Learning Styles

Post Reply New Topic

Hi all! I've been thinking about learning styles a little bit recently, musing about how it's much easier for me to learn math on Khan Academy than it ever was in school. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that I don't have to be afraid of making mistakes (and screwing up my GPA) anymore, so I'm more willing to dive into the subject and learn than find ways to avoid it. But I think another big part of it is the interactivity. I'm a very verbal person by default - foreign language is my strongest area, followed by reading and writing. Here's the thing, though - that only extends to learning data. Once there's any need to translate that information into anything that involves actual time or space (say, visualizing a description or following directions on a project), I'm at a total loss. It just does not translate. Thus, a lot of the strategies given for teaching verbal thinkers - give lists and deliver lectures - don't really work well for me at all. One time, there was a science lab I had to do where the teacher explained how to do it, and I was pretty sure I understood everything. She then gave us written instructions and had us go to it. 10 minutes later, I was the only one who was still staring at the materials like an idiot because I couldn't figure out what to do with anything. Someone else wound up having to come over and help me out.

What helps me to learn is walking through it with someone or something and actually doing it until everything goes in correctly. Even on foreign language vocab lists, I only memorize the words by writing each one ten or twenty times in a row (My rote memory is excellent, although my short-term's really weak). So I hear all of the descriptions for how to teach verbal thinkers, and I'm just thinking to myself, "No, whatever you do, please don't do that..." So I think a lot of the sites (like Khan Academy) that I'm turning to to learn new skills are useful mostly because of the interactivity (where I can physically make sure my comprehension works), whereas in high school, everything was about lectures and notes (And I absolutely suck at note taking in lectures). Any other people who've had learning quirks like these?

My learning style seems to change as much as the weather.

I'm primarily a visual thinker, and the only way I really learn things is by doing it my self.
Sitting in a lecture is completely useless to me. I think that is partly because I have difficulty filtering out background stimuli. I'm continually scanning the room, analyzing the details of everything in the room. Any noise or movement will distract me from what the teacher is presenting.

I think that's one of the reasons why I dropped out of college 3 times within the 1st semester. The lectures are too long, and the classes are too big with too much going on in them. That and deadlines and due dates bring on far too much anxiety for me. So much I almost freeze up and can't do any assignments.

I have to do things myself, at my own pace.

I learn by hands on doing, not by listening to lectures.
I prefer to teach myself so I can learn what I want to learn when I want to learn it, at my own pace.

Trial and error.

I have no time for procedure.

The wounds eventually heal, somewhat.

Khan Academy is great for going back over math topics you learned in math class. I like it because they are verbally explaining and showing how to do the math problem. I have dyscalculia as a result of my NLD so math is not the greatest subject for me. I can do basic algebraic equations because of rote memory learning.

The way I learn is primarily visual. I have to see something in order for the information to stick with me. Very few topics I learn verbally unless it's a movie dialogue or a song heard over and over again and I can quote from them.

It's funny because NLDers are supposedly verbal learners with excellent rote memory skills and I don't learn or retain information verbally. Lol.

My learning style is Visual/Kinetic.

I most prefer trial and error. I don't like to be taught by someone actually in the room. I do like video instruction, and then performing the task to see how it comes out.

I'm mostly a visual learner.