How To Find Your Learning Style: The Complete 19-Step Guide
If you want to understand how to find your learning style, you’ll love this article.
Everyone learns in their own unique way. Some people like to learn by listening, while others prefer to learn visually. Most people learn best when they use a wide range of learning techniques.
If you’re a student or simply looking to broaden your knowledge, determining your learning style can teach you how to improve your understanding of various subjects.
How to Find Your Learning Style:
1. Explore different learning styles.
Understanding the differences between the differing types of learning is important to define your own learning style. To learn more about this topic, you can find many books and websites. Ask the librarian at your local library about them. You can even consult your school guidance counselor.
According to most people, the seven most common learning styles are visual, auditory, verbal, physical, logical, social, and solitary.
2. Experiment with visual learning.
After you have learned a bit, start experimenting with different learning techniques. It may be helpful to try different learning methods to see what works best for you. You can start with visual learning, which involves learning using pictures and other visual aids.
Consider this if you depend on graphics to help you understand important concepts. For example, do you find the illustrations in biology textbooks more useful than the textual information?
Try incorporating additional pictures into the subject you are studying. If you are preparing for a history test, make a chart where you mark off the most significant topics. If you find this handy, it means you’re a visual learner.
If you are a visual learner, you may find it easier to follow a map with marked dots than written instructions.
3. Try your hand at auditory learning.
Auditory learning refers to learning through sound and music. If you are not sure if this solution is right for you, take some time to incorporate sound into your learning sessions. For starters, you can see if reading selected passages from a textbook out loud or listening to an audiobook helps you focus and understand the content.
You may be an auditory learner if you need to hear something aloud to fully understand it. Try this: To see if listening to content is working for you, try repeating the key points to a classmate.
Do you have a habit of talking while reading? This is a sign of learning by listening. Another sign that you learn by listening is that you’re easily distracted by pictures and written words.
4. Learn by using words.
Words, both spoken and written, are more comfy for verbal learners. If you are an avid reader, you are most likely used to learning verbally. One of the best methods of consolidating knowledge is reading.
Consider whether you prefer to listen to lectures or oral presentations. Verbal learners usually dislike group projects or activities.
Do you make handouts when you study? It shows that you enjoy learning through speech.
5. Assimilate knowledge through movement.
Another popular learning method is kinesthetic learning. Kinesthetic learners depend on their hands, touch, and physical actions to learn. With this sort of learning, movement is extremely important to memorize knowledge.
If the thought of sitting through lectures makes you anxious, physical exercise can help you study more effectively. Do you tend to get restless a lot? Here’s another tip:
Try incorporating some movement into your daily routine to see if you are a physical learner. While reading, try to stand up.
Use tangible objects as much as possible. Make a set of flashcards so you can physically skim the information.
6. Look at the logic.
Logical learning is another learning approach you can try. Puzzle solvers who like to use logic and systems to find solutions are called logicians. People who excel at arithmetic are often logicians.
Try changing the way you consider things to see if you’re a rational learner. Instead of looking at the entire picture, focus on individual parts.
One of the foundations of rational learning is making connections. You are most likely a logical learner if it’s in your nature to look for apparent connections between things.
7. Participate in group learning.
Some people learn better when they’re involved with other people. Social learners like to study in groups or with at least one other person. If you enjoy working with other people, you may be a social learner. Many social students have siblings or were raised in homes with lots of other people.
Does the opportunity to work on collaborative projects appeal to you? Do you hate studying in solitude? You are most certainly a social learner.
Try forming a study group to see if social learning is right for you. Invite one or more of your classmates to discuss a subject with you after class.
Another sign that you’re a social learner is that others often ask you for help with studying. People will notice that you enjoy talking about what you have learned.
8. Work on your ability to learn on your own.
Self-study is another popular study technique. Solitary students feel comfy being left alone. This technique may interest you if you’re most comfy working alone.
Do you enjoy digging into topics and thinking about them? If so, it means you’re a solitary learner (1).
Instead of trying to memorize information, you prefer to sit and consider every aspect of the material.
Solitary students often want to prepare beforehand. They set individual goals in most areas of their lives.
9. Do a self-assessment.
Once you have tried several learning methods, you can spend some time deciding which one is right for you. It’s a fast and simple way to find out your learning style.
Many trusted sites provide online quizzes that use your answers to assess your learning style. Find a reliable site and take a few quizzes, as the results often vary. This may mean that you have a different learning method.
Avoid sites that appear to blatantly advertise products. Look for sites that specialise in learning tools.
Start test. Be prepared to answer questions like, “What book would you like to read for fun?” or “How do you usually spend your time while waiting in line?”
Most of the tests are multiple choice. They take between 5 and 20 minutes to complete.
There’s no wrong or right answer, so keep that in mind. Everyone learns in their own unique way, and that is okay.
10. Reflect on your experiences.
The results of your self-assessment can help you determine which learning style is best suitable for you. However, you should take some time to reflect on your unique preferences. Consider what your most memorable learning experience was.
