your best allies when attempting to learn. As such, sitting in front of the class, extensive note-taking, reading research materials, and keen observation will be your preferred methods of gaining information. This learning style is particularly beneficial in any course or profession that works with research, paperwork, record-keeping, writing, and any similar line of activities that require extensive use of the eyes.

Students who benefit from using a visual learning style benefit greatly from traditional approaches to learning, since schoolwork has become nearly synonymous with papers, pens and books.

Auditory

You learn by hearing. Individuals who are auditory learners depend on their ability to incorporate the tone pitch of spoken words with the meaning it conveys; making them ideal learners for lectures with feedback and active group discussions. Actively seeking out a discussion and speaking the words in your mind will help you focus more on what you’re doing, enhancing your learning ability.

Students who are auditory learners may find lectures somewhat effective, but feedback is essential to validate and imprint information in memory. Stir up a discussion with your teacher during class and talk about your lessons with peers to get the most out of your lessons.

Tactile

You learn by doing. Tactile learners are the active go-getters of the three styles of learning. Moving your body in various ways whenever reviewing for a test or incorporating information is one sign of a tactile learner, and exploring whatever you have to do greatly helps in the learning process.

Students who learn through tactile means are encouraged to be more creative during classes, as they will rarely benefit from traditional means of learning. Get up and manipulate your environment when you can. But when this is not possible, associate particular chunks of information with objects that you notice around you like connecting the poster on the wall with the Fifth Amendment, or rubbing your nose as a reminder of the principles of inflation.

Other Items You May Be Interested In:

Successful College Writing with 2009 MLA Update: Skills, Strategies, Learning StyleReading specialist Kathleen McWhorter understands that students are often lacking in the skills they need to succeed in the first-year writing course ... Read More >

Discover Your Child's Learning Style: Children Learn in Unique Ways - Here's the Key to Every Child's Learning SuccessHelp Your Child Discover the Joy of Learning
Does your child learn best in the morning, afternoon, or evening? Does his reading comprehension incre... Read More >

The Big What Now Book of Learning StylesAll children want to learn, but so often we give students a key to unlock their understanding of a new concept only to discover that it was the wrong ... Read More >

So Each May Learn: Integrating Learning Styles and Multiple IntelligencesOne of the greatest challenges faced by every school and every educator is encouraging and accommodating a full range of student diversity while sim... Read More >

Differentiation Through Learning Styles and MemoryThe updated edition of Sprenger’s bestseller demonstrates how to optimize achievement by using brain-based strategies that address students' social/emotional, cognitive, and physical learning preferences.