Learning Styles

Not everyone likes learning, often because they didn’t enjoy school. So how do you get to like learning?

One of the problems with traditional schooling is it cant adjust to all the different types of students very well, especially with big classrooms. As a consequence most students achieve an average education, a few excel and some do badly – far from perfect isn’t it?

Younger students can suffer badly, not only are they all at a different level of development but they also have their own personalities and learning styles. That’s really hard for the teacher to handle when there’s 30 in the class so teachers have use a combination of methods so as to reach as many as possible in the limited time.

In simple terms, students will prefer to learn by a combination of:

• Reading & writing
• Listening
• Watching
• Doing

How do you prefer to learn? Most of us are a combination of the 4 types.

There is no wrong type, everyone is different and will have different leanings and special talents.

Unfortunately for some, the internet is mostly about reading, sometimes watching and listening, rarely doing.

Also many people like to learn in a small group (maybe all friends) where they interact and stimulate all the 4 styles. This is why we try to run small groups and provide telephone (remote) support so the learner doesn’t have to be alone – its more fun in a group!

We have a learning styles calculator for you to try!

SWOT Strategies

Referred to as SWOT (“Study Without Tears”), you can use these methods to help your studying for an upcoming test or assignment.

Watching (Visual) SWOT Strategies

• Utilize graphic organizers such as charts, graphs, and diagrams.
  Redraw your pages from memory.
  Replace important words with symbols or initials.
  Highlight important key terms in corresponding colours.

Listening (Aural) SWOT Strategies

• Record your summarized notes and listen to them on tape.
  Talk it out. Have a discussion with others to expand upon your understanding of a topic.
  Reread your notes and/or assignment out loud.
  Explain your notes to your peers/fellow “aural” learners.

Read/Write SWOT Strategies

• Write, write and rewrite your words and notes.
  Reword main ideas and principles to gain a deeper understanding.
  Organize diagrams, charts, and graphic organizers into statements.

Doing (Kinesthetic) SWOT Strategies

• Use real life examples, applications and case studies in your summary to help with abstract concepts.
  Redo lab experiments or projects.
  Utilize pictures and photographs that illustrate your idea.