How Do You Learn?

Do you know how you learn? What methods are the most effective for you? What steps can you take to improve your comprehension and retention? Everyone learns in different ways. They process data differently, they prefer different ways of presentation, etc.

It is very important for you figure out how you learn. If you know this then you can set yourself up to succeed whenever you are learning something new. The world is full of advice on anything and everything, including just how to learn, but you could very well be making things much harder on yourself if you don't know how you yourself learn.

In addition to learning your primary way of learning, you should also learn your best alternate way of learning, as you can't always set up the ideal circumstances. Sometimes you just can't get a teacher to use charts, diagrams, or maps. Other times having a demonstration of how to do something just isn't practical.

There are three primary learning styles:

Visual Learners
Visual learners learn by seeing things. They often are strong readers, and tend to enjoy it as a hobby. They prefer reading a textbook over listening to a lecture. When learning something new, they tend to picture it in their head. They also respond well to diagrams and charts. They have better recall when they read something than other methods.

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners respond best to the spoken word. They prefer lectures to written notes or textbooks. They learn better from audio books than their printed equivalents. When learning something new, they prefer getting spoken directions from someone who has done it before. They have better recall when they hear something than other methods.

Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners learn by doing. They prefer demonstrations and practice to written or spoken material. They tend to use their hands when speaking or they will move around the room (such as pacing). They often have trouble holding still.

Kinesthetic learners are often misunderstood, their behavior being misinterpreted as not paying attention or even as hyperactivity. They often use similar strategies as visual learners but for different reasons. They take notes and draw pictures, but more for the interaction with the data than to see it. They also picture things mentally...but they picture themselves doing it.

How Do You Use It

There are several places you can takes tests to determine your learning style. Many colleges even require you take such a test before you start taking classes. You can also find some test on the web. A great place to start is http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire.

Once you take a test, you will probably find that you are strong in one style. You can then try to approach new learning in this way. Many people tend to be really strong in one area, fairly strong in a second, and weak in the third. If you fall into this category, you have a "backup" learning style that you can fall back on. A few people are almost equal in multiple styles (maybe even all three).

If you are one of these you can pretty much bounce between them, adapting your learning to style to the way the material is presented without losing any effectiveness.
Tom Haynes has worked with sales, management, and not-for-profit for companies, helping their staff set goals, increase productivity, exceed expectations, and manage their human resources. He is the owner of E-Motivate.com, a site dedicated to success, motivation, happiness, entrepreneurship, and wealth.




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