Learning Types: Learn more in less time

The semester is coming to an end and the exams are getting closer than you think. When you look at the learning sheets, you ask yourself how you're supposed to remember everything. In the end you sit in front of it for hours and nothing gets stuck. So that you no longer end up in this frustrating situation, we will show you here how you can learn better and more efficiently for university or what your ideal course of study is.

Gertraud Meusburger, head of psychological student counseling in Salzburg, knows the solution to the problem. How students absorb learning content depends on their motivation to learn, concentration and efficient learning techniques.

Mental exam preparation

The lecture “Mental Exam Preparation - Introduction, The Written Exam, Learning Types ” by Christine Krokauer is part of the “Mental Exam Preparation” course. The lecture is divided into the following chapters:

• Mental test preparation - introduction
• The written exam
• Learning Types

You can watch this lecture completely free of charge and try out Lecturio.

Find out your learning style

How you can optimally prepare for the exams can be seen if you know what type of learner you are. With this test you can find out what type of learner you are and we will then have tips for you.

The haptic type

Learn well… by trying, touching, testing

The haptic type learns according to the motto “learning by doing”. You're not much of a theorist, but rather see things with your own eyes. Creating models is exactly your thing. How you can learn the theoretical content of your studies in your preferred learning style is as follows:

4 tips for haptic learners:

1. movement while learning; Going for a walk, jumping on the trampoline,... whatever comes to mind will help you remember the content better
2. Create material yourself/make study notes instead of stubbornly copying or reading the content
3. Write by hand instead of the keyboard; because don't forget writing is also a practical activity
4. Learning foreign languages: theoretically learning grammar rules is of no use to you, you have to get out there and simply use the language, so you can quickly achieve great results

Choosing a place to study for haptic learners

University courses are often more difficult for haptic learners than for the average student. This is because universities approach the learning material in a very theory-heavy manner and there is little space for trying things out yourself. However, natural science courses that allow you to apply the material you have learned in the laboratory are best suited. But if that's not enough for you, you can also look at technical college courses or a dual course of study, where everything is much more practical than at university.

The communicative type

Learn well… by explaining, discussing and debating

Do you love discussions and like to question everything? The communicative type learns through conversations and reflection. The conversation is the best way to organize, store and filter the information. Since the focus at university is on reading, it's usually not that easy for you to learn efficiently. With these tips we will help you deal with the situation.

5 tips for communicative learning types:

1. Reasons for learning groups - The best thing about learning groups is that several people who are all interested in the topic meet once a week and this creates a really exciting discussion and a great exchange of information. Maybe a fellow student has an approach that you've never thought about - give it a try!
2. Get quizzed - If you don't want to start a study group but your friends and family have no idea about the topic, they should just quiz you or you can give them a lecture on your topic.
3. Attend seminars - even if you don't have to be present.
4. Better than sight-reading, you can use YouTube videos or documentaries to absorb information with your ears. In addition, videos usually cover material outside of lectures, so you have additional understanding and can develop your critical thinking.
5. Self-talk - Just tell yourself what you are currently learning and in no time you will have learned the material without being disturbed by others.

The visual type

Learn well with... sketches, graphics, mind maps, colors

As a visual type, you enjoy using images and graphics to learn and are good at remembering details, especially in films. Mind maps, sketches and markings also make cramming easier for you.

6 tips for visual learners:

1. Color marking
2. Write learning material on posters and post-its and hang it up in your apartment, where you are often. For example on the bathroom mirror or above the stove.
3. Visualize connections using mind maps
4. Watch Videos
5. Always take notes in the lectures!
6. Search for overviews that have already been created on Pinterest!

Auditory type

Learns well through... lectures, reading aloud

As an auditory type, you love podcasts, videos and lectures are ideal for you. When you listen, you absorb the most information sustainably.

5 tips on how you can learn even better as an auditory learner:

1. Query vocabulary
2. Record learning material and listen to it while taking a walk (alternatively: podcast)
3. Quiet environment while learning
4. Form a study group and discuss the topic with fellow students
5. Read your study notes or texts out loud, because as an auditory learner, your brain is more of a sieve when reading, and by reading out loud you can remember the content much better.

Book recommendation

If you would like to find out more about your learning style or are interested in Frederic Vester's theory, this book is perfect for you.

Mixed types

It is only in the rarest of cases that a student can 100% identify with a learning type. Most have a mix of different efficient learning methods with one focus. Therefore, your learning type is more of a guide for you and you can of course adapt it as you wish, because you know yourself best. This means that you just try things out outside of your learning style, because it can never do any harm, and you will find out pretty quickly what doesn't suit you at all. Because the motto is not to exclude, but to complement.

This is how people absorb information through different perception channels:

• Hearing only: 20%
• Seeing only: 30%
• Seeing and hearing: 50%
• Seeing, hearing and discussing: 70%
• See, hear, discuss and do it yourself: 90%

Here you can find out your learning type and how you learn particularly efficiently.