There are many different learning styles that people identify with. Some are basic, such as visual and audio learning, whereas others are more complicated. Each person has a different way of learning a new concept, understanding a fresh idea, or learning a different skill. Personally, I enjoy learning by first listening to my professor explain the concept and then reading about it on my own again. However, when I say “read” I don’t mean lengthy paragraphs within a textbook. Although textbooks can be a useful source, I am one of the people who likes having PowerPoint slides to refer back to. Most of the time, PowerPoint slides include key concepts that the professor wants you to learn for the midterm or final. PowerPoints are also short and get to the point, and they help me understand the concepts faster than lengthy chapters within a textbook.
However, it isn’t enough to just have a great set of PowerPoint slides, because reading off of them for the entire semester does not make the class very engaging. It can cause students to drift off and lose interest. What does engage me are the interactive activities that occur before, in between, or after the slides. I had one professor who brought in paper, scissors, and felt pens for us to use. He said that we were to use these materials to make a bow tie. These bow ties were then used in a roleplay where one person was the seller and one the buyer, therefore helping us understand the selling process. This activity had resonated more with me than the definition in the textbook. When the professor interacts with their students and includes them within the lesson, it is easier for us to not only learn the concepts, but remember them as well. One professor I had enjoyed giving the class poster paper and asking different groups to write down their ideas about a concept discussed in class. After we were done with our posters, we were all told to hang them on the walls and then walk around and read each group’s poster. These types of activities are more memorable for me than completing a case study within a textbook and later submitting it on Blackboard.
Thus, classes taught by professors who interact with students and create interesting ways for students to understand concepts are usually classes that students excel in. Although it is no surprise that reading notes, studying the material, and completing your assignments are a large part of being successful in university, having professors who engage with the class, allow students to work together to share their ideas, and create interactive activities are the classes that are most effective and most enjoyable as well. There are many different learning styles. Some people would much rather sit by themselves, take notes, and leave, whereas others may enjoy many group activities. I personally like to have balance. I need time to focus on the material by myself, but when I am writing my midterm or final, I find myself remembering the answers not by trying to think of the PowerPoint slide the concept was on, but by remembering the activities we did in class about it. Therefore, some students like having a lecture and set of notes whereas others enjoy interactive classrooms. It is important to find a balance and to utilize different learning styles, both for a professor and a student.
