Rebecca Hammond

Link to Original Content: ​https://rebeccahhammond.com/2019/01/10/student-life-learning-techniques/ Learning Techniques: Looking, Listening, Doing When you are in the midst of studying, it is very easy to focus on the task at hand and underestimate the way you are doing it. Most educational systems, Ireland’s included, are based on a learn and regurgitate system. Information is given to students then learn it to a point that it can be recited verbatim. While the Irish school’s system is improving and moving towards a more critical thinking, creative approach, it still fails to engage with many of it’s students leaving them confused, lacking confidence and stressed. If, like me, you enjoy learning how to improve processes, it is important to look at your learning style before you start studying. This guide will help you identify the best way to study for you and how to work smarter, not harder. When researching learning techniques, it is easy to get bombarded with information about different learning styles. From the​ ​Neil Fleming’s VARK model​ which encompasses 4 modes of learning, visual, auditory/aural, reading/writing and kinesthetic to​ G ​ ardner’s ​Theory of Intelligence​ which has 7 modes of learning, learning theories are broad and many so it’s important not to get too bogged down in the theory. For the purpose of this article, I will be discussing the 3 most popular modes of learning, visual, auditory and writing. Utilise these ability by using All of these are traditional ways of learning and there are many resources that can be used to utilise these abilities. I would like to stress however, this is only a guide. Each mode of learning is a step off point to learn more about your own individual learning style. We don’t all fit into one box. We might fit into many or all of them. No one person learns the same but it is up to you to figure out which mode of learning is most effective for you and how to monopolise on them. So let's go learn something: Link to Original Content: ​https://rebeccahhammond.com/2019/01/10/student-life-learning-techniques/ Visual Learning A Visual learner uses what they can see to help them learn. From graphs to images, visual learners are graphic organisers, organising information into graphs to help them learn information. According to research conducted by​ ​AEL​, this helps with information retention, reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. Video Presentation Two words:​ ​Crash Course​. From world history to statistics, they have covered pretty much everything you need to know. This is a great resource for familiarising yourself with concepts before delving into your further reading. They have even created a handy​ ​study skills series​. This resource is also useful to auditory learners as well. Mind Maps Popplet If you love mind maps or brainstorming, Popplet is for you. This app lets you insert pictures and facts into a mind map around any idea. Available from the​ A ​ pp Store​. MindMeister If you are using an Android and can’t get Popplet, MindMeister is a great alternative. Available from​ ​Google Play​ and from the​ ​App Store​. The great thing about MindMeister is that you can collaborate in real-time with your classmates so you can pool your resources and notes. That’s what I call smart learning. Online Notes Padlet If you prefer notes that are more linear in nature, Padlet is a great alternative. Padlet allows you to create noticeboard-like notes from your desktop. Depending on the style you use, you can create a noticeboard for each subject or topic. Add images and links from other websites to make your notes functional. The only downside is that there is a subscription fee. At $12 per Link to Original Content: ​https://rebeccahhammond.com/2019/01/10/student-life-learning-techniques/ month or $99 per year, it is a bit steep but offers visually striking notes, which are perfect for a visual learner. Available from the​ ​App Store​ or​ ​Google Play​. Google Keep A free alternative to Padlet is Google Keep available on your desktop and other devices. Google Keep is pretty basic and you may need to arrange your notes manually into categories but it is a great alternative. Like Padlet, you can attach images and external links. Available from the​ ​App Store​ or​ G ​ oogle Play​. Auditory Learning An Auditory learner learns by listening and talking to others. Individuals who are auditory learners may find it difficult to understand concepts that are written down but if the information is written in a linear way, it is easier to understand. Auditory learners are great at listening and communicating ideas verbally. Therefore, it stands to reason that auditory learners understand a concept fully when they have discussed it verbally. While these resources are different from others on the list, please note that​ C ​ rash Course​ is also useful for auditory learners. Audio Books Audible As auditory learning involves listening to information, where else is better to start than a book that is read to you. Audible is a popular choice when it comes to audio books ranging from fiction to biography but it can be pricey. At £7.99 per month, you can choose from over 425,000 titles. Available from​ ​Amazon. Local Libraries If you want a cheaper alternative, why not go to your local library? Now you may ask, how is an auditory learner supposed to learn from books?Well, the library doesn’t only deal in Link to Original Content: ​https://rebeccahhammond.com/2019/01/10/student-life-learning-techniques/ printed books any more. With a library card you can access ebooks, audiobooks and courses, all of which are free. All you have to do is visit your local library and get a library card. For details above your local library and their services visit​ ​Libraries Ireland​. For a list of online series available look​ ​here​. Teaching someone else Sometimes, to understand a concept, you have to talk it out. I find that sometimes when I am trying to formulate an essay plan or trying to understand something, talking it out really helps. You can talk to yourself, your cat, a parent or anyone who will listen. I personally like the talking to yourself in the car approach. Talking about the concept and working through the problem verbally can help solidify the idea in your mind. Another good technique is teaching the concept to someone else. This may seem odd as you can’t teach something until you know it but trying to teach something to someone will help create links in your brain between ideas and create a full concept. Again, you can do this on your own or you can teach a pet that loves to learn about photosynthesis. Kinesthetic Learning Kinesthetic learning is definitely something I think should be used more in the classroom. Individuals who use this mode of learning, are tactile and like to get their hands dirty. People who favour kinesthetic learning learn more when in an on-the-job situation or simulation environment. In other words, if you love active learning, you more than likely use a kinesthetic mode of learning. Quizlet Most school use Quizlet. From creating study cards to creating quizzes, this is a great way to inject some fun into learning. If you don’t fancy making your own cards, there are already over 290,000 study sets available to use. Just make sure that you’re using the right one! Available from​ ​Google Play​ and the​ A ​ pp Store Sparknotes Link to Original Content: ​https://rebeccahhammond.com/2019/01/10/student-life-learning-techniques/ Okay, so not only is​ ​Sparknotes​ a saviour for most English lit students but it’s also a great place to test your knowledge. Since I’ve started using Sparknotes, they have extended their base from English literature to Maths and Biology, all with challenging quizzes and tasks that will put your knowledge to the test. Finding your way If you find that diagrams in your book are difficult to understand or you don’t remember the information, why not draw one yourself? Kinesthetic learners are more effective when making their own notes. Make them as bright or as dull as you want. If it means drawing the same diagram over and over to remember the information, then grab yourself some markers or your tablet and start drawing. Kinesthetic learning is all about dealing with physical objects and tasks to learn. But it can be difficult to be hands on when it comes to complex maths equations but what about the practical subjects. It may sound silly, but take Biology for example. No matter how many diagrams of flowers are in a book or taken down in notes, sometimes it is easier to pick up the actual physical object and try and identify parts yourself. Finding Your Style Remember regardless of your learning style, fast or slow, linear or creative, you will learn what you need to learn in your own time. I will be writing about the other learning styles soon. If you find that none of the above apply to you, why not comment below and tell me which mode(s) of learning you use and I will include them in the next learning guide. For more exam prep articles, click​ h ​ ere​. Photo Credit:​ ​Matt Ragland​ on U ​ nsplash