Learning styles are one of the most crucial factors in determining how well you learn. Your learning style is the way that you best understand information.

We all have different learning methods, but we don't always understand how to use them. When helping students learn, understanding their unique learning styles can help you teach everyone effectively. 

Learning a new skill can be challenging, but you can make it easier by understanding your optimal learning style. Knowing your learning style can help you find the best method for absorbing new information and help you gain mastery over any subject. In this guide, we will look at some common learning styles and provide tips for identifying yours.

Why it’s important to know your learning style

Learning styles help you understand how you best learn and process information. It allows you to learn concepts and theories faster. A quantitative study used quantitative and numerical data (Nithya Dewi Subramaniam Chetty). It aimed to discover how teaching and learning styles affect students’ performance. 

The results concluded that teaching styles directly affect students' performance and learning outcomes. The most preferred learning and teaching style was visual. It’s important to identify individual learning styles for several reasons. Sometimes a student may feel like they’re falling behind. They might think they aren’t intelligent when using an unsuitable learning method. It's good to know your learning style to use it to your advantage in the future.

Irene Anderson’s research proves the importance of knowing which learning style works best for an individual. Identifying your learning style “can be a useful way to optimize learning opportunities.”

Learning styles are interchangeable 

People can learn in many different ways and often change their learning methods as they grow and develop. Teachers should encourage students to experiment with other styles and materials to see what works best. When it comes down to it, no one knows your learning style better than you! Teachers should help students identify their learning styles to take advantage of their strengths while working on improving any areas where they may be falling short. Journal Owl also has features that you can use to enhance your study habits. 

Different types of personal learning styles

Visual learners

Visual learners are people who learn best by seeing and hearing. They might remember information they have seen or heard well, but it can be difficult for them to remember things without any visual aids. They tend to have highly photographic memories. Visual learners typically use pictures, graphs, or charts as study tools because these help them recall the information better than words alone. 

• If you're a visual learner, you might remember more from lectures if they include images or diagrams. 
• You enjoy keeping a visual record of your progress by creating graphs or timelines that show how far you have come along in achieving set goals.
• Visual learning also includes reading and watching videos. 
• You might find that it helps to use color coding in your notes and mind maps to help organize information. 

How to study as a visual learner 

Visual learners often prefer taking notes in a way that is easy for them to understand; they may draw pictures of key concepts on the board, write down important points from lectures as well as any questions they have about the material or use sticky notes with information written on them so that it's easy for them later on when reviewing notes taken during class time (or even those taken during study sessions). 

Visual learners can benefit from using flashcards because they can see the words on one side of the card and picture themselves saying them aloud (or vice versa).

Auditory learners

Also known as aural learners, such individuals learn best by listening. They enjoy listening to music and talking, whether it's a conversation with a friend or a podcast on their commute home. Aural learners often enjoy watching movies, as well. 

If you're an auditory learner, you learn best by listening. You might like to repeat things out loud or read them aloud to yourself. You could also write things down or talk about them with others. Take notes of your lectures or what you heard in class to ingrain it in your mind. 

Auditory learners may enjoy the following: 

• Lectures or podcasts on their phones while they walk around town.
• Take notes during class, then go home and read them over again as they prepare for exams (or just because they want to).
• Writing down new vocabulary words as they come up in conversation with friends and family members

How to study as an auditory learner 

Auditory learners learn best through hearing information, so they should listen to their Professors. If you're an auditory learner, try listening to a recording of your class. You can also listen to audiobooks while studying or even read books aloud. If you can, hear the material being presented verbally rather than reading it on paper, you learn much faster.

Kinesthetic learners

Kinesthetic learners enjoy hands-on activities and get bored with the passive learning style.

Students inside a Science Laboratory · Free Stock Photo (pexels.com)

Do you like to learn by doing? If so, you’re a kinesthetic learner. Kinesthetic learners are the people who learn best by doing, feeling, and touching. They love to move around while learning, and they're always willing to get their hands dirty when it comes time for a project or experiment. They like to learn by practice and are often very good at problem-solving.

Kinesthetic learning styles include:

Tactile (touching) - These people prefer physical interaction with things. Be it touching objects or other people but also includes feeling textures such as fabrics against their skin

Kinesthetic learners usually have strong memories of physical experiences: if something was fun, they remember it forever; if something was boring or uncomfortable (like sitting through long lectures), they probably forget most of what happened during that period. Kinesthetic learners often have trouble sitting still in class or listening to lectures because they can't see how it will benefit them later (or they hate sitting still).

