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Memory Fallacies
Using Mnemonics more effectively
How Your Learning Style Affects Your Use of Mnemonics
The way in which people learn affects the sort of mnemonics they should
consider using to store information.
The three main learning styles are:
- visual
- auditory
- kinaesthetic
No-one uses one of the styles exclusively, and there is usually significant
overlap in learning styles. To discover your learning style, click here (links
to psychometric test)
Visual Learners
Visual learners relate most effectively to written information, notes,
diagrams and pictures. Typically they will be unhappy with a presentation
where they are unable to take detailed notes - to an extent information
does not exist for a visual learner unless it has been seen written down.
This is why some visual learners will take notes even when they have
printed course notes on the desk in front of them. Visual learners will tend
to be most effective in written communication, symbol manipulation etc.
Visual learners make up around 65% of the population.
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners relate most effectively to the spoken word. They will
tend to listen to a lecture, and then take notes afterwards, or rely on
printed notes. Often information written down will have little meaning until
it has been heard - it may help auditory learners to read written
information out loud. Auditory learners may be sophisticated speakers,
and may specialise effectively in subjects like law or politics.
Auditory learners make up about 30% of the population.
Kinaesthetic Learners
Kinaesthetic Learners learn effectively through touch and movement and
space, and learn skills by imitation and practice. Predominantly
kinaesthetic learners can appear slow, in that information is normally not
presented in a style that suits their learning methods. Kinaesthetic
learners make up around 5% of the population.
Memory Implications of Learning Styles
Most literature on mnemonics assumes the visual approach to learning
styles - mnemonics are recommended to be as visually appealing and
memorable as possible. If you are an auditory or kinaesthetic learner you
may find that this emphasis on imagery leads to ineffective recall. In this
case, try adjusting the mnemonics to suit your learning style: if you are an
auditory learner, use auditory cues to create your mnemonics. If you are a
kinaesthetic learner, imagine performing actions or using tools as the
basis of memory techniques.
From here onwards Mind Tools will assume a visual approach to
mnemonics. If you are an auditory or kinaesthetic learner, adjust these
techniques appropriately to suit your personal approach to learning.
To discover your learning style,
click here (links to psychometric test).
Links
Memory Fallacies
Using Mnemonics more effectively
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