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Did you know that there are 7 different learning styles?
- Visual (spatial): using pictures, images, and spatial understanding
- Auditory (auditory-musical): using sound and music
- Verbal (linguistic): using words, both in speech and writing
- Tactile (kinesthetic): using your body, hands and sense of touch
- Logical (mathematical): using logic, reasoning and systems
- Social (interpersonal): learn in groups or with other people
- Solitary (intrapersonal): work alone and use self-study
Of these, Visual, Auditory and Tactile are the most popular learning styles.
Why is it important to identify your learning style?
Learning doesn’t stop after high-school or university. Instead, it is a continuous endeavor that you will undoubtedly take on throughout your life and career, especially as a clinical researcher.
Therefore, understanding your learning style is important to ensure you will get the most out of every learning opportunity. It will also help you achieve the career and successes in life that you want.
At Clueo Clinical, we want you to have 💛 SUCCESSES IN YOUR CAREER & IN LIFE! 💛
That’s why we intentionally created educational products that tailor for your personal learning style – visual, auditory or tactile.
How to identify your learning style?
Everyone has a mixture of learning styles. However, you will always have a preference (dominant style) that you prefer or find most effective compared to the other styles.
Knowing your dominant style of learning can help you learn faster, retain more knowledge as well as enjoy the experience.
Here is how you can identify your dominant style of learning:
Visual
If you are a visual learner, you learn by reading or seeing pictures. You understand and remember things by sight. You can picture what you are learning in your head, and you learn best by using methods that are primarily visual. You like to see what you are learning.
As a visual learner, you are usually neat and clean. You often close your eyes to visualize or remember something, and you will find something to watch if you become bored. You may have difficulty with spoken directions and may be easily distracted by sounds. You are attracted to color and to spoken language (like stories) that is rich in imagery.
Auditory
If you are an auditory learner, you learn by hearing and listening. You understand and remember things you have heard. You store information by the way it sounds, and you have an easier time understanding spoken instructions than written ones. You often learn by reading out loud because you have to hear it or speak it in order to know it.
As an auditory learner, you probably hum or talk to yourself or others if you become bored. People may think you are not paying attention, even though you may be hearing and understanding everything being said.
Tactile
If you are a tactile learner, you learn by touching and doing. You understand and remember things through physical movement. You are a “hands-on” learner who prefers to touch, move, build, or draw what you learn, and you tend to learn better when some type of physical activity is involved. You need to be active and take frequent breaks, you often speak with your hands and with gestures, and you may have difficulty sitting still.
As a tactile learner, you like to take things apart and put things together, and you tend to find reasons to tinker or move around when you become bored. You may be very well coordinated and have good athletic ability. You can easily remember things that were done but may have difficulty remembering what you saw or heard in the process. You often communicate by touching, and you appreciate physically expressed forms of encouragement, such as a pat on the back.
How can you learn better?
Now that you’ve identified your learning style. Here are some tips for you to learn better.
Visual
- 💛Use flashcards to learn new words.
- 💛Try to visualize things that you hear or things that are read to you.
- 💛Write down key words, ideas, or instructions.
- 💛Draw pictures to help explain new concepts and then explain the pictures.
- 💛Color code things.
- 💛Avoid distractions during study times.
Remember that you need to SEE things, not just hear things, to learn well.
Auditory
- 💛Use flashcards to learn new words; read them out loud.
- 💛Read stories, assignments, or directions out loud.
- 💛Record yourself spelling words and then listen to the recording.
- 💛Have test questions read to you out loud.
- 💛Study new material by reading it out loud.
Remember that you need to HEAR things, not just see things, in order to learn well.
Tactile
- 💛Participate in activities that involve touching, building, moving, or drawing.
- 💛Do lots of hands-on activities like completing art projects, taking walks, or acting out stories.
- 💛It’s OK to chew gum, walk around, or rock in a chair while reading or studying.
- 💛Use flashcards and arrange them in groups to show relationships between ideas.
- 💛Trace words with your finger to learn spelling (finger spelling).
- 💛Take frequent breaks during reading or studying periods (frequent, but not long).
- 💛It’s OK to tap a pencil, shake your foot, or hold on to something while learning.
- 💛Use a computer to reinforce learning through the sense of touch.
Remember that you learn best by DOING, not just by reading, seeing, or hearing.
Click HERE to learn more about how Clueo Clinical can help you achieve your career success.
Dr. Thu (Sue) Nguyen, PhD
Sue is the founder and managing director of Clueo Clinical Pty Ltd. She has 15 years of combined experience in clinical and pre-clinical research and development, training and management. She is passionate about patient-centric science, clinical research, education, and helping others find their career passion and succeed in life. She is an avid learner, an authentic networker and wants to empower the next generation to reach their fullest potential in Australia and around the world.