Tactile learners

Tactile learners prefer hands-on activities like touching, feeling, and doing. They are often good at crafts, art, and sports.

They are a subgroup of kinesthetic learners who benefit from their five senses to learn new information. Tactile learning can take place through many modes, including: 

• Written language or verbal instruction
• Listening to lectures
• Reading books
• Watching videos
• Using technology such as computers or tablets (iPad)
• Participating in role-playing activities with other people who have this skill set 

Tactile learners are more likely to remember things by touching them. They might like to write notes in a notebook. Most enjoy reading books and magazines, 

How to study as a kinesthetic/tactile learner 

Kinesthetic learners need to be doing something with their bodies to learn effectively. They may be visual learners who need to see something before they understand it but also benefit from being able to touch, hold and move objects around as they learn new concepts. Kinesthetic learners might prefer hands-on activities where they can feel the world around them to build confidence in themselves and understand concepts that are new or challenging for them.

Linguistic learners

Linguistic learners are good at communication as well as reading and writing. They like to talk about what they've read or heard, so it's easy for them to learn in a group setting. A student who’s a linguistic or verbal learner will understand concepts well when they make presentations. They tend to enjoy field trips and interactive exercises. 

Asking and answering questions from the professor also aids such learners. 

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Such students can get frustrated by people who don't understand their verbal explanations. Teachers could make time for questions and answers during lessons. Linguistic learners can be successful at any level of education, from kindergarten through university. They may find themselves excelling in subjects like literature or history because these subjects emphasize reading and writing over other forms of expression (like math).

They learn best in groups and are motivated by praise and recognition, meaning they’re great team members and leaders. Linguistic learners are good at communicating, which is good if you want your group to work well together! Such individuals will be more willing to lead group discussions or class presentations. 

How to study as a linguistic learner 

Taking down notes during classes helps. These can be for study and further revision before tests and exams. It’s helpful to find books relating to your courses. These can help further your knowledge and understanding of the subject. Spending time at the library and resource center could be beneficial. 

Logical Learners

Logical learners are curious and like to know the facts. They understand the rules and patterns of things, so they can predict what will happen in similar situations. Logical learners are good at figuring out how things work, but they may have trouble understanding why something works or what it means for them.

They learn best when there's a logical sequence or purpose behind learning. If you’re a logical learner, you might learn best by following step-by-step instructions or activities that require you to solve problems based on your knowledge of cause and effect. (For example: "If I do this first thing, then this second thing happens next"). Logical learners like learning new information related to their field. If someone is interested in architecture, they’ll probably be more interested in books about buildings than fiction novels!

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Logical learners tend to be good at math, physics or science.

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How to study as a logical learner 

If you’re a logical learner, you might enjoy reading books about interesting subjects. Mental games like chess, sudoku, word puzzles, and the like might be enjoyable. Chess, for example, requires logic, deduction, and tactics. For logical thinkers and learners, it helps sharpen your mental aptitude. You can also study for certain subjects by taking quizzes or multiple-choice questions.  

Solitary Learners

Solitary learners are often introverts and may prefer to work alone. They might not like to share their ideas, or they might feel that collaboration is a waste of time. Such individuals tend to be more left-brained, meaning they are more logical and rational than right-brained (more creative). 

A lot of geniuses are solitary learners. They tend to work by themselves, preferring quiet and peaceful environments. It allows their ideas to flow more freely without outside disturbances. 

How to study as a solitary learner 

If you’re a solitary learner, you might enjoy studying at the library or in the privacy of your dorm room. You could also find nice cafés and restaurants to catch up on assignments. 

Try to avoid crowded and noisy areas as you could be distracted, resulting in less productivity. 

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How to identify which learning style works for you? 

As we took you through the different learning styles, you might have recognized yours. According to Darlene Fierro, every child has a personal learning style “from innate tendencies and environmental experiences.” For some individuals, you might have two or three learning styles that work for them. If none resonates with you, or you’re still uncertain about your learning style, there’s no need to worry. The following section will guide you through this process. 

Ask yourself these questions:

• How do you prefer to study or learn? 
• Do you enjoy learning in groups or by yourself? 
• Do you like learning through lectures or studying on your own? 
• Do you get bored if there’s a lack of visual stimuli? 
• Which learning method is suitable for you? 

