Learning Styles
Knowing a little bit about learning styles can help you
determine if online learning is for you. The interaction and delivery methods
used in online classes are dramatically different from traditional classes,
so understanding how you learn is a good part of the decision-making process.
The knowledge can help you improve your study habits and be successful in
any educational setting, regardless of what type of learner you are.
The three predominant learning styles are visual, auditory, and tactile/kinesthetic.
Broken down further, people learn by:
- Reading (visual)
- Listening (auditory)
- Seeing (visual)
- Speaking (auditory)
- Doing (Tactile/Kinesthetic)
The first three on the list are passive types of learning,
while the last two are active types of learning. How much we tend to remember
is a function of the type of learning we prefer and our level of involvement
in the learning. People often learn through a combination of the ways described
above. To a lesser degree, environment is a factor too.
The Active Learning Modes
Given a good learning environment (be it online or traditional), most
people tend to remember best that which they do—practicing the real
thing. Next, a combination of doing and speaking about what we learn produces
a high retention rate, followed by speaking alone. These levels of involvement
are all active learning modes.
The Passive Learning Modes
The passive learning modes—seeing and reading—fall just below
the active learning modes on the retention ladder. After speaking, the
combination of listening and seeing produces the next best retention results,
then listening, then seeing, and then reading.
How it all relates to Online Learning
In an online class there is a lot of passive learning done through reading
text, listening to audio clips, and seeing graphics, but the active "speaking"
mode is done very much through writing, email, and chatting. Online learners
are often self-directed and/or working in their chosen fields, so a lot
of doing happens in the way of applying their newfound knowledge to the
workplace, hobby, or home. For this reason many online learners say they
learn more in online classes than traditional settings, and have better
retention, too.
As you consider online learning, recognize that everyone
learns differently and attempt to zero in on the particular style you
use best. Maximize your online learning by choosing the courses suited
to your learning styles—and be sure to talk about and apply what
you learn.
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