Find your learning style for success

Have you asked yourself how you learn best?  In which format/s or medium/s do you understand information quicker, easier, and most importantly, retain it all?  You may be a student, career professional, entrepreneur, work from home person, stay-at-home mom, retiree full of wisdom… We all need to keep learning and improving to be able to progress, achieve set goals, and succeed.  Does this resonate with you? If yes, then read my blog post on learning styles.

‘Learning styles refer to a range of competing and contested theories that aim to account for differences in individuals’ learning.^[1] The many theories share the proposition that humans can be classified according to their ‘style’ of learning, but differ in how the proposed styles should be defined, categorized and assessed.^[1]:8 A common concept is that individuals differ in how they learn.^[2]:266‘ – as per an article on Wikipedia

How to find your learning style

Knowledge is power,  indeed true power.  Do make use of what you know by applying it, to take calculated risks in the form of informed decisions.  Those who lack access to enough information can sometimes be taken advantage of by ill-intentioned, unscrupulous people.  So, do put your knowledge to practice in all spheres of life, for the better.  In other words, take action based on what you learn.

Just a brief overview of some learning style models (as on the Wikipedia article I’m referring to):

• David Kolb‘s model is based on experiential learning.

• Peter Honey and Alan Mumford‘s model shows four learning styles as the activist, reflector, theorist, and pragmatist.

• Walter Burke Barbe and colleagues proposed three learning modalities, namely visualising, auditory, and kinesthetic modalities (known as the VAK acronym).

• Neil Fleming‘s VAK/VARK model shows four sensory modalities.  They are visual, auditory, physical, and social learnings.

• Anthony Gregorc’s model (by Anthony Gregorc and Kathleen Butler) shows different learning styles.  Individuals acquire and process information differently, as ‘There are four combinations of perceptual qualities and ordering abilities based on dominance: concrete sequential, abstract random, abstract sequential, and concrete random’.

• Cognitive approaches by Anthony Grasha and Sheryl Riechmann. Their learning styles are avoidance, participative, competitive, collaborative, dependent, and independent.

• The NASSP model is one by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). 

You can find out in more detail by reading this Wikipedia article on learning styles.

Critiques of learning models

While many models support learning styles, on the other hand, there are criticisms against them as well.  How effective are they?  Can they be relied on? And so on.

My favorite ways to learn

When it comes to me, I have a mixture of different ways. I’m very grateful to have studied mostly online for my university degree (through blended learning)! Even though I had a traditional classroom schooling during my early years, I chose to study part-time (while having a full-time corporate job) for my business degree from a UK university.  

Now that I work from home, as my own boss, I continue learning skills to grow my businesses and also my blog.  I regularly take online video courses, read articles, books, ebooks, and sometimes listen to podcasts. Before the social distancing (at the time of writing this blog article), I sometimes attended physical events, held at venues. 

Find your preferred styles

Find how you learn best, retain things, and put to practice for the better.  You may prefer an informal approach to a formal one or vice versa.  Make the most of your ideal study methods to gain the desired results, and boost your achievements.

Self-improvement is a pleasurable journey… Keep improving yourself every day, see the intrinsic benefits, and stay motivated.  Embrace ongoing and lifelong learning.  You’ll always be ahead of those who don’t.

Conclusion

To sum up, find your best learning styles by considering the various options.  Benefit from what you learn by applying things in your personal and professional life. 

Level up your digital platform experience.
Why not read my other post to find out more?

Editor’s Note: This blog article has been updated for better accuracy and comprehensiveness.