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different topics to one another. Work with others to guess what you will be asked on
the next test, and figure out how you will answer. You will always retain information
better if you find ways to do something with it.
Reflective Learners

If you think too much, you risk doing nothing—ever. There comes a time when
a decision has to be made or an action taken. Involve yourself in group decision
making whenever possible, and try to apply the information you have in as practical a
manner as possible.
If you are a reflective learner in a class that allows little or no class time for
thinking about new information, you should try to compensate for this lack when you
study. Don’t simply read or memorize the material; stop periodically to review what
you have read and to think of possible questions or applications. You might find it
helpful to write short summaries of readings or class notes in your own words. Doing
so may take extra time but will enable you to retain the material more effectively.
Sensory Learners
If you rely too much on sensing, you tend to prefer what is familiar and
concentrate on facts you know instead of being innovative and adapting to new
situations. Seek out opportunities to learn theoretical information and then bring in
facts to support or negate these theories.
Sensors remember and understand information best if they can see how it
connects to the real world. If you are in a class where most of the material is abstract
and theoretical, you may have difficulty. Ask your instructor for specific examples of
concepts and procedures, and find out how the concepts apply in practice. If the
teacher does not provide enough specifics, try to find some in your course text or
other references or by brainstorming with friends or classmates.
Intuitive Learners
If you rely too much on intuition, you risk missing important details, which can
lead to poor decision making and problem solving. Force yourself to learn facts or
memorize data that will help you defend or criticize a theory or procedure you are
working with. You may need to slow down and look at detail you would otherwise
typically skim.
Many college lecture classes are aimed at intuitors. However, if you are an
intuitor and you happen to be in a class that deals primarily with memorization and
rote substitution in formulas, you may have trouble with boredom. Ask your
instructor for interpretations or theories that link the facts, or try to find the
connections yourself. You may also be prone to careless mistakes on tests because
you are impatient with details and don’t like repetition (as in checking your
completed solutions). Take time to read the entire question before you start
answering, and be sure to check your results.
Visual Learners
If you concentrate more on pictorial or graphical information than on words,
you put yourself at a distinct disadvantage because verbal and written information is
still the main preferred choice for delivery of information. Practice your note taking,
and seek out opportunities to explain information to others using words.

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