The capacity to synthesize and retain information is often based on the types of learners we are, personality types and, often, the methodologies we employ in education. Being able to curve an individualised niche based on these is a clever way of making studying in Nursing school easier. That way, we work smarter and not necessarily harder.
There are 7 types of learners. Each person falls into one or more groups. The ease of transition within the respective groups is often encouraged in nursing education because there are different materials (classwork,clinical work, labs, experiements…) that we engage in, regardless of study technique. There are education applications as well that create study ease for each type of leaner.
We´ve individualised these learning style by relating with suitable study techniques & education applications for nursing.
1.Visual learners
These learners rely heavily on pictures, imagery, videos among other visual ques since their brain to hand co-ordination plays a major role in comprehension. They generally find ease in drawings and are inclined to using flow charts, various coloured pens and diagrams to explain concepts.
The best learning techniques are; Note taking, diagrams, experiements, watching education videos, summarizing and researching.
Useful Apps: Picmonic & Med mnemonic app.
2. Aural or Auditory learners
They learn best by responding to sound and music. The voice of teachers, colleagues and face to face interactions with patients are best suitable for this group.
A caution is to avoid auditory distractions like studying in busy coffee shops.
Capitalize on the following learning techniques; watching videos, participate in group discussions, attending classes & asking questions, using word associations, vocal repetition, spaced repetition, recorded classroom sessions & audiobooks and/or podcasts,
Useful Apps: Med Mnemoics app, podcasts and audio books.
3. Solitary learners
These individuals often keep to themselves and may be described as introverted as learning is fostered by independence in solitude. . However, the personality type does not necesarilly define this type of learners.
The best learning techniques are: self testing & studying within time blocking & spaced repetition, note taking, practice quizes, summarization and researching.
Useful apps: AnkiApp, Microsoft Excel for Spaced repetition and these.
4. Logical learners
These inquisitive learners often draw conslusions indepedently as they thrive in intellectual challenges, logic and reasoning systematically. They employ creativity to think factually from different points of view.
Study techniques: Being prone to challenges, these learning retain more in group discussions and class presentations. They find ease in researching and experimenting. In the end, their summarization skills are above par as they use their own words and logic. Therefore, other recommended techniques include individualized studying, online and group debates, role play.
Apps: Med Mnemoics, Anki App & PicMonic.
5. Verbal Learners
These expresive group learn best by using words by verbal instruction and/or writing activities. They thrive in learning opportunities involving speaking such as teaching others.
Study techniqques suitable are group discussions, experimentation in lab work, demonstration, acronyms, vocalization of ideas to self and role play.
Apps: Med mnemoics & Picmonic.
6. Physical Learners
These are learners who engage with movement in their studies by utilizing body, hands & the sense of touch. These is often associated with individuals who speak with hands as a conductor of their words.
Learning techniques, Flow charts & drawings, group studies, role play and presentations.
Apps: Med mnemoics & Picmonic.
7. Social Learners
You know that expressive person who can, in a crowd, conceptualize topics into logic just their explanation? That is a social learner. They are inquisitive, expressive individuals who learn best by engaging with others, often verbally.
Learning techniques: Group discussions, picmonic, experimentation, demonstration, acronyms, vocalization of ideas to self and role play.
Apps: Med Mnemoics, Anki App & PicMonic.
Conclusion:
Different people prefer various learning styles and techniques. However, there is a mix of learning styles where one style is more dominant.
Other people find different styles effective in different situations. In nursing school, this allows a flow between clinical to class work and maintain momentum despite different teaching styles. You always have a self curated fallback.
There is no perfect mix. So if you can, give them all try or rather or identify those you identify with then develop what works best for you.
For the suitable nursing learning apps and programs, we´ve unpacked them here.
All the best & until next time,
Elevate Nursing.
ELEVATE NURSING 
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