If we are most receptive to sound and speech by default, we are known as “auditory” learners.
If we find we can learn best when watching something be done (films, step-by-step photographs, or by looking at diagrams) we are “visual” learners.
If we learn best by doing (or feeling the way something is done through direct stimulation) we are “kinesthetic” learners.
I personally have developed a dominant auditory learning ability. When searching out new content for personal enrichment, I head to the likes of audible.com or podcasts (audio only) automatically.
In the past 15 years of my life, when there was no audio version of the content I was searching for available, I would “make-do” with an alternative medium, but lament the lack of a good audio-version available. Now I know this was the incorrect approach.
My related epiphany came when I was reading a book entitled “Back of the Napkin” by Dan Roam. The book focuses on communicating complex ideas using pictures and visual thinking. As the concepts in the book were explained, I began to feel more and more comfortable doing the exercises. I began to realize the following:
Rather than spending my time working to obtain or transpose all of my desired content and education to my dominant (and comfortable) learning style, I should be taking that realization as a call to action and focus on improving my less dominant sense abilities.
For an auditory person like me, this meant practicing visual representation and thinking exercises which force that area of the brain to stretch. This included exercises such as the ones found in “Back of the Napkin” or even (seriously) kid’s connect-the-dot exercises.
For the kinesthetic portion of my development, I went down to Wal-Mart and purchased a handwriting exercise booklet like those we used in the second grade. The exercises have not only improved my script, but I have also noticed an upturn in my inclination to write things down.
For visual people, working on your less-dominant auditory skill set could include listening to an audio book-version of a book you read a few years ago, and taking visual notes on the concepts being read to you. This will help your mind to stay active, but will also work your auditory brain sensors.
Working on these skills can only make you stronger and more able. Exercising these undeveloped brain processes will ultimately result in a bigger, badder tool set which will help to prepare you for the times you need them most.
