Learning Styles and Revision Techniques

Two management trainers, Honey and Mumford, met in the 1970’s and identified four basic styles of learning, which they characterised as: Activists – who learn by doing, getting ‘down and dirty’, and trying things out. Pragmatists – who are chiefly interested in how ideas can be applied in the ‘real world’. Reflectors – who like to reflect on their experience and that of others. Theorists – who like to understand how their study fits into a broader theoretical framework

Tailoring your revision to your learning style can help you to learn more easily.

Revision for Activists Activists like to ‘do’ in order to learn. They don’t care much for reading or looking at their notes. For an 'Activist Learner', revision activities that may suit are such things as: Writing practice essays or exam questions (and you will almost certainly find that your tutor or teacher will be delighted to mark your practice essays for you if you ask them nicely!) This will also work for kinaesthetic learners. Summarising notes in the form of mind maps or other memory-jogging diagrams. Taking part in a group discussion or debate on the subject that allows you to explore the ideas and subject with other people, which will be helpful for auditory learners. Especially if you’re revising a subject like English Literature where you’re studying a play or poem, walking around the room reading it aloud, or acting it out, either alone or with a friend, can be a great way of getting parts of it to stick in your mind.

Revision for Pragmatists Pragmatists, more than any other group, are interested in what works. That’s the case for the subject that they’re learning, but it’s also the case for the style of learning too. One good way for pragmatists to revise is to try to find out what the exam will be like, and then prepare for that. For a 'Pragmatist Learner', revision activities that may suit are such things as: Working through old exam questions (your teacher or tutor will probably be happy to mark them or comment on them for you). Working out what topics might come up in the exam, based in previous years’ papers, and preparing practice answers for those topics. If you’re preparing for language examinations, you might want to prepare for your oral exams out loud by speaking your answers, particularly if you’re an auditory learner. If you’re going to have a five-minute conversation, for example, make sure that you have enough to say on each possible topic to last the five minutes. Again if you’re an auditory learner, arrange some discussion groups on particular topics that you think might come up and debate them with friends.

Revision for Reflectors Reflectors like to read, and think, and read some more. They like to reflect on their experiences and fit things together. More than any other type of learner, a reflector staring out of the window may still be working! For a 'Reflector Learner', revision activities that may suit are such things as: Reading over notes and textbooks, and thinking about the content. Writing practice essays or exam questions, but only on subjects on which you’ve already done some reading. Summarising your notes and thoughts into a page, perhaps as a mind-map or similar picture to show yourself that you have consolidated your learning.

Revision for Theorists Theorists like to go back to first principles and really understand the theoretical framework into which their work fits. For a 'Theorist Learner', revision activities that may suit are such things as: Additional research around a subject to explore theoretical background and set your work in better context. Although this sounds like making work, it will make you, as a theorist, feel more comfortable that you understand the subject and can work out the answers from first principles if necessary. Creating structured notes that fit everything together logically, which may help you to build the connections in your mind. Mind- mapping may be a helpful technique for this. Building your own models, or applying known models to case studies as practice for exams.

VAK

Visual Style · Recopy notes in colours · Visually organise or reorganise notes using columns, categories, outline forms, etc. · Remember where information was located in visual field · Create timelines, models, charts, grids, etc. · Write/rewrite facts, formulas, notes on wall-hanging, bedsheet, poster for visual review at any time · Facts, formulas, notes on index cards arranged/rearranged on wall, pin-board, floor, bed · Use of colour-coded markers or cards for previous two above · Use of visual mnemonics · TV/video supplements important for understanding or remembering · Use of "background" visual activity helps you to concentrate · Use of highlighters · Near memorisation of chapter/notes

Auditory Style · Need to discuss concepts/facts/aspects with friend immediately after new learning · Frequently does homework with friend(s) via telephone - seems to understand better and retain more · Tape records lesson or notes for re-listening later · Must say facts/formulas/information over and over to retain · Simultaneous talking-walking studying · Set information to rhyme, rhythm, or music to aid retention · Aural Mnemonics · Remember where information was located in auditory field (e.g. tagged to "who said that?") · Use of different voices to study (like creating a script, or acting out a play) · TV/video/radio supplements useful for obtaining information · Prefer to listen without taking notes · Prefer group discussion and/or study groups · Use of background music helps you to concentrate · Prefer quiet study environment

Kinaesthetic Style · Copy notes over and over, apparently to make them neat or organised · Make charts, grids, timelines, diagrams (usually several times) · Trace key words with finger, marker, hand · Re-enact situations while studying · Constructs things while studying (house of cards, blocks, etc.) · Prefers learning by doing · Frequently takes things apart, or "tinkers with things" for understanding · Prefers on-site visits for understanding

You must be proactive in your revision - only you have the ability to succeed!

And don't forget... Bio-Behavioural Issues · Physical posture during study/homework? Sit upright? Sprawl? · Prefer sitting at a desk, floor, bed? · Prefer putting papers for different subjects on tables, desk, dresser and walking to each different work area? · Do best studying before dinner? after eating? how long after eating? · Prefer to snack while studying? · What kind of food helps you concentrate (regardless of when it is eaten)? · Does exercise stimulate concentration? light or heavy workout? · Does exercise tire you too much on a day needed for heavy studying? · Do you study better at night? in the morning? · Do you prefer to study in your room? at a library? in school?

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