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All students learn in their own ways. They have particular strengths and weaknesses. They have preferences regarding how they best absorb, process, and retain information. Experts in the field of education are increasingly emphasizing the significance of individual learning styles —how a person prefers to learn and how individuals best absorb and retain knowledge.
Of course, it’s not possible for teachers to individualize classroom instruction to suit each student’s learning style. This means it is up to you to identify your own learning style and proactively look for ways to implement your learning style in your coursework by playing to your strengths and utilizing your preferred methods. If you can do that, you can maximize your effectiveness as a student.
Scholars in education have identified four major styles for learners: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic learners.
| Type of Learning Style | Description |
|---|---|
| Visual learners | Learn best by seeing, so they favor resources like graphics, charts, and illustrations. |
| Auditory learners | Learn best by hearing, so they retain information from class lectures and discussions well and may benefit more from recording and listening back to a lecture rather than consulting written notes. |
| Reading/writing learners | Like visual learners, work best with their eyes, but they prefer words to pictures. They retain information from their reading well, they prefer when lectures are accompanied by handouts or key points displayed on a screen, and they study best with the extensive notes they’ve taken in class. |
| Kinesthetic learners | Learn best by being active and doing things; they are commonly referred to as “hands-on” learners. They prefer learning situations that involve practical experience or working with actual objects and materials rather than being asked to sit still and absorb information. |
