Every student has a specific method they use to memorise information more quickly and effectively. While some take notes, some draw diagrams, and some take notes while listening to lectures, there is no one learning style for all students.
Below are the four main types of learning styles, though you will often find that people prefer more than one learning style.
Visual Learning Style
Visual learners find it easier when information is presented through different visual aids. Examples of these visual aids are graphs, diagrams, maps and charts. For visual learners, showing the relationships between different ideas visually is the best way to convey information and they often like using colour coding in their learning.
Auditory Learning Style
Audio learners are individuals who take in information more effectively when it is spoken or heard. Rather than thinking ideas through before speaking, they often sort them after speaking. Speaking aloud helps them understand concepts better. Unlike visual learners, auditory learners learn best when information is presented verbally such as in lectures and group discussions.
Kinaesthetic Learning Style
A kinaesthetic learner prefers to be active and hands-on when learning. In order for them to understand something, they need tactile experiences since they are typically more in touch with reality and more connected to it. An effective way to introduce new information to a kinaesthetic learner is via personal experience, practising and following examples.
Reading & Writing Learning Style
The best way to convey information to reading/writing learners is through words. They find written text to be more effective to their learning than other visual or auditory representations. Reading/writing learners tend to perform well on written tasks. For these learners, writing and re-reading their notes is an effective way of learning new information and revising for exams.