Kristie Overstreet Ph.D., LPCC, LMHC, LPC, CST
Have you figured out your learning style? Have you aligned your study plan to coordinate with your learning style? If you grasp new information better through seeing it, then your learning preference may be visual. As you continue to understand the three learning styles, this article will focus on everything you need to know as a visual learner.
What is a visual learner?
A visual learner is someone who likes to see what they want to learn. The space that is created by visually seeing information aids in the learning process. The term for this is visual-spatial learning.
If you like to see concepts written out versus hear about them, you are a visual learner. Your ability to see how the information looks helps you absorb the material and memorize it. Just because you are a visual learner doesn’t mean that you don’t include other learning styles such as auditory or kinesthetic. The goal is for you to identify the best way you learn the material then align your study plan to match it.
You may be a visual learner if you:
- Make lists to help you learn or stay organized.
- Find it useful to write out your thoughts and ideas.
- Prefer reading material and study guides versus listening to audio recordings of the same information.
- Find it helpful to highlight, underline, or make notes in your study guides.
- Re-write information you have learned. For example, you re-write lecture notes.
Tips to help visual learners
- Write things down. Whether it’s a term or process, be sure to write it out.
- Utilize flashcards to help memorize and understand the material.
- Watch videos that cover the concepts and theories you are learning.
- Visualize critical concepts as symbols, acronyms, or picture. For example, in learning systems, draw a diagram or image to represent it.
- Arrange your notes in an outline.
There are many more tips, techniques, and strategies available for visual learners. Don’t waste your valuable time on a study approach that isn’t tailored to your individual need. Now that you know the power of being a visual learner make studying easier by learning about the Taylor Study Method.
This is a research-based package that helps each of the different learning styles. The Taylor Study Method is especially helpful for visual learners because it offers video lessons for deeper dives into more difficult content. It also provides Flash Cards to aid in over 750 key terms. You want to do your best, pass your exam, and take the next step in your career so be sure to get the right support through the process.