Individuals have different learning styles and techniques. Some people may find that they have a dominant style of learning with far less use of the other styles. Others may find that they use different styles in different circumstances.1
According to the results of the Learning Styles Survey, I learnt that I have a dominant visual learning style, a fact that I was not fully unaware of during my years of educational experience. However, what came as a surprise to me was that I incorporated so little of the hearing learning style. Having always been a part of the traditional classroom environment, where the students pay close attention to the instructor’s lecture, I failed to realize that I always felt more comfortable learning from written notes, textbooks, diagrams and charts. However, I was forced to disagree with the result of having only a six percent of the hearing learning style. Although visual learning is a primary part of my learning style, I also have characteristics of auditory learners, such as participation in classroom discussions, involvement in presentations and sharing ideas with fellow students.
An analysis of the characteristics of the visual learner confirmed ideas about my learning style strengths such as taking detailed notes, class handouts and using visual materials such as diagrams and graphs. However, the results also clarified certain challenges I have had to face in the past especially when trying to study with verbal disturbances such as television, music or even other people conversing together close by.
Having a visual learning style proved to be advantageous in completing my final project during my undergraduate studies. The project being based on Systems Analysis and Design involved numerous charts, tables and diagrams such as flow charts, state and activity diagrams, and object-oriented diagrams. Being confident in this area of work, I made these diagrammatic representations myself, along for which I received much...