Does your child slot into a distinct learning style?

Learning styles are as individual as the learners themselves. Learners have their own way of absorbing, processing, and retaining information. Understanding the different styles may help them change their study habits for better learning outcomes. Does your child slot into a distinct learning style? You may find it useful to identify and consider strategies that align with his/her preferences. Here we highlight visual, auditory, reading/writing, and physical learning styles – and how to apply them effectively.

• Visual learners benefit from diagrams, charts, and videos. Highlighting important information with different colours, educational videos found on YouTube, and the use of flashcards can help reinforce visual memory.
• Auditory learners, who retain information more effectively through listening, often benefit from discussions, lectures, study groups and audio material. Listening to educational podcasts, recordings and audiobooks benefit them. Reading study material out loud, and teaching a lesson to someone else, can be effective for them.
• Reading/Writing learners find writing notes and creating summaries helpful – and practice tests can improve their ability to prepare for examinations.
• Kinaesthetic or physical learners require handling material. They prefer hands-on and physical activities, so models, building blocks, or playdough that can represent ideas in a physical way are tools that help them grasp concepts. Short study sessions with breaks that include physical activity can help their concentration.

Knowing your child’s preferred learning style can help his/her ability to study, but it’s beneficial to incorporate different styles because different subjects might require different approaches. For example, a kinaesthetic approach would be effective for the biology laboratory, but a reading/writing strategy would probably work better for history.

The Department of Basic Education suggests the following study tips:

• Have all your material ready before you begin studying – pencils, pens, highlighters, paper…
• Be positive.
• Take a walk outside. A change of scenery will stimulate your learning. You’ll be surprised at how much more you take in after being outside in the fresh air.
• Break up your learning sections into manageable parts. Trying to learn too much at one time will only result in a tired, unfocused, and anxious brain.
• Keep your study sessions short but effective and reward yourself with short, constructive breaks.
• Teach your concepts to anyone who will listen. It might feel strange at first, but it is worth reading your revision notes aloud.
• Your brain learns well with colours and pictures. Try to use them whenever you can.
• Be confident with the learning areas you know well and focus your brain energy on the sections that you find more difficult to take in.
• Repetition is the key to retaining the information you are learning. Keep going – don’t give up!
• Sleeping at least eight hours every night, eating properly and drinking plenty of water are all important things you need to do for your brain. Studying for exams is like strenuous exercise, so you must be physically prepared.