Online Education Courses: Do They Fit Your Learning Style?

Statistics and facts for this article were found in "The
Web's Aspect on Student Learning" by Katrina Meyer, written
for Technological Horizons in Education.

Online education is different from traditional education.
When online education courses first evolved, they were
close copies of traditional courses, delivered in much the
same way, i.e.; via the reading of text. Now, however,
online course designers have realized that online education
is primarily a visual learning medium and are delivering
course content through highly visual media, including
pictures and video, which fits a visual learning style.

What Are The Types of Learning Styles? (Source:
http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm#Visual%20Learne
rs:)

Visual learners learn through sight. They need to see the
teacher's body language and facial expression to fully
understand a lesson. They prefer sitting at the front of
the classroom to avoid visual obstructions (e.g. people's
heads). They think in pictures and learn best from visual
displays including: diagrams, illustrated text books,
overhead transparencies, videos, flipcharts and hand-outs.
During a lecture or discussion, visual learners take
detailed notes on the information.

New scientific studies have shown that if you learn through
a visual learning style, online education courses may fit
you better than a traditional program in a campus-based
school. A typical online student will do well if he or she
has certain skills and personality traits, such as:

* Learns visually,

* Is independent,

* Self-motivates,

* Has computer skills.

1. If you learn best by reading, studying diagrams,
watching animations, pictures, and videos, or observing
charts, you are a visual learner. Much of the information
presented on the internet is presented visually, which is
why it may be the ideal medium for you. In addition, your
assignments and tests will be, for the most part, written,
so that your visual learning style is the best for
completing projects you will be assigned.

In recent years, the visual learning style classification
has been modified somewhat and renamed the visual/verbal
learning style. At www.metamath.com, it is explained.
"The Visual/ Verbal Learning Style" You learn best when
information is presented visually and in written format.
In a classroom setting, you benefit from instructors who
use a chalkboard (or overhead projector) to list the points
of a lecture, or who give you an outline of a lecture. You
benefit from information in textbooks and class notes. You
like to study by yourself in a quiet room. You see
information "in your mind's eye" when you are trying to
memorize. Learning Strategies for the Visual/ Verbal
Learner (Source: www.metamath.com)

To aid recall, use "color coding" when studying new
information in your textbook or notes. Use highlighter
pens to highlight information in contrasting colors. Write
down sentences and phrases that summarize key information
obtained from textbooks and lectures. Make flashcards of
vocabulary words and concepts that need to be memorized.
Use highlighter pens to emphasize key points on the cards.
Limit the amount of information per card so that you can
remember it more easily and obtain a "mental picture" of
it. When learning information presented in diagrams or
illustrations, write out explanations of it. When learning
mathematical or technical information, write out summaries
in sentences and key phrases that are simplified. When a
problem requires a sequence of steps, write out in detail
how to do each step. Make use of computer word processing
to speed up taking notes. Copy key information from your
notes and textbook into a word-processed document. Use the
print-outs for review. Before an exam, create visual
reminders of information that must be memorized. Make
sticky notes containing key words and concepts and place
them in highly visible places --on your mirror, notebook,
car dashboard, etc.

2. The independent learner is happy to work alone on
projects and assignments. Most of your assignments will be
done without input from other students, so it is imperative
that you act independent and confident when it comes to
completing projects on your own, without support from
others. In fact, independent learners prefer working on
their own rather than having to give support to other
students and share grades with them.

3. The learner who is taking online education courses will
have less contact with other students. In this situation,
you must be self-motivated and have less need to rely on
others for assistance. The ability to motivate yourself to
solve problems and complete assignments is vital for online
success. 4. An independent learner is most likely to learn
the computer skills needed to succeed in online education
courses. The independent student has enough confidence to
deal with occasional computer technical problems, as well.
"With online education, we just turn the technology over to
them {the students} and let them use it express themselves
in their own unique ways." Quote may be found at:
http://www.netc.org/digitalbridges/online/symposium/quotes.p
hp. If you are the type of student who needs constant
reassurance and assistance from other students, hesitates
to work or solve problems on your own, prefers to learn by
listening or participating in hands-on projects or the use
of manipulatives, it would be a good idea to consider
attending campus-based classes or courses instead of online
courses. At a traditional campus, you will find others who
have auditory and/or tactile learning styles similar to
yours, with whom you can interact.

The key to success in online education courses is to make
sure that your learning style fits the visual/verbal
learning style needed for online education. You must be
able to work at your own pace, independently, using visual
media as your input. You must also be self- motivated and
have enough confidence to solve problems as they occur. If
you fit those criteria, online education courses are for
you!

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