When I first started secondary school, one of my teachers really enjoyed creating mind maps when we were learning. If you are not sure what these are, think of lots of colour, information and thin, wiggly lines connecting everything together. Mind maps often start with one word in the middle and link in all of the topics that are related to this. Let's take CIMA, for example. Topics that link to this could be the case study material, key theories and Ethics.
Many of the students enjoyed using the mind maps, but they didn't do much for me. Why is this? Well, it could be because we all have different learning styles. One method of learning may do wonders for one student, while it could be a disaster for another person.
We all have different learning styles. Research has shown that there are up to eight different types – here, we will look at the main four. Which one are you? Read on to find out.
Learning Style One: Visual Learners.
This is a your learning style if you enjoy looking at charts, graphics and illustrations- it's also a sign that mind maps will be right up your street, too! Visual learners prefer to see everything in front of them and have an eye for style and flair. If you are currently studying for the CIMA qualification, why not grab an assortment of highlighter colours and make yourself a poster to hang up in your study or around the house? If it's a place where you walk by regularly in your home, even better – seeing the information written up will give you a fresh burst of knowledge every day. This is particularly good if it's a topic that is tricky, as it will feel more familiar and less daunting when the exam comes around.
Learning Style Two: Audio Learners.
When you are revising, do you enjoy listening to the study text books being read aloud? Perhaps you would enjoy listening to our Astranti material as a bedtime story! If you prefer using your ears rather than your eyes when you are revising, then you could be an audio learner. If you think this may be you, then tricks such as reciting information back to yourself, getting a friend to ask you technical questions and speaking to other students about key theories could be the ticket you need to success. Audio learners thrive on interactive listening. Another great way to revise could be to write your own flashcards and get a friend to test you by asking questions and scoring you. Why not see if a fellow student would also be interested, on our chat board.
Learning Style Three: Reading and Writing Learners.
What on earth could this style be? You may be wondering. Perhaps you have already guessed – this style finds it easier to learn by being interactive with texts. A great way to revise, if this sounds like your style, is to make yourself quizzes. This can be mini quizzes, to complete on the train or quizzes on every different topic under your CIMA branch. This will give you a chance to write down what you know and test your knowledge. If this sounds like something you are interested in, why not have a look at our mocks? The questions are printable, meaning that you can write down your answer and learn about the syllabus in a hands on way. At school, this was my style of learning – is it yours, too?
Learning Style Four: Kinaesthetic Learners.
This style of learning is not one that is always easy, when you are studying for the CIMA exam. If any of you are kinaesthetic learners, we would love to hear how you revised! This style learns best by simply doing – this can be through movement, such as dancing, making art or even creating a play about what you have learnt. Whilst there are no official CIMA dance moves yet, we can still learn kinaesthetically in our revision. This type of style often has a lot of energy – so when you are revising and want to move around, don't stop yourself! I have heard stories of students who walk up and down whilst revising or come up with different hand movements when they are reading through study texts – it sounds unusual, but most definitely worth a try! There's also research that shows how visualising maths problems in your head can help – if you can create a story in your head whilst you are revising, it may just be the key to success!
Which type of learner are you? Are there any types of revision that you find useful? We'd love to hear about any tips you may have!
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| Taking the time to figure out your learning style could improve your revision! |
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