THE UNIVERSITY LEARNING CENTRE
Study Skills Resource
What Learning Style Are You?
Understanding what your learning style is can help you tailor your study habits to the way
that you learn best. Understanding what will be most effective for you as an individual will
help you work smarter rather than harder.
Visual Learners
•
•
Prefer to have a picture to
view when something is
being described
Carefully file and organize
class notes and other
learning materials
•
Prefer written instructions
over verbal instructions
•
Appreciate photographs and
illustrations to accompany
printed content
•
Prefer a time-line or some
other similar diagram to
remember historical events
Audio Learners
Kinesthetic Learners
•
Remember what others say
very well
•
Remember best what they
do
•
Remember best through by
saying things aloud and
verbal repetition
•
•
Prefer to discuss ideas they
do not immediately
understand
Excel when given
opportunities to build and
physically handle learning
materials
•
Remember best through
getting physically involved in
whatever is being learnt
•
Enjoy acting out a situation
relevant to the study topic
•
Are particularly creative and
often think outside the box
•
•
Remember verbal
instructions well
Enjoy opportunities to
present dramatically,
including the use of music
•
Find it difficult to work
quietly for long periods of
time
•
Actively engage in class by
taking notes on paper or by
using laptop
•
Often enjoy interacting with
others in study groups
•
Enjoy decorating their
learning spaces
•
Remember and understand
best through the use of
diagrams, charts and maps
•
Are easily distracted by
noise, but also easily
distracted by silence
•
Study materials by reading
notes and organizing
material in an outline or
concept map
•
Verbally express interest and
enthusiasm
•
Enjoy class and group
discussions
www.usask.ca/ulc
For more information on study skills, please visit our website.
Study Skills Resource
What Learning Style Are You? – Page 2
Important Tips to Keep in Mind
• Do what works for you! Find out what works and stick with it. No matter how unconventional or
contrary to theory- if it works, keep it up.
• Play to your strengths. If you know what you are good at, build on that by incorporating strategies
that incorporate your learning style.
• Learn from those around you. The best person to learn study skills from is a successful student.
Find out how your smart friends learn, and try it out.
Learning Tips
Visual Learners
Audio Learners
Kinesthetic Learners
•
Use charts, maps, films,
posters and visual aids
•
Form study groups to discuss •
topics
Pace back and forth while
reviewing and reciting notes
•
Focus on the speaker’s face
and how they speak and
move
•
Read and recite out loud
•
Join a study group
•
Record information so you
can listen to it again later
•
Set a goal on paper and post
it near your work area
•
Associate things with music
and limericks
Shift positions often and stay
active by moving your legs,
chewing on gum or doodling
•
•
Work in a quiet area, away
from visual distraction
•
•
Highlight important ideas
with different colors
Memorize by saying
important information over
and over again
Create study materials such
as flashcards and mindmaps
using colours and drawings
•
Use colored transparencies
to make white paper more
interesting
•
Study away from your desk
in different locations
•
Try studying in different
positions, like lying on the
floor or pacing
•
Take frequent breaks where
you do something physical
such as going for a short
walk
•
•
Say your goal out loud
•
Use verbal analogies and
story telling to demonstrate
your point
•
Use flash cards
•
Form pictures in your mind
and use guided imagery
•
Use color codes
•
•
Re-write notes by covering
notes and rewriting, cover
notes and rewrite …
Talk outloud and explain
difficult concepts to yourself
•
Record your notes as audio
files
Form pictures in your mind
•
Listen to music or tapes
while studying
•
Check out these links for more information on Learning Styles
o
Abiators. “Learning Style Assessment.” http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/lsi/lsiframe.html
o
Melmetics High Performance Learning. “Learning Styles Online.” http://www.learning-styles-online.com
Source for VAK Graphics: http://beskoproject.wikispaces.com/Universal+Design+for+Learning
www.usask.ca/ulc
For more information on study skills, please visit our website.