My Learning Strategies-How Can I Learn More Effectively (Survey Results)
Completion requirements
My Learning Strategies—How Can I Learn More Effectively? (Survey Results)
Auditory Learners
Suggestions for this Alberta Distance Learning Centre course
- Auditory learners would benefit from the online course content components for text-to-speech features. This reduces sight-based reading.
- Find books on-tapes and/or CDs for some of the reading resources, if possible (especially the novels).
- Try reading aloud to yourself some of the passages you find difficult or have a facilitator, parent, sibling, or friend read them aloud to you for a change.
- When editing assignments, you may find reading your own work aloud to yourself might be very effective for spotting errors.
- To make reading more manageable, try to break the material into small chunks with space to digest what you read. Another suggestion is to take what you read and say it aloud in your own words to make concepts more straightforward and easier to recall.
- Auditory learners also benefit from conversation or discussion concerning essay topics before they begin to write. Contacting your teacher is a great idea!
Mnemonics (pronounced "nu-MON-ics") are any learning technique that aids or improves memory of a concept or fact. In an audio format, these might be a short poem, phrase, sentence, or special
word that you associate with the desired concept. You might have learned to spell geography by saying "George Edwards Old Grandmother Rode A Pig Home Yesterday".
For example, "ROYGBIV" is a mnemonic to remember the colours and their order in the light spectrum: (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet). Mnemonics can also be useful aides for visual or kinesthetically strong learners, not just auditory learners, too.
Visual Learners
Learners who share visual learning traits are proficient at picturing the images of ideas or processes in their minds. Often, they are very in-tune to the visual details of their physical environments and the visual details of the people with whom they interact (physical details of mood or emotion). However, they can be very distracted by noisy environments, which is something to keep in mind when considering a workspace. If you are visual in your interactions with others, you may find that eye contact during your conversations is very important. Often, visual learners "talk" with their hands. Visual learners respond well to prompts such as charts, diagrams, or images.
For example, "ROYGBIV" is a mnemonic to remember the colours and their order in the light spectrum: (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet). Mnemonics can also be useful aides for visual or kinesthetically strong learners, not just auditory learners, too.
Visual Learners
Learners who share visual learning traits are proficient at picturing the images of ideas or processes in their minds. Often, they are very in-tune to the visual details of their physical environments and the visual details of the people with whom they interact (physical details of mood or emotion). However, they can be very distracted by noisy environments, which is something to keep in mind when considering a workspace. If you are visual in your interactions with others, you may find that eye contact during your conversations is very important. Often, visual learners "talk" with their hands. Visual learners respond well to prompts such as charts, diagrams, or images.
Suggestions for this Alberta Distance Learning Centre course
- Images in the course materials connect with the text on the particular page. The images are more than fillers! They are connected always to what you are reading on the page. Images can act as "tags" to help you remember information, perhaps like a mental bookmark.
- Do not miss any of the tutorial readings because these are quite visual and informative.
- When talking to or contacting your teacher, you may prefer face-to-face interaction. Consider use of Skype or FaceTime or other digital conference technologies to make contact more effective.
- You are not expected to return assignment workbooks at the end of the course (unless you have a special arrangement with your school), so mark them to your liking! Highlight, colour code, outline, or diagram ideas as you go through your lessons. You might also write notes (not assignments) in various colours or typefaces to help you remember.
- Try memorizing concepts or information by writing out the concept or information in your own words. If you have trouble with assignment instructions, writing them in your own words can help to clarify them.
Kinesthetic Learners
Kinesthetic learners are not just learners who cannot "sit still". Often, kinesthetic learners understand concepts best when they are able to touch something physically to connect ideas. Much of their learning can be "situational" because they can connect the ideas or concepts of what they need to know to something they have already experienced. Characteristically, kinesthetic learners tend to think well on their feet or while exercising and when they touch other people occasionally in conversations. As a way of staying focused on listening or reading, you may often have one part of your body moving, such as a tapping finger or foot. This may help you stay focused and should not be viewed as restlessness. Chewing gum can be beneficial in the same regard, especially when reading or listening—but chewing during a conversation is considered rude! Kinesthetic learners often are physically well coordinated, but sometimes, they are considered hyperactive (which might not be true). Similar to visual learners, they sometimes move their hands when they talk. In school, these students may like to try new things, and they may do well in athletics or performing arts.
Suggestions for this Alberta Distance Learning Centre course
Kinesthetic learners are not just learners who cannot "sit still". Often, kinesthetic learners understand concepts best when they are able to touch something physically to connect ideas. Much of their learning can be "situational" because they can connect the ideas or concepts of what they need to know to something they have already experienced. Characteristically, kinesthetic learners tend to think well on their feet or while exercising and when they touch other people occasionally in conversations. As a way of staying focused on listening or reading, you may often have one part of your body moving, such as a tapping finger or foot. This may help you stay focused and should not be viewed as restlessness. Chewing gum can be beneficial in the same regard, especially when reading or listening—but chewing during a conversation is considered rude! Kinesthetic learners often are physically well coordinated, but sometimes, they are considered hyperactive (which might not be true). Similar to visual learners, they sometimes move their hands when they talk. In school, these students may like to try new things, and they may do well in athletics or performing arts.
Suggestions for this Alberta Distance Learning Centre course
- Kinesthetic learners benefit from a timeline made with their instructor, as well as conversations about handling their work on a day-to-day basis.
- An effective routine may be to do the reading for one section of a module along with reading the first assignment requirements. Then, take a break (10 to 15 minutes) before returning to the assignment.
- Taking a break before editing an assignment is applicable to all learning profiles, but it is valuable for these learners in particular.
- Use computers for the physical interaction while reading or doing assignments.
- Alternate standing, sitting, or lying while reading or doing assignments.
- Consider the timing of any daily exercise. People tend to focus more effectively on work after a period of intensive physical activity—if you are an athlete, think about your daily fitness routine and how it affects your learning!
- When you contact your teacher, you may find e-mail, chat, or phone most effective for your needs.
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