Revision can feel like never-ending hard work, but finding out which learning style suits teens and tweens best will help make it easier, more effectively, and in a way that feels right for them.
Have you ever wondered how a classmate seems to pick up information after hearing it once, while you zone out if you have to listen for too long? Or maybe you enjoy creating colourful mind maps, while your friend finds them confusing.
If this is the case, you’ve likely come across someone who learns in a different way from you. Understanding different learning styles can help you tailor your study sessions to suit your personal needs, making them more efficient and productive.
UNDERSTANDING HOW YOU LEARN BEST
Once you’ve established your preferred way of learning, you can use the below tips and techniques to study in a way that feels right for you. You could also mix and match different techniques to see what helps things click.
Tips for visual learners
If you retain information best by viewing pictures or images, it could be helpful to incorporate colour into your notes. Try using highlighters and choose different colours for each topic. Other techniques include creating mind maps, diagrams, charts, and doodles that display the information you need to learn. You could even draw a cartoon strip telling the story of a historic event you need to memorise. You might also benefit from watching videos that present information visually.
Tips for aural learners
If you’re most receptive to information that you hear aloud, try listening to podcasts about the topic you need to revise. Instead of relying on rereading notes, try creating rhymes or songs about subjects you’re studying in school to help you remember the facts you need. It can also be useful for aural learners to have things explained aloud to them, so don’t be afraid to ask your teacher to rephrase something if you didn’t understand the first time.
Tips for reading/writing learners
If reading information and writing out notes is your go-to technique, it’s worth breaking up your study sessions to allow your learning to sink in. Try reading your textbook and taking notes, then have a break. Come back and review your notes, then have another break. When you come back to your notes again, condense what you’ve written into sentences that fit onto flashcards. This consolidates the information even further and means you can read back over everything much more quickly next time.
Tips for kinaesthetic learners
If you need to be physically engaged to learn information, use revision techniques like making flashcards and creating games where you carry out a physical action. For example, if you’re learning a language, you could try a Snap-style card game, where you match flashcards with vocabulary from your chosen language to their English translation. Another suggested method is to walk and talk. This involves explaining information aloud while walking (sometimes, just pacing around a room is enough). Be creative as you think of ways to include physical movement in your revision – the more fully engaged you are with what you’re doing, the better those facts will stick with you.
WORDS: Heather Casey Leigh
ILLUSTRATIONS: Fangfang Han
This article was originally published under the title It’s How YOU Learn in Issue 48 – From the Heart. You can get this issue here to enjoy more mindful inspiration.
