Chanel
  • Blog

How I learn

11/18/2014

7 Comments

 
If someone were to look up " ways of learning" on the internet, they would find countless websites that identify the seven common categories of learning. These categories are visual, physical, aural, verbal, logical, social, and solitary. I did some research on the different styles of learning and tried to diagnose the way I learn according to the seven common styles of learning. In reality, most people don't fit just one of the categories. I wish it was as easy as saying that I am a logical learner, but the techniques I use to retain and memorize information for the majority of my classes can fit a couple of the styles of learning. 

The best ways for me to learn information are to use resources like textbooks and note cards, organizing the information into outlines and notes, and reading from a textbook and putting the information in my own words. One of my favorite memorizing techniques is to recognize patterns and and make them into acronyms or phrases that will help me to remember them. For example, the formula for continuously compounded interest is Pe^rt, so I call it pert (“purt”) to remember the different variables in the formula. This method almost always works for all my classes. Another technique I use to study and further understand topics is to explain in to other people aloud in study groups or tutoring people. 

Not understanding something frustrates me like nothing else I have ever experienced. To me there is nothing worse than just sincerely not understanding what is going on. When I am in this situation, especially when reading a textbook or boring articles, I slow down and read the information aloud and interpret it for better understanding. If that doesn't work out, that’s usually when I consider using my resources such as asking a friend, a teacher, and if I really have to, the internet. Thankfully it doesn't take much for information to finally click for me. Sometimes it takes a little longer to click that it does for others, but better late than never right?

What Kind of techniques do you guys use to study? Have you used these techniques to memorize something  that you will never forget (for example I will always remember the formula for continuous compounding of interest)?


Three of the most common styles of learning...
7 Comments
Matt Mullen
11/20/2014 5:22am

Chanel, I as well excel at learning through note cards and reading the definition from the book. It is a great tool to help me learn. I also like when you said a person isn't just one of those seven qualities of learning styles. That is so true! A resource I spend the majority of my time studying is quizlet.com. Quizlet allows you to make your own note cards online. Anywhere you need it, its online. It is also helpful because you can type them instead of writing them out. Quizlet is a study technique that I hands down absolutely LOVE! Lastly, I can't express how much something frustrates me as well when I am not understanding it. There is no worse feeling than becoming lost in one of my classes. I hope you take my advice and goto quizlet!

Reply
Chanel link
11/24/2014 5:02am

Matthew, thanks for commenting! Also thank you for the Quizlet recommendation. I do use quizlet already for classes such as Spanish and for assignments that have to do with memorizing vocabulary words. It does really help and it is very convenient to have when I am out and want to get some studying in. What other things do you like to use when a topic is frustrating you?

Reply
Charlie Ciuk link
11/21/2014 5:01am

Flashcards are the reason that I retained any percentage of knowledge from my elementary school Spanish classes! Chanel, I do the same things when trying to memorize information. I still remember that "the beach" in Spanish is "la playa" because one plays at the beach! Losing understanding in a class or falling behind is extremely frustrating to me. If that happens, I will often go on YouTube and find some videos pertinent to the subject at hand. A few YouTube lessons (and cat videos) later, I usually find that I have developed a deeper understanding of the problem. Good luck with your future learning, and LOL in regards to that video!

Reply
Chanel link
11/24/2014 5:06am

Charlie, thank you for commenting! That is a great way to memorize things such as Spanish vocabulary. I do the same and it is sometimes the only way I can remember hard words. The class I struggled the most with last year was World History and I ended the year with a 99 in that class thanks to youtube videos explaining EVERYTHING to me. It was so helpful and I may start using it for my other classes as well!

Reply
Brooke Bez
11/21/2014 1:40pm

Chanel!
I love your method of making acronyms to help you remember things, that is so creative! I personally do not do that but I may have to take a page out of your book and start! I totally agree with you too about being so frustrated when things don't make sense.Next time that happens I'll have to hit you up for some tutoring. Haha! stay beautiful! :D

Reply
Chanel link
11/24/2014 5:12am

Brooke, thank you for commenting! Acronyms are a great way to memorize things and, basically, are the reason I do so well in most of my classes. About tutoring, I would love to! Its a great way for me to build an even better foundation with the information and others to understand the information even more. Charlie suggested watching youtube videos that have to do with the topic which is a very helpful method. Maybe you should try it too!

Reply
Olivia Hinterman
11/24/2014 7:32am

Chanel,
I thought it was interesting how you started out your blog with the 7 different ways of learning. I never really knew that were 7 different categories. Even though I wrote my blog on how I am a visual learner, after I read your blog, I realize I do fit into other categories as well.
For me, outlining things that I just read or making flashcards for memorizing always helps. Constant repetition makes the subject I am trying to learn stick in my head. I like how you mentioned that you make up acronyms to help you study. I have never thought of using that technique before and I think it would really help me with memorizing things.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.