<strong>Best visual learning strategies for youngsters</strong>
Scientific research suggests that our visual memory is the strongest among all other forms of sensory memory. Both adults and kids rely largely on it for work and studies. Tapping into our mental imagery formed during an incident or interaction ensures better retention. This is where visual learning comes into play. If your school goer one struggles with memorising things, it’s time for you to introduce him to visual learning.
What is visual learning?
Educationist Neil D. Fleming had developed three separate learning styles as part of the VAK (Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic) model of learning. In this model, one of the most popular learning methods was visual learning. In simple terms, visual learning refers to grasping concepts by visualising or seeing information. This takes into consideration the colour, tone, brightness, contrast and other visual information related components. This form of learning is said to improve both spatial awareness and photographic memory. One of the best and natural setups for visual learning is a standard classroom with teachers, fellow students, chalkboards, overhead slides, pictures, graphs, charts, maps and other similar visual learning resources.
Benefits of visual learning
Students who rely on visual learning reap a wide range of cognitive benefits. Some of them are:
- Development of a great sense of balance and alignment.
- Ability to instinctively follow directions.
- Ability to easily locate objects.
- Improvement of organisational skills.
- Ability to instantly observe minute similarities and differences among things and people.
- Better sense of colour-orientation and ability to envision imageries easily.
Visual learning strategies for youngsters
There are many effective visual learning strategies that parents can help their youngsters with which they can integrate into their daily study routine. This will help enhance their retention capacity while preparing for a test, in an exam hall or in common everyday situations. The strategies include:
- Colour-coding the hand-written notes, handouts, words and textbooks.
- Reading through diagrams, maps, charts, graphs and other visuals that run alongside texts and try and memorise the information by jotting them down in bullet points.
- Preparing to-do-lists on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and going through them as and when possible.
- Finding ways out to study alone and in a noise-proof environment, without any external distraction.
- Developing the habit of taking running notes during class lectures to capitalise on the learning.
- Choosing a seat towards the front from which everything is clearly visible.
- Taking help of outlines and concept maps as well as chronological tree in order to organise the study materials.
- Prioritising visual lectures through the help of smart classrooms and PowerPoint presentations instead of verbal lectures.
- Opting for any practical hands-on experience rather than learning everything from a book.
- Preparing topic-wise flashcards.
- Referring to study videos to understand a difficult concept.