We've touched briefly on the idea that different study strategies might be more effective for people with different learning styles.  Now it's time to really put some meat on that concept.  In this section, we will be taking a closer look at which study strategies might be most effective for which learning style. 

Of course, there will be lots of overlap.  You may well find that your favorite study strategy is not on the list for the learning style that you discovered on the surveys back in section 2.  That's OK!  The important part of the lesson is that you understand that there ARE different strategies to try, and that you find a few new ones that might work for you.

In the end, you should choose the strategies that work best for you.  Remember that not all strategies will work all the time, and not all strategies will work for all types of learning.  A lot depends on your physical state, your environment, and the task at hand as well as your innate learning style.  However, now you have tools to recognize when something you're doing is not as effective as it might be.  You have a selection of new ideas to try.  And most of all, you have the knowledge that you can improve your study habits and that WILL help you improve your grades.

Visual Learners

The obvious thing about visual learners is that they like to look at things. The study strategies for visual learners lean on this fact. Visual learners might prefer to:

• Read and reread text
• Use a study strategy like SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review)
• Look at diagrams, charts, graphs, illustrations and pictures
• Use color coding to organize information
• Use a highlighter to mark important ideas
• Use graphic organizers, time lines, and Venn diagrams
  
• Reread and review notes
• Watch a video that goes over the concepts
• Create a poster that shows what you need to know
  
• Create a visual "hook" to recall information
• Visualize a scene or an action to make it more real
  

Auditory Learners

Auditory learners like to hear things, so these study strategies focus on things that are done out loud. Auditory learners might prefer to:

• Read text out loud, record it, and listen later
  
• Organize a discussion or study group
• Make up a song about the material
• Use a mnemonic to aid recall
• Read notes out loud
• Use self-talk, reciting facts and reciting information aloud
• Teach someone else the information
• Narrate a presentation

Kinesthetic Learners

Kinesthetic learners like to move around. They recognize that they need to touch, move, handle and manipulate information to learn it well. These study strategies incorporate some sort of movement. Kinesthetic learners might prefer to:

• Make flashcards and play a Memory game
• Use a highlighter to mark important ideas
• Make flashcards and match them
• Create a poster that shows what you need to know
• Take a practice test
• Act out ideas you need to remember
• Say the information while you bounce a ball
• Make up motions to go with things you need to remember
• Put word cards in the correct order
• Make a video or a skit about the information

Right-Brained Learners

Right-brained learners see the whole picture, patterns and connections more easily.  They often appreciate visual cues and group activities.  If you are a right-brained learner, here are ideas to try:

• Ask your teacher or discussion leader to write points on the board
• Use a white board to organize your thoughts
• Create some kind of project with the material you need to learn, like a poster, video or display
• Try making a mobile, diorama or model
• Pay attention to feelings and how the material makes you feel
• Use a graphic organizer  

Left-Brained Learners

Left-brained learners work from detail into whole concept.  They often appreciate sequenced information and outlines.  If you are a left-brained learner, try:

• Outlining material
• Take notes from lectures
• Focus on vocabulary words
• Create crossword or other word puzzles about the information you need to learn
• Spend time mulling information over or pondering it in your head
• Work in a quiet and orderly environment 

Convergent Learners

Convergent learners, those who like to combine abstract thinking with active doing (think and do learners), work well with applied ideas. They learn best by solving problems and making connections to real world applications. If you have this learning style, here are things to try:

• Seek out and complete practice problem sets
• Connect the concepts you need to learn to the real world
• Look for applications
• Try things out and then organize your thoughts about them

Accommodating Learners

Accommodating learners are the students who learn best with concrete examples and active experiments. They are the feeling and doing learners. These students learn best by using hands-on activities like experiments and demonstrations. If you have this learning style, try these activities:

• Play games that require you to react with the right answers, such as timed answering games
• Take the whole idea apart into its components
• Pay attention to your gut feelings or instincts-they are usually accurate

Divergent Learners

Divergent learners prefer to have concrete experiences then think about them and reflect on them (feeling and watching). If you have this learning style, try these ideas:

• Use your imagination to come up with creative ways to remember information
• Brainstorm interconnected ideas
• Study with a friend or a group of friends
• Look at information from lots of angles and perspectives

Assimilating Learners

Assimilators learn best when they can think and watch. Understanding abstract concepts is a strength.  If you have an assimilating learning style, here are some ideas:

• Apply your logic and reasoning skills to the material you need to learn.
• Make generalizations from the details you know
• Create summaries
• Make up sayings or phrases that capture the meaning of the material