Learning Style - How To Develop Your Own

A person's primary learning style is usually classified as "visual," "auditory," or "kinesthetic." There are tests to see which of these three is used most by yourself, and you can then use this self-knowledge to learn more efficiently. If, for example, your primary way of processing new information is visual, imagining things in your mind is a good way to make them "stick." Writing things down or otherwise physically using information helps those with a kinesthetic style, and listening to taped information is a good way for auditory learners to remember things.

Beyond these, though, a persons learning style is a unique combination of the primary ways of processing information as well as the ways in which various techniques and personal idiosyncrasies are used. For example, if you remember facts better when you study in the morning, then you should study important things in the morning. Also, particular techniques, like the memory technique of linking a set of facts or items in a story, might work well for you, and so should be used as a habitual part of learning.

Learn how you most easily process information, note how other factors affect your ability to learn, and then test various techniques. In this way you can develop a unique learning style that works best for you. The following are some elements you may want to include.

Techniques To Try In Your Learning Style

Take a few breaks. Research shows that we remember best what we studied first and last in a given session. Taking breaks creates more "sessions," and so increases the number of firsts and lasts. Getting up and moving around during your breaks can also keep your mind fresh.

Study with the idea in mind that you will be teaching the same material. As you study something, imagine how you will teach it, even hearing the words you will use. This is a powerful way to get a good grasp on new information.

Think about how you'll use the information. There is so much information to remember, and so little of it is the "important stuff." When you imagine how you'll use the new information, you tend to automatically focus on the things you really need to know.

Habitually compare and contrast things. Tell yourself, "That's like...," or "How is that different from..." The concept of the e-mail newsletter auto-responder was new to me, but I really started to understand how to use it when I thought, "It's like having someone to do all my addressing and mailing for pennies a day." I started to ask all the other important questions.

To sum up, learn how your mind processes new information. Then try various learning techniques and make the ones that work for you into habits. Oh, and take those personal idiosyncrasies into account too. This is how you develop an effective learning style of your own.

by Steve Gillman