The VSR Learner
You are a learner with a visual, solitary, and right-brain-dominated learning style. You thrive in environments that incorporate graphs and diagrams as you learn better with visual demonstrations. You work best when there are no distractions, making your alone time some of your most productive study sessions. You are usually in touch with your emotions, harnessing empathy as a powerful tool to help you understand complex theories and opinionated pieces.
General Study Tips
1. Use symbols or pictures to replace certain words or phrases as they are easier to remember later.
2. Highlight different concepts in different colours to help you easily transition from topic to topic.
3. Write out definitions and formulas on flashcards and spend time each day memorizing them.
4. Find a place in your home that is fully dedicated to study as this trains your brain to hyperfocus.
5. Set frequent goals and create a study schedule that is rewarding to give you motivation.
6. Figure out how to explain concepts and definitions in your own words to improve memory capacity.
7. Use mind maps and flowcharts with lots of pictures to help you visualize your thought process.
8. Listen to instrumental or classical music to help you enjoy the process without distracting lyrics.
9. Reflect on the emotions tied to the topics studied to help you get a better understanding of its impact.
Suggested Strategy: Spaced Repetition
Spaced Repetition is a technique that requires reviewing material at specific intervals. At the beginning these intervals are shorter; maybe one hour, six hours, or a day apart. As you get a better understanding of the material, the time between sessions becomes longer extending to maybe four days, a week, or even two.
This approach is especially helpful because you review concepts just as your brain begins to forget them, thus enhancing long-term memory. Spaced Repetition is like the opposite of cramming for a test as you start reviewing early in the semester to ensure that you remember it for the culminating assessment. This means that the time spent directly studying for a test is reduced and the information is kept in your mind for much longer. This study technique requires intense discipline, however; the results are extraordinary.
Why Spaced Repetition: Visual learners can use visual aids and flashcards in Spaced Repetition. The solitary nature of the study technique suits their preference for working alone, and the method’s flexibility supports the creativity and intuition of right-brain dominance.