Learning Styles. Write down things like quotes, lists, dates, etc. because you remember them better that way.

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1 Learning Styles Once you are aware of your learning style Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic and Tactile, you can find out how you ll learn best. Find your learning style below and discover some learning and study tips! Are you a VISUAL Learner? Visual learners remember best what they see: pictures, charts, time lines, sketches, demonstrations, written materials or watch: films, CDs. Verbal learners get more out of words written and spoken explanations. Visual people learn better when they read or see the information, because the information they take in is translated into and stored as pictures or images in their brains. Learning from a lecture may not be as easy. These learners are usually neat and well organized. They may use statements with visual cues such as I get the picture and I see. Try these suggestions when in class: Write down things like quotes, lists, dates, etc. because you remember them better that way. Take lots of notes. Copy over your notes. Re-writing helps recall. Sit at the front of the classroom so you can see the teacher s body language and facial expression. Select a seat furthest from the door and window, if possible. Look at the person while they are talking, because it will help you stay focused.

2 Are you a Visual Learner? (continued) Try these ideas to study better: Better to work in a quiet place. However, many visual learners study math better with music playing in the background. Most visual learners study better by themselves. Before reading an assignment, set a specific study goal and write it down. Post it in front of you. For example: From 7:00 to 7:30 read first chapter. Preview a chapter before reading it by first looking at all the pictures, section headings, etc. Then read the chapter. Use bright highlighter pens or markers to draw attention to the main ideas in your notes, textbooks, handouts, etc. Color-code information so that everything relating to one topic is the same color. Try to find DVDs, videos, CD-ROM displays, diagrams, photos, sketches, flow charts, handouts and illustrated books of your class information. Write a concept on paper by listing key points, then enclosing them in boxes or circles, and drawing lines with arrows between concepts to show connections. Write vocabulary words in color on index cards with short definitions on the back. Look through them frequently, write out the definitions again, and check yourself. Careers for the VISUAL Learner: Architect, engineer, designer, decorator, surgeon, and executive positions where a vision of the future is important. Because of their excellent written communication skills, a career as a journalist, writer or poet is possible.

3 Are you an AUDITORY Learner? You will learn better when information comes through your ears. You need to hear it. Lectures will probably work well for you. You may not learn as well when just reading from a book. Verbal instructions, taped lectures and face to face instruction work best. These learners use their listening skills to filter the information they hear, and they can easily repeat statements back to the teacher. When problem solving, auditory learners prefer to talk it out. They may use phrases such as I hear you or that clicks or that sounds right or that rings a bell. They tell wonderful stories. They are the most talkative and have more difficulty writing. Try these suggestions when in class: Listen closely to your teacher when they are speaking. Ask your teachers if you can turn in a tape or give an oral report instead of written work. In class, take notes of a lecture, and later on read the class notes onto a tape. Summarizing is especially helpful. Try to listen to the tape three times to prepare for a test. In class, you ll do best with discussions and group work, and problem-solving activities. Try these ideas to study better: Try studying with a buddy so you can talk out loud and hear the information. Discuss topics with friends both in and out of class. Talk things through and listen to what others have to say. Or, try to study in a group where everyone takes turns explaining different topics to each other. Work with others to guess what you will be asked on the next test and figure out how you will answer.

4 Are you an AUDITORY Learner? (continued) Read written information aloud to help remember and understand it. Before beginning an assignment, set a specific study goal and say it out loud. For example, First, I will read my history chapter. Before reading a chapter, look at all the pictures, headings, and talk out loud and tell what you think this chapter will be about. Read aloud whenever possible. Reciting out loud the quote or date or list will help you remember. In the quiet library, try hearing the words in your head as you read. Your brain needs to hear the words as your eyes read them. Don t simply read or memorize material; stop periodically to review what you have read and to think of possible questions or applications. You might find it helpful to write short summaries of reading material or class notes in your own words. Write vocabulary words in color on index cards with short definitions on the back. Review them frequently by reading the words aloud and saying the definition. Check the back to see if you were right. When doing complicated math problems, use graph paper (or use regular lined paper sideways) to help with alignment. Use color and graphic symbols to highlight main ideas in your notes, books, handouts, etc. Careers for the AUDITORY Learner: Because of their excellent hearing and listening skills, auditory learners make excellent psychologists, disc jockeys and musicians. They are a good speaker, so a career as a teacher, lawyer, politician or translator is a good fit.

5 Are you a KINESTHETIC (Sensing/Physical) and Tactile Learner? You will learn best by doing, moving, or hands-on experiences, where you see practical demonstrations of ideas. Getting information from a textbook (visually) or a lecture (auditory) is just not as easy. Sensing learners remember and understand information best if they can see how it connects to the real world. They learn best when they can touch or feel what they are learning about, so hands-on projects work best. If you are in a class where most of the material is abstract and theoretical, you may have difficulty. You ll understand information best by doing something active with it applying it or explaining it to others. Kinesthetic learners do not always have a good time sense or sense of orderliness or neatness. They often live for the moment and do not have a vision of the future. Kinesthetic learners often speak of their learning in terms of feelings, prefacing statements with I feel or I d like to get a better handle on this information. People with this learning style will have a tendency to move around while trying to solve a problem. Try some of these suggestions and create some that will work for you: Try these suggestions when in class: Ask to have someone show you how things work. Volunteer to do demonstrations in class. This helps you to understand and remember an activity or idea. If you need to fidget when in class, cross your legs and bounce or jiggle the foot that is off the floor. Experiment with other ways of moving; just be sure you re not making noise or disturbing others. Try squeezing a tennis or nerf ball. Use a bright piece of construction paper in your favorite color on top of your desk. This is called color grounding. It will help focus your attention. Also, try reading through a colored transparency. Experiment with using different colors and different ways of using color.

6 Are you a KINESTHETIC and Tactile Learner? (continued) Act out book reports and choose assignments which allow you to build projects. Try these ideas to study better: You may not study best at a desk so when you re at home, so try studying in a relaxed position, lying on your stomach or back. Also try studying with music in the background. When studying, take breaks as frequently as you need so you don t get tired. Just be sure to get right back to the task. A reasonable schedule is minutes of study and 5 minutes of break. (Watching TV or talking on the phone should not be done during break time!) You ll remember lessons best if you walk around the room and say important words aloud. To memorize, pace or walk around while reciting to yourself or looking at a list or index card. When reading a textbook chapter, first look at the pictures, then read the summary or end-of-chapter questions, then look over the section headings and bold-faced words. Get a feel for the whole chapter by reading the end selections first, and then work your way to the front of the chapter. This is working whole-to-part, and will save you time later. Instead of spending a short time on every subject every night, you might find it more productive to immerse yourself in an individual subject for a large block of time. When trying to memorize information, try closing your eyes and writing the information in the air or on a desk or carpet with your finger. Picture the words in your head as you do this. If possible, hear them too. Later, when trying to recall this information, close your eyes and see it with your mind s eye and hear it in your head.

7 Are you a KINESTHETIC and Tactile Learner? (continued) Try to relate the subject to things you already know, either by asking the instructor to help you see connections by giving examples or by checking books, online, etc. Careers for the KINESTHETIC and TACTILE Learner: Career choices should be anything which involves the body and touch and movement, such as athletics, PE teacher, dancing, acting, building, construction, landscaper, commercial fishing or firefighter.