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Learning Styles 101: How to Unlock Your Full Potential
Imagine that you’re going to an unfamiliar place. Do you listen to Waze instructions, check Google Maps, or ask someone for directions? This choice shows your natural learning style—how your brain gathers and processes information.
Understanding your learning style can improve how you learn, work, and collaborate with others. Discover different learning preferences and tools that can help you maximize your potential.
Understanding Different Learning Styles
The VARK model is one of the simplest and most popular ways of categorizing learning styles. It identifies four types of learners:
- Visual: Learn by seeing (visual aids like videos, charts, or mind mapping).
- Auditory: Learn by listening (lectures, discussions, or audiobooks).
- Reading/Writing: Learn by reading or writing (notes, lists, or books).
- Kinesthetic: Learn by doing (hands-on activities, real-life examples).
Most people fit into more than one category and adjust to different situations. You can also “train your brain” to get used to certain teaching strategies. But knowing how your brain naturally works can help you master difficult concepts or complete tedious tasks.
Identifying Your Learning Style
Though there are many free online assessment tools (like Learning Style Quiz and Personality Max), you can understand your learning style by reflecting on your habits.
Use this checklist to learn more about how you learn and study tips that can help you work more efficiently.
Visual Learner
Visual learners prefer pictures or videos over words. Even when you read a book or listen to a presentation, you focus on images before the text. Here are some other signs.
- You like materials that have good pictures or other aesthetic elements.
- When you hear a story or concept, you imagine or visualize it as if you’re watching a video.
- You like organizing information in charts or diagrams.
- You draw or doodle to process or retain information.
- You pay close attention to facial expressions and body language.
Learning Techniques
Break information into small, visual chunks. This way, you get both the “big picture” and how pieces fit together.
- Use mind maps. Pen and paper will do, but you can also use Canva’s mind mapping templates or award-winning software Xmind.
- Stock up on fun school supplies. Transform boring notes with highlighters, sticky notes, and colored markers.
- Try the “Post-it System.” Break down big projects into steps or tasks and write each one on a sticky note. Prefer digital? Use project management tools like Trello or ClickUp where each task is a block you can move between categories like “In Progress” or “Completed.”
- Achieve personal goals with bullet journals. These visual journals let you track your progress with grids and symbols like bullets. Watch this video on how to set up your bullet journal with just a notebook and pen!
Auditory Learner
Auditory learners are often described as “good listeners.” You pay attention to what people say and can remember details from random conversations. Sounds familiar? The qualities below might describe you!
- You listen intently to meetings or lectures instead of taking notes.
- You read things aloud to understand them.
- You prefer meetings, lectures, or recordings over emails or written materials.
- You find it easy to remember song lyrics or mnemonic devices.
- You pay attention to people’s tone of voice.
Learning Techniques
Look for audio versions of learning materials—or make your own! Try these resources.
- Audiobook subscription: Audible has thousands of audiobooks and podcasts, including bestsellers and award-winning novels you can’t find on other sites. Plans on the audible start at $7.95 a month or around ₱460. LearnOutLoud has educational materials like textbooks, speeches, and documentaries. They’re free, but some titles have download fees.
- Google Read Aloud: This free tool can read websites, PDFs, and ebooks. Follow this video for instructions on how to add the extension to your browser.
- AI text-to-speech tools: Want the option to listen to materials offline? Natural Reader converts any file (including scanned documents) to an MP3, filters out unimportant information like charts or page numbers, translates text into different languages, and lets you pick from different voices. The basic plan is free; premium personal plans start at $9.99 a month or about ₱576.
- Noise-cancelling headphones: Are you sensitive to sound, easily distracted, or overstimulated by background noise? Headphones can help you focus and prevent mental fatigue.
Reading/Writing Learner
In school, you loved books and taking notes. Even as an adult, you need to write things down to remember them—your lists are your life! Watch for these other signs as well.
- You enjoy making papers, project plans, and presentations.
- You often rewrite your notes or summarize key points to remember information or organize your thoughts.
- You prefer emails and written communication over meetings.
- You feel more comfortable when there are written procedures or guidelines.
- You pay attention to people’s choice of words.
Learning Techniques
Since you thrive on lists and notes, these tools can help you be more productive and creative.
- Note-taking apps: Evernote lets you create checklists and detailed notes—you can even attach images, documents, or audio clips. Microsoft OneNote combines notetaking features with the AI tool CoPilot, which can summarize text, create plans, and respond to other prompts.
- Quick summaries: Use TLDR to summarize a webpage, document, or PDF. It even eliminates distracting ads and visuals and filters out weak arguments.
- Bookmarking tools: Browser extensions like Pocket or Diigo can save, highlight, or annotate web pages for later reference.
- A daily journal: Writing can help you process your feelings, reinforce learnings or insights, or plan your next steps. Try the award-winning journaling app Day One, which lets you keep different “notebooks” for work, personal thoughts, or special interests.
Kinesthetic Learner
You prefer hands-on experiences or learning by trial and error. You may also have the habit of playing with your pen while thinking—it’s like your brain works better if you’re moving your body. Here are some other signs of a tactile learning style.
- You have great muscle memory and hand-eye coordination.
- You’re good at applied activities like cooking, crafts, or mechanics.
- You feel the need to practice something often to do it well.
- You need real-life examples or practical applications to fully understand a concept or theory.
- You prefer to try something before asking questions.
- You pay attention to a person's gestures and body language.
Learning Techniques
Try to use or move your body whenever you try to learn something new.
- Work standing up. Since you’re still flexing your muscles while doing “abstract” tasks like answering emails, you’ll have more focus and concentration.
- Use old-school pen and paper. Physically writing down ideas can help you remember information. If you have space, consider getting a whiteboard, so you can use your whole body while you write.
- Move while you think. Take a quick walk or squeeze a stress ball whenever you hit a mental block.
- Look for simulations. Instead of reading step-by-step tutorials, watch a video walkthrough or ask a co-worker to show you how they do it.
- Get a phone with a pen.The sensation of holding the pen and tapping it on the screen can help satisfy your need for tactile experiences.
When you know your preferred learning styles, you can customize your work or learning process to your needs. Easily access the best tools online whether you’re at home or on the go. Choose GFiber Prepaid for affordable home internet or GFiber Postpaid for a reliable fixed fiber connection. For uninterrupted mobile data, explore prepaid promos or postpaid plans and start your learning journey today!