Training Staff? Match Their Learning Styles

Q. My job requires me to learn new software and procedures constantly, and I sometimes I feel overwhelmed with how much I have to learn. Some of my co-workers seem to handle it more easily. Are there some tips you can give to lighten my load? —Thomas M.

A. There are four basic ways we learn, and each of us learns differently: by actually doing it; by hearing someone explain it; by watching it done or seeing it drawn; or by quietly thinking about it. We usually prefer one or more of these learning styles, and it’s important that we learn new ideas using the style that’s best for us.

First, think about how you typically like to learn something new: doing, hearing, seeing, thinking. Then, follow these guidelines, developed by the Center for Accelerated Learning (www.alcenter.com), to maximize your learning ability:

Learning by Doing

• Build a three-dimensional table-top model of an idea, process, or concept you want to

remember, using cardboard, Lego parts,Tinkertoys, paper clips, Play-Doh, or anything

else that's handy.

• Create cards that you can manipulate out of what you're learning. These could be flash

cards or cards that you can use for a matching or sorting game.

• Physically act out concepts you're learning by miming or moving your body or by touching

physical objects as you repeat out loud or in your mind the ideas or terms you want to

remember. When you sit down to learn from written material, computers, or videos, jump

up periodically and sketch what you just learned on a flip chart, white board, or butcher-

paper wall mural using words, doodles, and color.

• Put information you want to remember on audio cassette and listen to it while you walk,

jog, or exercise.

• Take frequent breaks when learning from written material or a computer, and take brisk

power walks while you think over (or develop questions about) what you are learning.

Learning by Hearing

• Look for every opportunity to explain to others out loud what you’re

learning. When possible, read out loud from books and other written material, even from

computer screens as if you

were explaining it to someone over the telephone.

• Put learning material on audio tape and listen to it in your car or home stereo or on your

Walkman while you’re doing other things.

• Get into a discussion with one or more others about the topic you're learning. Ask lots of

questions of anyone who might know anything about what you are trying to master.

• Create an auditory memory device for what you want to remember. (Examples: "i before e

except after c" in spelling or "righty-tighty, lefty-loosey" for remembering which way to turn

screwdrivers, valves, and light bulbs.)

Learning by Seeing

• Read a paragraph or two and then write a short summary of what you just read. Keep

repeating the process.

• Put words, pictures or numbers you want to learn on large index cards or

post-it notes. Then post them where you you’ll see them often:

bathroom mirrors, refrigerators, kitchen cabinets and closet doors.

• After watching a video, working with a computer, or having a live experience, write a quick

summary of what you learned.

• Make a huge wall mural at work or at home with butcher paper. Use

pens to put everything on the mural you’re learning into words, images, doodles, symbols.

• Create flash-cards out of material you're learning and use them for review.

• Highlight reading material in different colors: one color for key words, another for key

concepts, etc.

• Divide a page in half. On the left side, record the main ideas, concepts, and processes

you're learning. On the right, record how you plan to apply these ideas, concepts, and

processes.

Learning by Thinking

• After a learning experience, sit quietly and reflect on what you learned and how it relates

to what you already know.

• On a large piece of paper or wall mural create a diagram, flowchart, grid, or colorful

picture of what you are learning.

• After experiencing or reading about a process, mentally practice performing the process in

your mind several times.

• As you read, listen, or watch, develop rigorous questions you can ask yourself later that

will make you think and force you to systematize what you've learned.

• Pose problems for yourself relative to the learning material and think through how you

might solve them.

• Create metaphors and analogies that will help you remember important learning material.

• Create lists that help organize what you’re learning into appropriate categories. Find ways

of systematizing for yourself material that looks haphazard and disjointed.