How to Make Different Learning Styles Work for You

VISUAL LEARNERS can benefit from the following learning strategies:

1. Establish eye contact with the instructor.
2. Keep your visual attention on the board or handout.
3. Read the textbooks and other course materials.
4. Take good notes to help hold your attention during lecture.
5. Read all instructions and objectives.
6. Write down all directions that are given orally.
7. Visualize the task.
8. Map, graph, or chart information for visual review.
9. Use lecture notes as a tool for visual review.

AUDITORY LEARNERS can benefit from the following learning strategies:

1. Keep your auditory attention on the instructor.
2. Listen to verbal instructions and repeat them aloud.
3. Read textbooks and restate information aloud.
4. Read notes aloud; recite review material.
5. Discuss course material with a classmate or study group.
6. Participate in class discussions.
7. Listen to tapes.

TACTILE LEARNERS can benefit from the following learning strategies:

1. Use a combination of stimuli to study, such as, listen to an audio tape while handling an object.
2. Use physical movement, such as, act out a play.
3. Draw pictures or make charts using concepts related to course material.
4. Use solid objects, such as blocks or an abacus, to work math problems.
5. Show and explain how things work.
6. Take notes; write important points over several times.
7. Build something related to the subject matter.

INDIVIDUAL LEARNERS can benefit from the following learning strategies:

1. Sit near the front of the classroom to minimize distractions.
2. Find a quiet place to study where you won’t be interrupted.
3. If participation in a group project is required, ask the group to make you responsible for one aspect.
4. If the class discussion doesn’t seem pertinent, concentrate on how the information being discussed fits in with your notes, concepts or opinions.
5. Review systematically and independently for exams.
6. When a choice of assignments is available, choose a project that can be done independently.

GROUP LEARNERS can benefit from the following learning strategies:

1. Participate in group study sessions on a regular basis.
2. Plan group review sessions prior to tests.
3. Meet informally after class to discuss the lecture and complete any gaps in your notes.
4. Participate fully in class discussions.
5. Learn from the views expressed by your fellow students. Note how these views complement or contrast with the views expressed in your textbook or by your instructor.
6. When a choice of assignments is available, choose a project that can be done in a group setting.

ORAL EXPRESSIVE LEARNERS can benefit from the following learning strategies:

1. Participate fully in class discussions.
2. Review the notes and textbook material orally. Explain the information to yourself.
3. When a written assignment is required, express the ideas orally before you write them.
4. If a choice of assignments is available, choose an oral type of presentation (such as, speech, oral test, skit).

WRITTEN EXPRESSIVE LEARNERS can benefit from the following learning strategies:

1. Take good class notes, then outline them as a review.
2. If an instructor bases the grad partially on participation in class discussion, write a summary of the information that will be covered in the next lecture. This will prepare you to respond orally.
3. Write your own chapter summary, listing the main points in your own words.
4. If a choice of assignments is available, choose a written type of presentation (such as, research paper, essay test, short narrative).

(Compliments of the Learning Center. Funded by a Texas Higher Education Coordinating grant.)