Don’t be confused: this is not actually a fashion post. The styles I want to talk about are learning styles, and the reason why is that our education system can actually box you in and keep you from getting good grades if you let it. You can let it do this to you if you simply don’t know yourself.
So what’s the deal with learning styles? Well, the Wikipedia article that I linked to talks about all kinds of learning styles, but what I really want to focus on is Neil Flemming‘s ideas.
from eco-alternativa.com
Neil Fleming’s idea of learning styles is basically this: say some one is trying to teach you to fish.
- Visual learners would learn best by watching some one fish.
- Auditory learners would learn best by having some one verbally explain to them how to do it.
- Kinesthetic learners would learn best by taking the fishing pole in their own hands and doing it themselves.
- Readers/writers, the 4th learning style not listed on the graphic, would learn best by reading about fishing, or by writing out how to fish, whether that’s through words, or drawing, or whatever.
Here’s the catch when it comes to school: most classrooms are only geared toward Auditory learning and reading/writing. So what about all my visual and kinethetic peeps? What happens to you guys?
Well check it out. If your results come back as visual or kinesthetic, experiment with some ideas for studying that might be outside of what you are used to, or how you’ve been told to study in the past. Even if you’re aural or read/write, just sitting down and reading through your text book might not be your best bet for the test coming up. My girlfriend for instance writes short little songs about her topic that she sings while she studies and on her way to take her exams. It might sound funny but she ain’t kiddin’ around when it comes to her GPA.
Another thing to be encouraged about is that you’re not alone. Find out which of your friends has similar learning styles as you, and study with them, experiment with them.
Take this quiz and figure out what your style is.
Figure yourself out and bust the box our learning system can put you in. I guess this is the scholar’s way of sticking it to the man?
