techtip: CORRELATE ONLINE LEARNING WITH YOUR LEARNING STYLE

CORRELATE ONLINE LEARNING WITH YOUR LEARNING STYLE

Do you like the idea of taking an online class? Maybe that would be a good fit for your work or family schedule. Maybe it would be easier than looking for a parking space on campus. But would you still learn, even if you don’t go to a class meeting?

First, consider your learning style:

  • If you like the thought of a two-hour lecture where you mostly listen to someone talking, chances are you’re an auditory learner.
  • If you’re a visual learner, you want to see charts, graphs, and videos.
  • If you are a hands-on learner, you thrive when engaged in an activity and working with others.

Many colleges and universities use an online learning management system (LMS) for online learning. An LMS is a Web site that helps you connect with the material you’re studying—as well as with your instructors and classmates. There is something for every learning style in the LMS environment.
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The Problem

You have some idea about how you learn best, but you don’t really understand what an LMS is or how to use one.

The Fix

Understand your learning style and what kind of learning environment will work best for you.

How to Do It

Explore your school’s LMS. Be open-minded and patient with yourself. Find out if there is an orientation seminar or video you can watch; you can ask your instructors or visit the student learning center.

  • Take online surveys to understand your learning style. Here are two sites to try: edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-learning-styles-quiz and vark-learn.com.

An LMS offers lots of ways to connect with your instructors, classmates, and material. It lets you keep track of your grades and assignments, and offers a digital drop box where you can submit your work. It can also offer a lot of fun things, such as online discussion forums and interactive group projects where you can sketch ideas on whiteboards that other students can view, or even collaborate on written assignments in real time. Some platforms have videos, recorded lectures, or even your instructor’s lecture notes.

  1. If you’re an auditory learner, you’ll love audio recordings. Read your notes and textbook aloud as you study. (You can even record them to play back to yourself.) Consider listening to audio-books and joining a study group for discussions. Another tip: Listen to videos once and then play them back with your eyes closed.
  1. If you’re a visual learner, you’ll love videos, pictures, maps, and graphs. Whenever you take notes, illustrate them, playing up key points with colored highlighters, pictures, or symbols. You can also create your own graphs or charts.
  2. If you’re a hands-on learner, you’ll love labs, group projects, and fieldwork. Be sure to take notes and read things aloud as you study. Build models or spreadsheets. Take a field trip with others or even by yourself.

IS IT FOR YOU?

Now that you know what kind of learner you are and something about your college’s LMS:

  • Are you disciplined enough to work independently?
  • Would you miss interacting with your instructor or classmates if you didn’t attend classes?

You need to know yourself because learning is really up to you.