Ask Dr. Diane – Today’s Question About: Online College Student’s Learning Style

I am happy to answer questions about online learning, understanding personalities, careers and job changing, personal finance, and more . . . To see the list of things I write about, see the categories to the right. 

Today’s question:  In an online-learning system, how do you identify visual and verbal learning styles, and then what is the right method to use. Maybe you can give me the information and recommendations about it. Thanks.

There are several instruments (tests) that can be taken to give you an idea of your preferred style of learning.  You may have heard of VARK, Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory (ELT), or The Index of Learning Styles .

 Although it is the most helpful to do so, you don’t necessarily have to take a formalized test to know which of the styles best fits you. A student can try several different methods of learning to see which of them provides the most benefit. 

Some clues that you might be a visual learner would be if you like to:

  • Highlight or underline things to remember them
  • Prefer to re-write notes you have taken to better remember them
  • Find charts or graphs helpful
  • Find flashcards helpful

Some clues that you might be better with verbal learning would be if you like to:

  • Talk about what you have learned
  • Do well with audio books or like to record lectures
  • Read out loud to listen to questions asked and hear your answers given.
  • Like study groups

The following site offers a free learning assessment:  http://www.learning-styles-online.com.  This site could be a good starting place to give you a idea of what your style is and to suggest ideas of things you can do to help you learn based upon your preferred style.  

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Thanks for the great question!

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