Tactile Learners

There are three types of learning styles: auditory, visual, and tactile. According to some reports, only 5 percent of learners are identified as tactile learners. While the percentage is small, considering how many learners there are in the world today,  there are still millions of people who find themselves most engaged when they are active in their learning.

Tactile learners process information best through a hands-on learning approach. As a result, typical classroom lecture environments present challenges to these learners—sitting still, passively listening for long periods of time can be trying. While online learning may seem to present the same challenges, there are some methods tactile learners can employ to ensure success when they are learning online. If you are a tactile learner, try incorporating some of the following techniques in your next study session to improve your learning experience:

• Create a workspace with bright colors and posters. Have floor space and furniture that encourage moving around or lounging. Standing at a desk, sitting on an exercise ball, relaxing in a recliner, or walking back and forth might help you stay focused.
• Try chewing gum and manipulating a stress ball or some other hand-held object during a study session if a desktop computer forces you to stay in the same spot.  Background music can also help you focus and concentrate.
• Skimming the content to prepare can be helpful. After completing a preview, try reading the content out loud. Employing a practice like SQ3R, discussed in another post, could be beneficial for the tactile learner.
• Copy key points onto a writing surface—write them in big print or try illustrating them on large sheets of blank drawing paper. If the topic lends itself, try building a model of a major concept.
• Create sequence cards to understand steps in a process. Write each step on an index card and then manipulate the cards on a table top, moving them around until you remember the correct order.
• Copy and paraphrase your notes.
• Take a break from your studies often or study in small, spaced increments of time.

No matter what your learning style, one of the best ways to be successful in online learning is to know how you learn and explore ways to address the needs of your specific learning style. Not sure what kind of learner you are? Be sure to take our Learning Styles Survey. You may have to adjust your approach to reach your goals, but the effort will be well worth it!

Let’s face it—most of us have been out of school quite a long time. The prospect of returning to school can be exciting, and a bit scary. Especially if the last time you were in school you sat behind a desk and are now looking at your computer, wondering how it’s all going to work.  Well, don’t worry.  We’re here to help calm your nerves, help you get started and keep you motivated as you work through your online degree program.

Once you enroll in your degree program with help from The College Network—what's next? The steps below outline what you will experience and hopefully take some of the anxiety out of what you might be feeling.  Use this as your guide and you'll be well on your way to earning your degree.

Log in to Resource Center—This is your learning portal.  You will go to the online Resource Center to find your course materials, discussion boards where you can post questions to other students, the resource library and to online chat which you can use to converse with our academic support team when you have a question.

Find out your learning style—As adults, we learn differently than we did when we were younger. It's important to know if you are an auditory learner, a tactile learner or a visual learner. Our learning style survey will help you identify your unique learning style so you can study more effectively. 

Complete your Academic Guidance Call—Our customer support team will contact you to review your learning style so you understand more completely how to be successful in your studies.  You will also work with them to develop a study plan for your program and review all aspects of the resource center.  If you have any questions about working through your degree program, they will be able to guide you. 

Set a goal for taking your first exam— Having a specific date in mind will help to keep you on track and be motivated to succeed. With self paced education, it's easy to put other things ahead of studying. We want to make sure that you stay focused on your goal of earning your degree. After you pass your first exam, schedule the rest of your exams so that you have a calendar to work from. 

 Set a weekly study schedule—With our busy lives and work schedules, it can be hard to find the time to study. If you approach your study time like you would a part-time job with a set schedule, you will be able to commit to this time and make weekly progress toward your goal.

Create your support network--Use the Resource Center to find others in your area that are working through their program.  Or ask around at work to see if any of your colleagues are also pursuing their degree. It's also a good idea to include your family and friends in your pursuit of a degree so they will support your goal.  They can be your biggest motivators! 

So are you ready to get back to school?   We offer the support you need to get started and the motivation to keep you going.  Call us today at 800-395-1014 to learn more about our degree programs and our support team. 

Running with the theme from earlier this week regarding study tips for auditory learners, I did not want to leave out our tactile/kinesthetic friends to! Below you can find some study strategies that are helpful for those learners who learn best with their hands and by “doing”:

● Hold the book/module/chapter in your hand while reading (instead of laying it on a table)

● Write while you are reading (or take notes after you read each section)

● Practice breathing slowly

● Write with fingers in sand

● Write lists repeatedly (great for learning vocabulary words!)

● Use a computer to reinforce learning by using the sense of touch (Our online Resource Center is perfect!)

● Use rhythm (beats) to memorize information

● Make flashcards for each step in a procedure. Put the cards in order until the sequence becomes automatic.

● And of course, any time a learner can physically implement what they are studying, the better!

While I am primarily a visual learner, I do need to be physically involved in the learning process if I am ever going to retain new information. This means I need to touch/hold the information I need to read and retain. Our Comprehensive Learning Modules are available online on our Resource Center to print either in their entirety or a chapter at a time through "Printable Resources". Note-taking, hi-lighting, and creating flashcards are also hands-on activities to aid in the learning process that I personally use and recommend.

As always, if you need study assistance in preparation for your exams, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Support team at 1-800-634-1443.