Learning styles overview
knowledge Described as “thinking,” it includes the processes associated with cognition, knowledge, problem-solving, judgment, language, and memory. Scientists who study cognition are looking for ways to understand how to integrate, organize, and use our conscious cognitive experiences without being aware of all the unconscious workings of our brains.” To maximize your course learning, it is helpful to gain a better understanding of how to piece together your conscious cognitive experiences. Class, homework, and exams as some of your main subjects, you can interact with in a way that turns a “resting” learning mindset into a “flourishing” learning experience.
The three basic learning styles are visual, auditory and kinesthetic, and looking into them will lead to positive outcomes such as more focused reading, information retention, correct answers, writing that shows quality over quantity, feeling less anxious about academic performance evaluations, enjoying the learning process, and much more! Take a look at the pillars of the learning styles listed above to begin to determine which ones resonate the most:
- Visible: Seeing the information presented as pictures really helps, sometimes having a strong ability to memorize and/or recall what has been learned, writing things down or watching concepts in action is ideal for you.
- audio: Hearing and talking about things out loud helps you learn better, especially in explaining trends, ideas, and even discussions.
- kinetic: You benefit most in a learning environment from interacting with others or materials and learn well through dynamic, real-time engagement.
For each of the learning styles listed above, there are practices and methodologies that you can implement as a student that will absolutely contribute to your AFPA’s success. After all, learning is an ongoing process, so understanding and integrating strategic study tools will benefit you during and after your professional degrees with us.
AFPA-specific tips for every learning style
For visual learners
Our courses are extensive in reading and literature, which may be a plus for you because you really prefer to see what you learn. At the same time, more complex concepts can feel abstract if you can’t visualize them. For this reason, we encourage taking notes as well as breaking down complex ideas into bite-sized summaries when you are a visual learner here at AFPA.
Stanford makes an important point that understanding complex ideas is similar convey complex ideas: Both require reliable actions such as sketching a concept, dividing the concept into stages or layers, comparing aspects of the concept with other familiar concepts to contextualize, taking the whole picture of the concept into account, and finding common ground between groups within concepts to explain their interrelationships.
The idea of visualizing elements of written content while pausing to understand and solidify them is also associated with mindfulness. With the ever-expanding set of visual stimuli in our world, it can be very difficult, even for visual learners, to look at just one thing for long periods of time even though they can recognize it in high speeds: “The human brain can process the entire images that the eye sees in less than 13 milliseconds” (Trafton, 2014). why? Because there are other unprecedented visual distractions such as phones, social media, lights, radio, the hustle of the news, and cars approaching from outside.
It becomes important, then, not only to read with the goal of understanding but to also focus on the technology at hand without adding more to the mix. While reading in scattered parts and pausing to paraphrase the main ideas, work all your other devices off, face down, or in silent mode when you study. Even better: incorporate mental grounding techniques like this one 15 Memory Boost Tricks To Help You Succeed And Stay Present during your AFPA courses.
If you still need visual learning tips, here are fruitful reading techniques as well:
- Scan: Scan to select and note only the important ideas.
- Skimming: Find only the main idea rather than solving all the small details.
- Summarizing: Summarize the fast food every 10-20 pages.
- Summarizing Questions: Turn summary takeaways into self-test questions that you can use to study later.
- Driving homework: Review the homework or practice tests first and then read eye-to-eye for that information in texts rather than just reading texts in general.
- Highlight: Shading is a great way to take your scanning to a higher level using colors as an aid.
- Video time: If you’re particularly stuck with a concept that’s visualized via words but has lost its meaning to you, ask an expert or search online for a video that includes the same concept with more than just text captions.
For auditory learners
Similar to visual learners, our courses will challenge and achieve students and help them grow as readers, yet your active participation in your own learning makes a huge difference.
One way to bring text to life in an auditory way is to read aloud. This way, you’ll still be using many of the reading techniques mentioned above, but you’ll match them to your master learning style by hearing everything:”90% of information is transmitted with the naked eye“However less is backed up audition. All in all, more auditory support is always helpful.
When it comes to written information, visual learners must be willing to get creative a little to really achieve mastery. According to Cuyamaca College in “Visual Learning,” Dr. Wong’s “Basic Study Skills,” and Dr. Lansberger’s “Study Guidelines and Strategies: Visual/Spatial Learning,” the following are supportive guidelines for students who learn best via sound:
- Record the lectures and then listen to them.
- Repeat the material out loud and in your own words.
- Discuss the materials in your study groups.
- Read books out loud.
- Listen to silent background music while studying.
In moving towards a kinetic learning experience, both visual and auditory experiences play a role in the learner’s direct interaction with the material.
For kinesthetic learners
Kinematic learners who step back and think about the big picture may learn more easily. In the context of our courses, one way to do this is to review the practice exam before the course ends. In this way, the study involves a continuous experience of the ideas and messages indicated by the practice test.
A recent AFPA article on Marketing 101 I suggested, “Branding and marketing is the way you take your invaluable knowledge and communicate it to customers in need. While it may be an obstacle for some to present themselves professionally, it is important to ensure that when you do so, it is for a well-intentioned and informed purpose.” Thinking about this quote during the learning process raises questions such as “Why is this material important?” and “How will these materials be tested?” and “In what areas of my profession would this material apply” and “Now that I know how the material integrates, how do I sell it?”
Thus, one way to perform well in these comprehensive courses as a kinesthetic learner is to create hypotheses and/or projects for yourself that are fueled by the information you learn. It can be an activity in how to market what you learn one. A task in which you are asked to evaluate a real client and come up with a nutrition plan for him–Like on our site Comprehensive Nutrition Certification–It is often the assignment in which students apply and retain the most information.
Changing your learning environment will also contribute positively to kinesthetic students in AFPA courses with the following recommendations:
- Take breaks.
- Don’t be afraid to stand up while you work.
- I study in a café.
- Create a study group.
Home Takeaway
Each individual learning style in these professional and comprehensive certification courses has the potential to learn and graduate with distinction. Now is a powerful time to get involved in the health and wellness industry. Thinking objectively about your learning style as you gain new knowledge that will promote healthy changes on another day on another day is a considerate use of your learning time.
- https://opentext.wsu.edu/psych105/chapter/7-2-what-is-cognition/
- https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/hit-mark-make-complex-ideas-understandable
- https://news.mit.edu/2014/in-the-blink-of-an-eye-0116
- https://mindfulminutes.com/improve-your-memory/
- https://braveintheattempt.com/2018/02/07/8-tools-for-visual-learners-and-others-too/
- https://www.missouristate.edu/assets/busadv/p.30.pdf
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