Learning Styles

What is my learning style? An important first step to study skills is identifying what your own personal learning style is. Generally, there are 3 main categories: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. You may have a combination of all 3, but knowing what your main learning style is will help you develop study skills that are tailored to your style. This will help you study smarter, not harder!

If you don’t know what your style is, start by taking one of the inventories below:

The Barsch Inventory 

DVC Learning Style Survey for College

North Carolina State Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire

Learning styles can also be defined using a Myers-Briggs style inventory. The SuccessTypes Learning Style Type Indicator (Pelley) is based on the Myers Briggs Type Indicators (Extraversion, Introversion, Sensing, Intuition, Thinking, Feeling, Judging, Perceiving) Introduction and links to related Myers Briggs type indicators. Results/scores are based upon 28 questions.

Study Tips for Different Learning Styles

Visual learners

If you are a visual learner...

• You like to organize your surrounding
•  You can see the “big picture”
• You pay attention to your own appearance, have been known to doodle on your notes, and easily distracted in noise

Tips for visual learners:

• Use flashcards or imagery (create a picture of the concepts)
• Find illustrations, graphs, videos, or models of material to be studie
• Concept/Mind Map ideas and the relationships between them
• Avoid sitting in areas where you will be distracted by noise, other people, doorway
• Make notes or diagrams of your reading materials
• Use highlighters, different colored pens to color-code different concepts
• Create an outline to guide your studies
• Summarize key information gathered from textbooks and lectures
• For exam prep, use post-it notes with key concepts on your computer, mirror, fridge
• Choose a quiet and naturally lit study environment, limit distractions such as cell phones/email

Auditory learners

If you are an auditory learner…

• You tend to be a good listener
• You may “talk out” solutions to problem
• You often find yourself humming while working or listening to music in the background
• You prefer receiving information verbally over written

Tips for auditory learners:

•  Form a study group where you can “talk things out” and explain concepts to other
• Record lectures, or listen to podcasts/audio media formats
•  Talk out loud while reading material
• Create verbal mnemonics like songs/jingles for memory aids
• Associate a certain beat with your study topic. Tap out the beat with your foot or finger, while thinking about the subject, it may be a cue to memory
• Participate in discussions and be able to restate the information in your own words

Kinesthetic learners

If you are a kinesthetic learner…

• You have well coordinated physical and motor skills, perhaps involved in athletics
• You can put things together and manipulate objects well
• You find it difficult to sit for very long
• You often “talk” with your hands

Tips for kinesthetic learners:

• Move and act concepts out. Study while walking on a treadmill if neede
• Handle models, go to the lab, use computer simulations
• Find a study partner/group where you can talk about and write out study materials
• To review material, find a chalkboard/whiteboard and write out key concepts

Resources

Web resources:

Study Guides and Strategies

University of Utah Learning Resource Centre

Texas Tech School of Medicine

Assessment Services:

If at any point you suspect that you may have a learning disability, you may contact the University of Manitoba Disability Services. Disability Services (DS) provides support and advocacy for students with disabilities of all kinds: hearing, learning, injury-related, mental health, medical, physical or visual.  DS acts as a liaison between students and the faculty and staff of the University of Manitoba as well as support agencies within the province of Manitoba.