Auditory, visual, social, kinesthetic, logical…the list goes on and on about the different types of learning styles students possess. In a classroom, students are faced with all different types of learning styles that may or may not work with them. Teachers lecturing students on the American Revolution through an hour-long lecture, getting into groups and working on a project, or even drawing out models based on different models one learns in class are all examples of distinct learning styles. When exposed to this in a classroom, it’s helpful to understand what works for each student. But what happens outside of the classroom?
Outside of class, students are left on their own most of the time. Some students thrive off of that, while others may feel left in the dust without guidance. Teachers can only do their best to help their students. To further their students’ education outside of the classroom, that usually means giving them a study guide. Now, a study guide could be the holy grail right before the AP exam, but is that truly all students do to prepare themselves for the exam? The answer is: absolutely not! Students at CdM will go as far as renting a room out in the library with their friends to discuss the material for a class.
Freshman Saiya Shah, an AGS student who is truly academically driven, finds it best to be a physical note-taker. Shah explained that the best way she retains information is through “active recall and notes.” Shah also describes her best work in “a quiet environment, or having calm background music.” Shah prefers doing notes and active recall so that she knows the material. Finally, Shah prefers to “study by [herself] because [she] tends to get distracted with other people.” Saiya is an example of someone who is an interpersonal learner who works best by herself and learns best with a kinesthetic learning style.
Ella Tran, a multiple-AP student who’s only a Freshman, finds that the most helpful strategy for her to study is on her own. Tran finds that “watching videos while taking notes and reading the information” is her best form of learning outside of the classroom. Tran is also an example of an interpersonal style learner who benefits from the visual learning style and the auditory learning style, from listening to videos on the material.
As AP exams and finals approach, it’s essential to find your learning style in order to find the best ways to retain information. You can find your learning style by taking quizzes online, trying different techniques while studying, or having your family and friends quiz you on different topics and see which way you best retain information! Make sure not to stress, relax, and know that you’ve got this! Learning styles aren’t a one-size-fits-all concept, and everyone has their own different ways of learning: focus on your strengths and weaknesses, and make sure you’re finding the right fit for yourself.
