#115, Learner
If you aspire to one thing let it be learning to learn. When you love to learn, nothing is unattainable for you.
Each of us learns in diverse and sometimes puzzling ways. Some prefer to speak quietly to themselves to help them understand ideas. Some prefer to re-write ideas in their own words to make them more meaningful. Others prefer to type their work and organize it of their own personal design.
Learning is not confined to the walls of the classroom. Learning is more than studying for a test or memorizing vocabulary words or the formulas—it occurs constantly and is a process we barely notice. Yet, there are ways of learning that are more effective for us than others. When I read, for example, I prefer a physical copy of the text so that I can highlight and annotate. Texts I read on screens just aren't as sticky and make me drowsy. A former student shared,
I memorize things by mouthing the information I need to memorize to myself. Although most people chant it, or mutter it, I find the noise made from it distracting while I’m memorizing the information, so I just mouth it, so that I can remember it, but not be distracted.
Another wrote,
I usually learn by experience. And I think that is the most effective way to learn..at least for me. I usually don’t have anybody to help me out. I guess I just don’t like anybody interfering me. I don’t follow specific steps either. I just do it by myself. ‘Cause I wasn’t born to be perfect in the first place. For example, the first time I baked (which isn’t long ago), I just tried. I took glimpses of the YouTube video and worked my way through... Of course, it didn’t end out well, but now, I’m pretty good. I just taught my way through. By experience. I just feel so stressed out if I follow the steps. It makes me feel as if if I do anything wrong, I would fail.
Learners can be divided up into three categories: visual learners, auditory learners, and kinesthetic learners. Most of us are a mix of two or three, but we tend to fall in one category more than others. Each learner type has its own characteristics,
- Visual learners: tend to be fast talkers, may interrupt, learn by seeing charts and diagrams, need quiet study time, may think in pictures, take detailed notes
- Auditory learners: tend to speak slowly, explain things well, tend to be natural listeners, tend to repeat things aloud, think linearly, read slowly, prefer to hear rather than read, information
- Kinesthetic learners: tend to be the slowest talkers, learn by doing and solving real-life problems, like hands-on approaches, can't sit still for long, get fidgety, take breaks when studying, suffer from short attention spans
To complete this Journal response,
- Describe one way you learn effectively. Remember, learning≠memorizing and do not describe which of the three learner types you are.
- Comment on a peer's response.
-Brenden Lee Teacher