How Do I Learn?

It's wild to think that I was in my twenties when I first asked myself that question. I'd managed to make it through school and a number of jobs never really having taken the time to understand my learning. Learning was, for lack of a better term, something that just happened.

So, not long ago, I asked a friend how she'd managed her way through medical school. Granted, we've lived miles and miles apart since high school so our conversations and emails are always relatively cordial. But she never complained. She never mentioned the stress or the grueling hours.

When I asked her I phrased it gently. I simply said, how is it that you've managed to be so relaxed through medical school and be such a successful student?

Her retort? She said, you don't mean 'successful student', you mean 'nerd'. Of course, after the joking around was done, it was her admission that she was lucky enough to learn her learning style early on.

She explained to me that everyone has a way of learning that's best for them. Perhaps a lack of success in previous academic efforts can be attributed to learning the 'wrong' way.

Now, depending on which source you reference there's between three and five distinct leanring styles.

1. Auditory Learning: I have found that this one is my style. Auditory learners are about 25% of the population. We learn best by listening to lectures, oral presentations, and with sound in the background. It's been suggested (and I know this is true for me) that it's beneficial for auditory learners to have background noise while studying or just reading. Now I understand why I always liked having the television on while I read a book.

Interesting note: if you're an auditory/aural learner, you will probably go and tell someone about this article.

2. Kinesthetic Learning: If you're a kinesthetic learner you probably learn best by doing. You're better off acting out an activity or labratory exercise than having it simply explained for you. You're much more likely to work through an exercise and "naturally discover" the finer points. You're less likely to think through a whole process before you begin it.

3. Visual Learning: This one is exactly what it sounds like. You, as a visual learner, are best off being presented with information graphically. If you're studying a series of concepts you may try webbing terms together or referencing powerpoints on your instructors blackboard site. Things like concept maps work for you.

Here's a quiz you can take. It seems to be geared more towards kids but it should do the trick. Feel free to search around online for something else. If you find a good one, let me know about it.

http://www.educationplanner.com/education_planner/discovering_article.asp?sponsor=2859&articleName=Learning_Styles_Quiz

Happy learning!