You may remember learning about the Civil War in elementary school. Is it because your teacher asked you to make a model of a cannon? This may indicate that you’re a physical learner.
Maybe English was your favourite subject in highschool. Were you influenced by your teacher’s reading of Shakespeare? Maybe you’re a verbal learner.
Combine your knowledge about yourself with the results of the self-assessment quiz. This will offer you an idea of your preferred learning method.
11. Talk to your professor.
It may be helpful to get additional information to assess your learning style. Talk to current or former faculty members. Ask if the teacher has time to talk to you about your studies.
Prepare a list of questions you can ask. “A good example is asking, ‘Do you have any particular observations about my learning style?
Have you noticed any subjects or talents I strive for? “—You can even ask.
Ask the instructor about ways to enhance learning. If possible, talk to lots of individuals.
12. Test everything you have learned.
Once you know your learning style, you can adapt your learning experience to make learning faster and easier. For example, when learning a new subject, if you think you’re a visual learner, look for visuals and pictures. As you become more familiar with yourself, you’ll discover the ideal approach to acquiring and remembering information.
You may have trouble understanding a chapter in the biology textbook you are reading. If a text does not make sense to you, look up visuals online. Charts or graphs can help reinforce information.
If you study by ear, you may find it difficult to excel in a largely verbal subject like English. Ask a friend to read passages from a book aloud to you.
You may be trying to learn a new skill. If you’re a visual learner, do not waste too much time determining how to do something from written explanations. Instead, grab the tools and learn by doing.
13. Improve study skills.
Knowing your own learning style can help you learn better. You will learn faster if you choose a study method that works for your brain. Organize your study session according to your preferred study method.
Apart from solitary learners, it can be beneficial for various learning styles to form groups. Invite colleagues to work together at a selected time and place each week. You learn best with people who learn in an analogous way to you.
Outside of school, social learners learn best in group situations.
If you are studying alone, choose a study time when you know you’ll be alone. If necessary, work out a schedule with roommates or members of the family to make sure you have the mandatory time for self-study.
14. Use a wide range of learning techniques.
Most people learn best when they use a wide range of learning techniques. Feel free to experiment with different approaches to a single topic or lesson. Combining learning techniques can greatly accelerate learning.
Take notes in a different way. If a skill seems best remembered in words, simply rewrite the presentation. However, if diagrams help you understand the material, do not be afraid to sketch them in your notes.
If you learn verbally, you may depend on words a lot. Using a different style can sometimes be beneficial.
It is more useful to use a wide range of materials than to stick to one learning method. When teaching, try to provide students with a wide range of learning opportunities.
For example, group work and lectures can be used in class, books can be given to students, films can be shown as homework, and reading can be done on the Internet. If a student has questions, you can even offer them hours.
15. Use all of your senses.
Once you have found your learning style, you can begin using all your senses to expand your knowledge. For example, if you’re an auditory learner, you’ll learn to value your hearing. Instead of writing down information, try using a voice recorder to consolidate learning.
When students are physically active, they learn more effectively. While jogging, it helps to review the vocabulary list in your head.
When reading or writing, standing can be useful. When students do not sit still, they absorb more knowledge.
If you’re a visual learner, try sketching pictures of the ideas you want to understand. You can even use sticky notes to post information around the house. It is important that you look at the information often.
16. Know your strengths.
When you are trying to understand a new topic, look for the most efficient way to convey the information to your brain. Choose a method that fits your learning style. Don’t be afraid to mix different techniques.
If you are studying alone, find a quiet place to study (2). You could go to a library or coffee shop that is not too crowded.
Experiment with stepping outside your comfort zone. Ask questions or compare notes with classmates to complement your solitary learning style.
It’s important to use your strengths, but it is also a good idea to flex your mental muscles. It’s a good idea to change your study technique every now and then.
This is particularly important if you want to learn well in a wide range of settings, including traditional classrooms. Although many professors try to teach in other ways, it is necessary to have the ability to adapt to situations in order to learn well in any situation.
17. Increase your study efficiency.
Once you identify your learning style, you will probably notice changes in your mental capacity. You will need less time to learn new ideas. You will also likely remember other facts better.
If you change your learning style, you’ll need to spend less time studying certain subjects. This doesn’t mean that you’ll spend less time studying; on the contrary, it means that you’ll have the ability to acquire more knowledge in less time.
18. Develop self-confidence.
You will be more confident if you feel freer to amass new skills or knowledge. Students who are confident in their abilities learn faster and more effectively. You will be more motivated to learn new things.
Confident students are more likely to speak up and ask questions. This is an awesome way to expand your knowledge.
19. Improve your performance.
Knowing your learning type can even benefit you outside of school. Use your knowledge to perform better at work. You will increase your performance and become more valuable to your company.
You can learn visually. If you work in sales, you can track your performance with charts and graphs. It will be easier for you to identify trends and areas for improvement.
If you aren’t a visible learner, ask your supervisor if you can record a review of your performance if you’re learning by ear. You can listen to the feedback again later to absorb it better.
I want to thank you for taking the time to read my article on how to find your learning style. I actually hope that its content has been of good help to you.