1. Listening - Auditory learner 
2. Discussion - Auditory Learner
3. Reading & writing - Linguistic/verbal learner 
4. Group work - Kinesthetic learner 
5. Activities - Kinesthetic learner 
6. Quizzes - Logical learner
7. Presentations - Visual learner 
8. Research or studying alone - Solitary learner 

By asking yourself these questions, you’ll get a rough idea of which learning style suits you. Even if you’re still unsure, you’ll at least know what doesn’t work for you. 

Radhwan Hussein Ibrahim et al. did a study assessing Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic learning styles among undergraduate nursing students. They used stratified random sampling for data collection. The results confirmed that the Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic learning style of the study sample was (40.0%),(29.5%), and 30.5%. Most females prefer auditory learning (30.3%), and males kinesthetic learning style (32.3%).

When identifying your learning style, consider how you feel when learning something new. Do you prefer listening, Reading? Or maybe even doing hands-on activities? Once identified, there are many ways that people can use their learning styles to their advantage in school and beyond! Let's take a look at some common types of personal learning styles and how they affect the way you study. 

Knowing your learning style can help you find the best way to learn a new skill

Knowing your learning style is part of the learning process. Be it something as simple as learning a new language or something more complex like becoming an expert programmer.

A journal study by Carol L. Brady had tests to discover how learning styles affect the learning process. They used different learning styles in childbearing classes to help parents. The results showed that knowing the learning styles of the parents allowed teachers to provide the ultimate environment and maximum learning. 

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses can help you to find the best way to learn a new skill. For example, if you're a visual learner who likes working with diagrams and pictures, finding information online may work well because many resources contain images. If auditory information helps reinforce what you've read or seen before, reading text-based articles might not be enough!

In addition to knowing which types of activities work best for each student (and whether they prefer one method over another), there are also different levels within each category:

Low: These students need little guidance when performing tasks. They lean towards independence rather than collaboration when working alone. They prefer not having too many choices since this can distract them from focusing on any present task. Such individuals don't mind having some control over how quickly things get done but aren't afraid of waiting.

Moderate: These students enjoy being guided through tasks but need regular check-ins from others during periods where no guidance is required (for example, while practicing on their own). They enjoy making decisions based on feedback from others instead. 

Using JournalOwl to enhance your learning style 

Students can pick YouTube videos on different educational topics and study them together on the Journal Owl platform. It’s ideal for someone with a propensity for visual learning. You could also use a classical eBook or upload your white paper. You could read/comment on the white paper on our platform and then meet over a Zoom video session to discuss the subject matter. Create a journey that is a step-by-step deep dive into a media type (e.g., video, book) to work through a subject as a group.

Conclusion

Learning styles can change. You can change your preferred style and experience different types of learning. That is important because it shows how flexible you are as a learner and how you can use this knowledge to adapt to new situations or overcome obstacles that might seem difficult at first glance.

Experimenting with different learning styles is a great way to see what works best. It can help you learn new skills faster, remember more information, and find the correct stimulation for your brain.

We hope that this article has helped you to identify your learning style and how to use it to your advantage. Remember that our brains are different, so there's no right or wrong way of learning!

References 

Learning Styles and Teaching Styles Determine Students' Academic Performances:

By: Nithya Dewi Subramaniam Chetty, Lina Handayani, Noor Azida Sahabudin, Zuraina Ali, Norhasyimah Hamzah, Nur Shamsiah Abdul Rahman, Shahreen Kasim

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1238274.pdf

Identifying different learning styles to enhance the learning experience.

By: Irene Anderson

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?start=60&q=personal+learning+style&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5#d=gs_qabs&t=1677749777897&u=%23p%3DdKFeDP77iikJ

Understanding Learning Styles: Providing the Optimal Learning Experience

By: Carol L. Brady, MA

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carol-Brady/publication/236793207_International_Journal_of_Childbirth_Education/links/02e7e5193bf67de99f000000/International-Journal-of-Childbirth-Education.pdf

Is There a Difference in Learning Style among Cultures?

By: Darlene Fierro

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED415974.pdf

Assessment of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles among undergraduate nursing students

Radhwan Hussein Ibrahim, Dhia-Alrahman Hussein

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Prof-Dr-Hussein-Ibrahim/publication/285618494_Assessment_of_visual_auditory_and_kinesthetic_learning_style_among_undergraduate_nursing_students/links/575f142c08aec91374b4345f/Assessment-of-visual-auditory-and-kinesthetic-learning-style-among-undergraduate-nursing-students.pdf?_sg%5B0%5D=started_experiment_milestone&origin=journalDetail&_rtd=e30%3D