What type of learner are you? What is your learning style?

Individuals have different learning styles, or a combination of one or more learning styles they
are most comfortable with. Understanding our learning styles and fine tuning them will make
the time spent on studies more effective and fruitful.

The most common types of learners (or learning styles) are;

1. Visual learners, who learn through seeing:

They watch the teacher's movements and facial expressions to understand well
They think in pictures
They take detailed notes to absorb the information.
If you are a visual learner,
Sit in the front rows where you can see the teacher’s actions, body language
and expressions
Use colour pens and pencils to highlight important points
Study in a quiet place away from noisy disturbances
Read illustrated books, use symbols, charts, etc
2. Aural learners, who learn through listening:
They learn by listening to lectures, talking and listening to others.
They note the tone of voice, pitch, and speed of the teacher or lecturer
Their voices and their ears are the primary means of learning.
They recall what they hear and what they speak.
If you’re this type, know that;
Such learners are easily distracted by sounds.
If you are an aural learner,
Discuss lessons with other students
Read your text and notes aloud
Avoid distractions like music/radio
Use mnemonics to help you remember
An example of a mnemonic to remember the value of Pi to 14 decimal
places: Just remember this sentence with 15 words – the number of
alphabets in each word of the sentence is the value of Pi beginning from
the first digit
“How I want a drink, alcoholic of course, after the heavy chapters involving quantum
mechanics”
(“How” – 3 digits, “I” -1 digit, “want” – 4 digits: so 3 . 1 4 1 5 9 2 6 5 3 5 8 9 7 9 )

3. Read/Write learners, who learn by reading and writing:

They learn by reading the textbook and notes many times
They learn by writing and rewriting their notes
They learn by making lists of points
If you are a Read/Write learner,
Read your study materials again and again, silently
Make a fresh set of short notes
Create lists of points

4. Kinesthetic learners learn through doing and touching:

They cannot sit still for long periods
 They want to make something, to do a project.
When they physically do something they understand it and remember it.
If you are a tactile/kinesthetic learner,
Take frequent study breaks
Move around (make a model, work with your hands, use the lab)
Work at a standing position
Use the lab and other practicals to understand concepts better

50 -70 % people use more than one, usually a mix of three styles
Most people have a major and a minor style – identify them and use them –
your study becomes more effective

“Aural learners heard their mother, believed the information, and

never touched the fire
Visual learners watched their brothers touch the fire, and never
touched it.
Kinesthetic learners touched the fire; but only once!”