Techniques of Effective Learning. Natalia Kirilina
an exam but instead use the “Einstein Method” and just wear different socks (if it were shoes I am afraid it would have the opposite effect). Who knows, maybe it will help us all become a little more like Einstein.
If a logical thinker arrives late somewhere, they knock, wait for the right moment, like the auditory learner does, and follow up by giving a necessary explanation for their tardiness. “Hi, I am late because 1,2,3,4… May I come in or should I wait until the end of the lecture?” They can go either way. They give the lector the choice. If they can come in, they go in. If not, no problem, they wait. Unlike logical thinkers, kinesthetic learners do not even think about trying to go in. It is better for them to stay behind the door.
Logical thinkers have a clear algorithm for everything. All of their actions are split into specific steps, for example, even the act of cooking eggs is thought through to choosing the right pan. They have their favored route, usually the shortest, 50—200 steps shorter than the comfortable route. Statistically, they rarely change their habits.
Visual learners. this is the biggest category. They are recognizable by their fast and clear speech. Sometimes, it can be hard to follow their thoughts as they quickly change focus. Their speech is accompanied by many colorful expressions and emotional tone. Often in bright clothing and a hairdo, they enjoy taking care of their outer appearance. If a visual learner arrives late to a lecture they always allow themselves to enter at any moment. Knocking, no knocking, however they see fit. They enter loudly, attracting attention. They will not skip or wait until the end of the lesson due to being late. They might say “I’m sorry. Continue…”, etc. Unlike auditory learners who will wait for the right moment, they do not bother themselves with this. They go in as soon as they arrive. Visual learners look their conversation partner in the eye. They use the expression “look” in their speech. These are people who take everything in through their eyes.
You can figure out what kind of learner your child is by observing them, and then you will understand what you have to work on so that they fully take in the world around. Keep in mind that these four scales, and the perceptions described, can appear to different degrees. However, it is possible, and important, to identify the main learning style.
In our learning we will try to focus mostly on the visual route. However, for complete understanding it is necessary to use absolutely all types of learning styles.
What you can do to help your child learn
– Determine their learning style. When forming your system of education, take into account the main way they take in information.
– Develop the weaker learning styles.
Quick Results
“Staircase” technique. How to set an attainable goal
Now we will move on to discussing quick results and attainable goals.
At this stage it does not matter at all what kind of learner you or your child is. The most important thing is to set attainable goals for your child which they can understand.
Essentially, the learning process in the eyes of a child is like an endless staircase, leading to an unknown place. The result of learning lies in a horizonless future and cannot be seen.
You tell them, “Study hard, sweetie! Then you’ll get into a prestigious university, get a high-paying job, and everything in your life will be just great!”
These words are white noise to a child. They cannot see past one or two steps of the learning staircase, let alone the fifth, sixth, or further steps.
Children like to get fast results. Subconsciously, your child will not take far-off goals seriously. While you are drawing out a happy future for your child, their brain will simply not take it in. These goals will be like white noise for them.
The subconscious of an adult works in a similar way. Do you remember which plans you set for yourself a few years ago? Have you reached them all? Learn a language to a conversational level, exercise regularly, lead a healthy lifestyle, visit all the countries of Europe…
There are goals which are not quickly reached for a number of reasons. Slowly, they begin to turn into dreams, unfulfillable desires, thoughts of which no longer cause you to feel any emotions.
For this very reason, it is very important to set goals for your child which they can achieve in the near future so they will not turn into unfulfillable dreams.
How is this done? We will make a checklist of how attainable the goal is:
The goal should be close and tangible for the child
It is important to mark the achievement of goals in learning, i.e., another step in the staircase of learning (your child finished another year at school, did homework on their own, woke up without an alarm clock, got three A’s in school, etc.)
Encouragement. Reaching the next step of the academic ladder, (and not only) should give your child positive emotions. Imagine monotonously climbing a long staircase, you would very quickly become tired and stop enjoying the process, just like your child. However, if they find a small “prize” at each new step, then climbing becomes that much easier. There should be emotional “goodies”: kindness, extended praise, going somewhere your child has long wanted to go (the movies, water park, circus, children events), etc.
This will be motivation to move forward.
Praise can come in different forms. You could find the negative in everything and say things like, “If you want it, you can do it!” or “Couldn’t you have done that earlier? You must have been too lazy!”
This is similar to if someone said to you after you had climbed up a long staircase, “Why did you sit on the step? Couldn’t you have gone up more?” I assume you would not like it very much. It is hardly going to help you achieve your goal.
It is better to tell your child something like:
“Good job! I am proud of you, you finished your lesson in twenty minutes and freed up your evening!”
“Well done! Come here, I want to give you a hug!”
“Thank you for putting your dirty underwear in the washing machine and for picking them up yourself instead of throwing them about.”
Compliment your child for their accomplishments and for each step towards independence. Otherwise, they might not notice it themselves. It is important that you notice it and encourage your child. That way, next time they will consciously clean up after themselves, do their lesson more quickly, get their backpack ready on their own, and so on.
“I’m proud of you!”, “You did a great job!”, “I’m really happy”, these phrases truly help goals be reached.
Of course, we should remember fast results.
“Learn well and someday you will be successful” is not a good method.
“Learn now and tomorrow you will already be able to use this and see results” works much better.
The next stage is to motivate your child to learn certain subjects.
Nowadays not every class is told when or why certain school subjects might be needed. That is why it is important for you to do so. Have you and your child find the advantages of learning the subjects and what value your child will get when they apply this new knowledge. In this way they will start to understand why they are doing it. This helps reach attainable goals, for example, doing homework on their own.
It is not uncommon for someone to want their son or daughter to reach a specific goal, without realizing that it is in fact their own goal and not their child’s. For example, wanting them to get up easily in the mornings for school.
I will give an example from one of our students, Tatiana. She talks about how it bothered her