Learning Styles
Introduction
Each of us has a different way of learning. Your best style may not be the same as your friend’s. To excel in academics, one needs to spend some time, trying to understand what is their unique style of learning and accordingly adopt these styles.
Learning style means the way you understand new information and are able to retain this information and reproduce it at a later stage. Usually learning styles are of four types:
Visual Learners
Auditory Learners
Kinesthetic Learners
Read/Write Learners
Each of us has a predominant style of learning. Knowing our predominant style of learning will give you an edge over others. Once you know your style of learning, you can make sure to adopt the appropriate methods of studying.
There are several online tools to identify our predominant style of learning. You can google and check out one of these. One such tool is available on
Visual Learners
Visual learners learn through seeing.
Such learners learn best from
Diagrams (e.g. when you are reading about a sanitary well, draw the diagram of a sanitary well as you read through the description).
Flowcharts (e.g. make a flow chart on the diagnostic workup of a patient presenting with symptoms suggestive of TB).
Pictures (e.g. when you read a description of rash in chicken pox, look up for an image of chicken pox rash).
When studying,
Make notes using symbols, coloured pens, different layouts, mind maps, charts and graphs, different style fonts, pictures and a lot of white space.
When reading textbooks, underline text, use different coloured highlighters, add symbols, add shapes next to the text etc.
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners learn through listening.
Such learners learn best from
Listening to the text (e.g. listening to the teacher in class, or recorded lectures).
Reading out the text loudly.
Engaging in discussions (e.g. participating in group discussions on ethics).
Teaching others (e.g. teaching a friend about epidemiological study designs).
When studying
Record your notes and listen to them.
Be a part of a group study where you can discuss and teach one another.
Listen to audio lectures.
Kinaesthetic Learners
Kinaesthetic Learners learn through doing.
Such learners learn best, when
Hands-on learning is provided (e.g. laboratories, case taking).
A problem-solving approach is used.
Real-life examples are used (e.g. to learn about the simple home tests for the detection of food adulteration, the tests can be performed on household food items).
Experience-sharing opportunities are available (e.g. Interaction with ANM about her work experience)
They undertake field visits(e.g. Visit to a water purification plant).
When studying,
Think of examples of your own, as you read through the text and make your notes.
Try watching videos to understand better (e.g. A documentary on ASHA Workers will help you better remember the functions of ASHA workers).
Watch videos and practice skills (e.g. how to prepare ORS).
Practice skills in simulation labs (e.g. taking blood pressure).
Write practice questions. Solve previous examination papers.
Use case studies to learn and understand the matter.
Read real-life examples and personal stories.
Read / Write Learners
Read/write learners learn from reading and writing.
Such learners learn best from
Reading textbooks and also rereading notes.
Writing bulleted points and rereading them.
When studying
Re-read textbooks and notes.
Write and Re-write notes.
Use your own words to explain the concept in simple language (e.g. write in your own words the functioning of a sewage treatment plant).
Try to put complex definitions into simple language (e.g. Definition of health education).