Learning Styles and

Effective Study

Strategies

By Courtney Rohrig and Kellie Welsh

What are the differences in High School Vs. College?

Class Size

No authority figure enforcing school attendance.

I.E. Parents

Not as much one on one time with professor

Participation isn’t always necessary in big lectures

Difficulties in paying attention in new setting.

Many distractions like meeting new people, parties, etc.

Three Types of Learning Styles?

What are they?

What do you think each entails?

Learning Styles

Visual

Auditory

Tactile

Visual Learners

Learn best by seeing information & are good at seeing the “big picture”

For example they often incorporate

Maps

Graphs

Pictures into their notes as visual aids

They make “movies in their minds” to further interpret information that they are reading

They often construct summaries in hopes to remember details

Based strongly off the body language of the teacher.

Facial expression, eye contact, stance of teacher

Visual Learners Characteristics

Learn through seeing

Reader/observer

Usually neat and clean

Attracted to language rich in imagery

Think in pictures and diagrams

Can often be distracted by their surroundings, such as things in the classroom, lecture hall, what’s going on outside, etc.

Physical appearance is important to how they view others

Studying Techniques for the Visual LearnersFlashcards.

Organization of notes (color coordinate)

Sit in the front row

Highlighting important information in texts

Visual metaphors

Videos

Study in a quiet environment

Review photographs and diagrams in text.

Set-up meetings with teacher to clarify any problems or questions

Auditory Learners

Learn best by listening and hearing information.

Accurately remember information heard or explained in lectures, conversations and audio books.

Strong language skills, meaning a strong vocabulary and love for words.

Usually find learning a foreign language easy and are often musical.

Auditory Characteristics

Tend to read things out loud to themselves

Usually not afraid to speak out in class

Good at explaining things to others

Often remember names easily

Follows directions well

Enjoy whole group discussions as well as group work

Prefer lecture settings

Study Strategies for Auditory Learners

Record class lectures to go back and review lessons

Participate in small and large group discussions prior to studying independently

Group study

Answer questions orally

Repetition of material

Read out loud

Tactile Learners

Learn best by doing.

Can use just the hands not necessarily full body activities to learn.

Tactile Characteristics

Best in lab settings.

Can not sit still for long periods

Often does not have great handwriting.

Often fidgety during lectures

Enjoys studying with loud music.

Study Strategies for Tactile Learners

Study in groups.

Take breaks while studying and study in new places.

Highlight key ideas.

Use a mind map, outline or draw information.

Make real objects to understand.

Ex) studying geography, use a globe.

Keep desk clear of distracting objects.

Chew gum while studying

Use memory games.

Take field trips such as visiting a museum.

General Study strategies

What are some of your strategies for studying?

Strategies

Reading

Skimming

Outlining

Highlighting

Note taking

Different Learning Strategies:

Learning to learn: it’s important to know yourself, your capacity to learn and understand your own personal interests.

Active learning: actually taking responsibility for your own learning by exploring different learning techniques and seeing which work best for you.

Language learning: exploring different options of language that match your strengths and interests: for example listening, reading, writing, memorizing, speaking.

Environment Plays as Major Role

Quiet vs. Loud

Group vs. individual

Inside vs. outside

Time of day

Helpful Tips

Find an environment you feel is best to study in (library, outside, in your dorm room, near the ocean, wherever.)

Find a time that works for you. What time of the day are you most efficient? In the morning, afternoon, night?

Figure out if you are more beneficial alone or with a study partner or study group (maybe even both)?

Take into account course type and material

Ex) learning vocabulary, physics, reading.

Time ManagementBalance Your Time

Studying

Homework

Reading Texts

Working out

Social life

Family

All of these are important, cant just focus on one of them

Studying for ExamsCrunch time Vs. Daily reviewing of notes

Reading text as you are learning the new material in class- either before, or after.

Attend review sessions (SI, AEC, group collaborations)

Do practice problems

Review old exams

Get a good night rest

Eat well (be sure to eat a healthy breakfast)

Test type - Multiple choice, essay questions, short answer

Course Type

Different classes require different strategies for studying

Communication Vs. Engineering

Communication courses will spend a lot of time preparing presentations, speeches, papers, whereas engineering major will focus a lot on test taking and problem solving.

Study within your learning community

Helpful Sites:

Learning Style examples. URI 101 Website

http://www.uri.edu/mentors/abc.php

http://www.uri.edu/library/

http://www.uri.edu/aec/

Helpful Places on Campus

The Academic Enhancement Center:

Tutoring

Supplemental Instruction

One on one coaching

Time management course

http://www.uri.edu/aec/

Library

Not only serves as a place to study but a place to seek information from books, encyclopedias, articles, journals, internet, etc.

Constantly surrounded by people so it can be a good place to ask for help. Helpful for those who study best with loud noises. But also includes the quiet floor as well.

Good spot to meet for interviews, review sessions and group study.

Online resources like The Helin Catalog, curriculum materials library, etc.

http://www.uri.edu/library/