Studying can be tedious. Even more so when you're not sure if what you're doing is the most effective method.

Everyone has a learning style, and tapping into the one — or two — that fit you the best can help turn studying into a task tailored to you.

While there are many different classifications of learning styles, the three most common are auditory, visual and tactile or kinesthetic.

Auditory learners are those students who get the most from lecture classes and peer discussion groups. Visual learners can also benefit from a classroom setting when the professor makes use of the overhead projector or whiteboard, and they can take notes. Tactile or kinesthetic learners are all about hands-on learning, or learning by doing. Classes with lab components are helpful because they allow students to apply what they heard.

“Students lean to one of the three,” said Tanya Andrews, a student success facilitator at Fanshawe's Learning Centre. “But it's best when you can use all three — it takes practice.”

For visual learners, rewriting notes or devising a way to represent your notes through graphics helps. Mind maps are another way to tap into your learning style — a diagram with words, concepts, or pictures all relating to a central idea, said Andrews. Using coloured markers to emphasize certain sections or words also helps visual learners take note of what's important. There's also the method of loci that involves visualizing materials. For example, picture a familiar room or road. Assign images for the concepts that are being studied, such as scales for justice, and place the objects in the visualization. You will be able to recall this memory when you go to take the test.

Auditory learners are obviously all about sound. Attendance at class lectures is just as important for this type of learner as it is for visual so they can hear what the instructor is saying. Another tip for auditory learners is to talk about what they're learning — study groups are an ideal situation where auditory learners can hear what peers are saying while also relaying back what they understand, said Andrews.

Finally, tactile or kinesthetic learners will do well when they move and learn. Walking around your apartment while reciting your notes or key concepts can help. Hands-on students can get crafty as well, creating a sculpture or model representing what they're learning. It's also a good idea to use your hands when you're talking, said Andrews. “Use as many body parts as you can.”

These learning styles also apply to more than just academics, she added. They also help enhance life skills. “Remember them when you get into the workforce — you'll use them,” she said.

There are different ways to figure out what style suits you best as well. Fanshawe's Learning Centre has simple tests to determine which style you lean towards. There's also the well-known Myers-Briggs personality test, an extensive test you can pay for online. To find out more, visit the Learning Centre in A2019 for more information.