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A workshop that, only hours before, I had received an alert of, but decided to mentally, politely decline. It was on \u2018types of learners and learning strategies\u2019, and apart from just wanting my \u2018institutionally allocated\u2019 free time, I thought, \u201cI\u2019ve been learning just fine, thank you very much\u201d<\/em>. Yet, there I was, course mates in the same sorry boat sat around me; bright-eyed and hardly-tamed first years sat around us. I got out my pen and notepad, and searched for a spot in the wall that might make the next hour go by quicker.<\/p>\nThe coordinator handed out copies of one of those scoring charts that swear they know you more than you could possibly know yourself. This one was called VARK \u2013 essentially a list of questions with multiple choice answers that, depending on your choices, would determine what type of learner you are. Possibly<\/em> more useful than finding out which Avenger or Hannah Montana character you are, I know. My chart decided \u2013 not to my surprise \u2013 that I am \u201cflexible in communication preferences\u201d (in this case, Visual, Auditory, Reading\/Writing, or Kinaesthetic). Woohoo<\/em>.<\/p>\n Okay, seriously\u2026though it\u2019s true that experience had already shown me what the chart was saying, it was sort of interesting to see it on paper. When we all had our results, the coordinator took us through each of these learning types, as well as the study habits they explain and some strategies that could help us play to our strength(s). You could see in the room, this small sense of being seen and understood. Students who perhaps might have been struggling with traditional study methods\/learning strategies and so on. What I felt though, was reassurance. An affirmation that the overly varying, sometimes semi-questionable learning processes that I use, are valid. I hadn\u2019t previously thought to categorise them, because well, if they work, why bother? Yet, there I was, mmm-ing<\/em> and ahh-ing<\/em> at the explanations. I actually felt something gratitude-adjacent.<\/p>\n Now I\u2019m no neurologist, but I suppose the lesson here is, we\u2019re probably better off with even a millimetre of our minds open. Bad joke, forget it, thanks. Anyway, I definitely recommend having a quick look at some learning types\/strategies, to try to identify a best fit for you. Whatever year\/level you\u2019re in, really.<\/p>\n Well, I\u2019ll be at the next workshop and here’s to an even more illuminating session.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Deji (Student blogger: BSc Marketing) This week, I was hoodwinked, bamboozled, led astray, run amok, and flat out deceived. See, I was forced to attend a workshop that is by nature, voluntary. A workshop that, only hours before, I … Continue reading