Read/Write Learning Style Summary
It is believed that every person has an independent style of learning (Murphy et al., 2004). How students receive information, perceive and process it, varies according to the individual learning approach. Learning style is defined as how students competently obtain, understand, memorize and recollect information (Rourke et al., 2002). Learning styles of individuals differ from person to person and studies indicate that when instruction is accommodated to match the learning style of learners, it enhances learning (Murphy et al., 2004).
As a learner, I prefer to read and thoroughly understand educational concepts and ideas. I am an active learner and constantly refer to a host of materials to enhance my learning. I keenly engage in note-taking, referring to the dictionary and searching for information on the web to aid comprehension. I have a strong inclination towards books which I use as reference material to understand the theories. I prefer to use dictionaries and class handouts for improved comprehension. In the classroom, I engage in note-taking activities so that I can refer back during my study time.
Preferred Learning Strategies
Being a dynamic learner, I predominantly prefer learning strategies and techniques which help me understand my curriculum. I use several focusing techniques more popularly grouped under the read/write approach. These include short questions, diagrams, and other forms of visual techniques such as charts or pictures. I find computers and the web extremely useful in my learning process since these allow me to conduct research and aid learning.
A list of some important learning strategies I employ:
- Reading aloud – This is a strategy that I actively engage in. Reading aloud allows me to explain concepts to myself and helps me identify areas that need deeper research and study.
- Note-taking – I take notes and refer to these time and again. These notes are generally pinned to the relative pages of my textbooks so that I can use them while revising the study material.
- Creating Notes – Not only do I take notes during my lectures, but I also create new notes while studying. This helps me reinforce what I have learned.
- Talking to self – I talk to myself when I create notes since this helps me memorize and understand the course material. Talking also helps in identifying any concepts or ideas which may not be clear and need additional effort.
- Graphic Organizers – During lectures and while studying, I create and use graphic organizers, since these give me a thorough understanding.
Note-taking during lectures with well-managed lists and headings is a strategy I greatly depend on. By organizing my material under suitable headings, it becomes easier to refer to these notes whenever I need to.
Compare your preferred learning strategies to the identified strategies for your preferred learning style
According to the VARK questionnaire, I display a strong preference for the read/write learning approach (The VARK Questionnaire Results, n.d.). My preferred learning strategies match closely with the strategies identified to suit my learning style. Research indicates that students with an inclination for reading/writing prefer to engage in learning by reading and referring to printed texts (Murphy et al., 2004). I am a voracious reader and employ reading to attain the best results. I read the text thoroughly to understand theories and concepts. If I feel that my understanding is weak or my learning is not complete, I refer to additional research. I find reading supplementary material such as reference texts and handouts extremely helpful in memorizing the curriculum.
Read/write learners demonstrate a strong preference for textbooks, lecture notes, lists, and handouts. They organize their lecture notes into suitable study material outlines and paraphrases to assist them in the process of learning (Murphy et al., 2004). Again, creating outlines, taking notes during lectures, creating my notes during lectures is a learning activity, I actively engage in. Compliant with the VARK’s guide to learning styles, my strategies of learning intake include textbooks, handouts, library readings, essays, and manuals. My learning, memorizing and retention activities include the silent reading of notes and rewriting ideas and principles to reinforce learning. I use charts and diagrams, either from the text, reference material, or self-created as a learning strategy.
Appraise any change you need to make in your study habits
Performance is an important objective, central to the process of learning, and an “ultimate aim for all teaching” (Kizlik, 2012). Even though I am an active learner and engage in several strategies to improve my learning, I think there is a scope for further improvement. As such, I need to adopt a few more strategies and changes to improve my study habits. Since I refer to lots of material while learning, I need to reduce this material to get the best advantage.
According to the recommendations available at VARK, I need to organize diagrams and graphs into statements. An important strategy I need to adopt in my learning method is to create a self-practice with multiple-choice questions. Also, arranging information into the appropriate lists will help me get better results. Since performance is an essential learning outcome, I intend to use the best learning strategies to achieve improved results.
References
Kizlik, B. (2012). How to write learning objectives that meet demanding behavioral criteria. Web.
Murphy, R. J., Gray, S. A., Straja, S. R. & Bogert, M.C. (2004). Student learning preferences and teaching implications. J. Dental. Educ., 68(8), 859-866.
Rourke, B. P., Ahmed, S. A., Collins, D. W., Hayman-Abello, W. E. & Warriner, B.P. (2002). Child clinical/pediatric neuropsychology: some recent advances. Clinical Psychol., 53, 309-339.
The VARK Questionnaire Results (n.d.). Web.