When you’re studying, do you find it easier to retain information through flashcards, colourful sticky notes, or videos, rather than listening to the lesson recordings or reading the textbook? Chances are, you are a visual learner. Visual learners thrive when information is presented in a visual format (of course), making use of images, diagrams and other visual aids to enhance their learning experience.
If you identify as a visual learner, here are five effective techniques to consider while studying:
Use Visual Aids
Visual aids such as charts, diagrams, and illustrations can help reinforce concepts and make them easier to remember. When studying, try to create visual representations of the information you are trying to learn and remember. This could mean charts, graphs, or timelines that visually organize key points and relationships.
Embrace Colour Coding
Colour coding can be a powerful tool for visual learners to categorize and remember information more effectively. Highlighters or coloured pens can be particularly useful - you can assign different colours to different topics, themes, or types of information in your notes. For example, blue might be for important information, green might be for definitions and key terms, and pink can be for dates and important numbers.
Watch Videos and Tutorials
Visual learners often benefit from watching videos or tutorials to supplement their learning. Platforms like YouTube and other online learning websites offer a wealth of educational videos covering various topics. Having visual demonstrations can provide an extra layer of understanding and engagement, and can be a lot more helpful than simply reading a textbook.
Create Flashcards (Physical or Virtual)
Flashcards can be a very versatile study tool that can be beneficial for visual learners. Whether you prefer traditional flashcards, or digital flashcard apps like Quizlet, creating them allows you to condense information into bite-sized pieces for quick review (which makes studying a lot less overwhelming). If you can, include visual elements like images, diagrams or colour-coded text on your flashcards to enhance their effectiveness.
Use Mind Mapping for Tricky Concepts
Mind mapping is a visual technique that can help visual learners connect ideas and concepts in a structured and creative way. By creating a visual representation of how different pieces of information are linked, you can gain a deeper understanding of whatever the subject is. Use mind maps for brainstorming ideas, summarizing key points, and visualizing relationships between various topics.
Final Thoughts
To all my visual learners out there, take advantage of the variety of study methods that can and will make your lives easier. Colours, graphs, videos, flashcards and mind maps might just become your bestie for your next quiz or final exam. Experiment to find what works best for you and leverage your visual learning preferences to maximize your study sessions! Good luck!