Samantha Yorke is an Assistant Director and Success Coach for the Office of Undergraduate Student Success at NSU. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and her Master of Science degree in Higher Education from Florida State University. Samantha is a proud Floridian with a passion for empowering others.
Wouldn’t it be nice to feel confident that your study methods were the best way to learn material? Well…it’s possible. There are three different learning styles and one of them has your name written all over it.
These styles are: visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Each one calls for different study methods and strategies for your success at NSU.
Let’s break down these styles in more detail.
Visual
A visual learner learns best by taking in what they see. These learners need to have minimal distractions, organized material to read in front of them and visual cues in their notes. Note pads, post-its and to-do lists are a visual learner’s friend. They benefit from strategies like flash cards, repetition and active participation in class. Visual learners can maximize their success by making outlines and drawing out material to visually see what it is they need to learn.
Auditory
An auditory learner learns best by taking in what they hear. They should listen to the words that the professor is saying in class, rehearse that information out loud and discuss class material openly with others. Auditory learners do better in their courses when they attend lectures regularly and sit away from doors or windows to reduce auditory distractions. They may benefit from tape recording information. Openly conversing about material in group study sessions and sharing knowledge with others out loud assist an auditory learner greatly.
Kinesthetic
A kinesthetic learner learns best by doing. These learners should actively participate in class and seek out courses that have labs, field trips and other active components. They appreciate hands-on activities because they improve their memory and interest. Kinesthetic learners learn from teaching material to others, practicing examples and using case studies to figure out abstract questions. The more practice put towards understanding a topic, the more the kinesthetic learner will understand the material.
Now that you know what the three learning styles are, you may be eager to figure out which type of learner you are. You can take the learning style inventory, which will help you discover what style you fall into, during a coaching session with the Office of Student Success at NSU.
Since you are a Shark, we already know you have class. Why not add some style to the way you go about learning your material?
