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Learning how to Learn- which type of learner are you?

As a child in todays world, you are constantly exposed to so many types of pressures from being up to date socially, digitally, learning about yourself and the world, following rules and on top of all these going through hormonal changes! Its a lot for any one to take on but if you are struggling with your grades and how to learn this just adds to the overall pressures facing you in the world.

The challenge here is that we are not taught how to learn or at least given enough tools to understand the most effective way of learning.

In light of this, we wanted to support you by first helping you to understand what are the different types of learners and then next week I will go into specific tools of how to learn.

We are all unique and process information and the greater world in a different way, the trick is to know what this is and utilise it to your full advantage so that you can adjust your way of learning to adapt the tools available in order to learn and retain the information like a pro!

Below are the 7 key learner profiles, see which one resonates most with you:

  1. Auditory and musical learners.

  2. Visual and spatial learner.

  3. Verbal learner.

  4. Logical and mathematical learner.

  5. Physical or kinaesthetic learner.

  6. Social and interpersonal learner.

  7. Solitary and intrapersonal learner.

1. Auditory & Musical Learners

Auditory learners like to hear solutions and examples explained to them, and may gravitate towards music subjects and group learning as a way to understand information.

Auditory learners often have a high aptitude for distinguishing notes and tones in music and speech.

Qualities often associated with auditory learners include:

  • Possessing a ‘good ear’ for music and tones

  • May be distractible

  • Likes to talk to self / others / hum / sing

Tips to stay engaged if you are an auditory and musical learner

Auditory learners will be engaged from start to finish for classes like music.

The key here is listening to your teacher's voice (and the voice of the other students). You can also try to read back your own notes to yourself (and the class). Hearing the sound of your own voice and the voices of others is engaging to auditory learners.

Other strategies you can try include:

  • Record lessons for later listening and reference

  • Teach others verbally

  • Sit away from distractions

2. Visual and spatial learner

You tend to like diagrams, drawing out concepts, charts and processes.

You learn by looking at visual concepts, creating them, and watching other people create them.

Visual learners might be organised or creative in their application, and find things like colours and shapes useful.

Visual learners often possess the following qualities:

  • Habitual doodlers / drawers

  • Observant

  • Not easily distracted

  • Enjoy planning

  • Prefer visual instructions

Tips to stay engaged if you are a visual and spatial learner

Include or use elements like maps, diagrams and imagery, try to include relevant images to go along with the course content. When it comes to self-driven learning, sketch out your ideas, create mind maps and flowcharts.

Other tactics you can use include:

  • Using colour codes and cues

  • Note taking and recopying notes during study

3. Verbal learner

Verbal learning includes both writing and speaking. Verbal learners might have a preference for reading and writing, word games and poems.

They know the meanings of a broad category of words, can use them effectively, and actively seek out new words to add to their repertoire.

Some qualities a verbal learner may show:

  • Intellectual

  • Bookworm

  • Good story teller

Some great career choices for a verbal learner can include journalism and writing, administration, law and politics.

Tips to stay engaged if you are a verbal learner

Write down notes, talk about concepts and potentially present them as well. The trick with a verbal learner is knowing what adjacent types of learning apply to you– are you an outgoing or more introspective verbal learner? You may lean more by talking, while others may learn more by reading and writing.

4. Logical and Mathematical learner

Perhaps unsurprisingly, mathematical learners err towards careers in programming, accountancy, science, research and other number and pattern-orientated careers.

Some qualities associated with mathematical learners include:

  • Pattern recognition

  • Good with numbers

  • Predisposition towards grouping and classification

Tips to stay engaged if you are a logical and mathematical learner

Mathematical learners will greatly appreciate any type of learning that logically explains the subject at hand. For maths, that’s easy but for other subjects, it requires some effort and planning:

  • History and geography: Try to include statistics in your learning

  • Literature: Focus on things like “What category of book is this?” Or in poetry, for example learn the meters(specific length and emphasis on a given line) and explain them to other students.

  • Music: Focus on musical instrument classification (woodwind etc) and the mathematical relationships between notes.

  • Art: A good starting point is the colour wheel and the effects of combining different colours.

As a logical student, always look to incorporate a system or the development of that system. You will benefit from this greatly to understand and learn effectively.

5. Physical or kinaesthetic learner

Commonly called hands-on learners, kinesthetics prefer to physically engage with the materials of the subject matter.

Some great career options for a physical learners are those with lots of hands on work like emergency services, physical education and sports.

Some qualities associated with physical learners include:

  • Preference to ‘get their hands dirty’

  • Energetic, may drum fingers or shake legs

  • Action-orientated and outgoing

  • May de-prioritise reading and writing

Tips to stay engaged if you are a physical or kinaesthetic learner

Channeling your energy and excitability is the key to a good lesson. Taking breaks so you can move around, role play and move to help absorb the teaching.

Physical interaction is also important. The use of props and models will greatly benefit a kinaesthetic learner. Grab onto something related to the subject you are learning and you will process information much better than from a book or whiteboard.

Other strategies to engage physical learners include:

  • Move while you are studying

  • Decluttering desks and surfaces so you can focus on learning.

6. Social and interpersonal learner

Social learners show preference towards groups and collaboration. Some, but not all, will gravitate towards leadership within a group.

Some of the qualities often associated with this type of learner include:

  • Extraverted

  • Good communicator

  • Sensitive and empathetic

Not all social learners are extraverted or highly communicative, and some of you can also be visual, auditory, verbal, logical or physical learners.

Social doesn’t strictly mean verbal. Some social learners prefer to listen in a group setting, rather than on their own.

Tips to stay engaged if you are a social and interpersonal learner

Engage in both group collaboration and presentation. Consider:

  • Role playing historical events or works of literature

  • Collaborating on maths problems

  • Working as a class on comprehension questions

Interpersonal learners like to ‘do’ and to ‘share’. This can sometimes lead to distraction for other students who are more intrapersonal in their learning habits. To prevent this, try to channel your energy into providing value to the group, with a focus on empathy for your classmates.

7. Solitary and intrapersonal learner

Solitary learners can be visual, auditory, physical, verbal or logical learners. Fulfilling all the needs of the solitary student will ensure they are fully engaged.

Some of the qualities often of this type of learner include:

  • Independent

  • Introspective

  • Private

Some great careers for interpersonal learners with a lot of self determination or motivation, as well as solitary workloads are researchers, writers and authors, programmers and coders.

Tips to stay engaged if you are a solitary and intrapersonal learner

In a classroom environment it’s important to stay engaged during class, try working with visual materials, books and learning aids. Find quiet areas, and collaborate with defined sharing time so you can feel adequately prepared.

Ref> Literacy planet

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