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You’ve decided to invest in yourself, but studying can be a challenge, especially if you are trying to fit study around work, family and lifestyle. When deciding how to study, there are many options to choose; from short courses in the classroom or online to topic-specific webinars, podcasts, and much more.
Know your learning style and increase your learning success
Your learning success will be helped by selecting a teaching method based on your learning style. There are a number of different ways to learn so working out how you learn you can dramatically increase your learning success. Learning styles include:
- Visual images – you prefer pictures and graphics
- Aural messages or the spoken word – you like to listen to lectures and to discuss your work
- Reading and making notes – you learn best through reading and writing
- Kinaesthetic or active learning – you prefer to learn through practical activities
If you are a hands on, practical learner, there is no point you being in a classroom sitting for hours on end, as this may send you off to sleep. Likewise,
if you like listening and discussing, an online course full of self-directed reading might not be for you.
So, it’s important to not only know what you want to learn but also how you want to learn. Choosing a great course, delivered in the way you like to learn will increase your enjoyment and success in upskilling.
To learn more about learning opportunities, read our blog about Training in the digital age.
Five tips for creating a successful study space
A great way to ensure your success is to create a study space that works for you. Here are five tips for creating a study space that will help you learn.
- Eliminate distractions
– turn your mobile off. If you have a family, get your partner or friend to look after the kids. If you have a noisy/busy household perhaps opt for a study session at the local library or café.
- Keep your study area free of clutter and well organised.If playing music, play music on low volume that is going to calm you. There are several phone apps available for this.
- Have adequate lighting – you don’t want to be straining to see the page or the screen.
- Set a time limit – to ensure your study time is about quality, not quantity.
- Keep your mind fresh and body well hydrated. Water is best. Too many sugary energy drinks and coffee can send you on a sugar/caffeine rollercoaster and leave you with headaches.
Taking a moment to plan and set up your study space can have a huge impact on your ability to focus and the quality of your work. If you’re going to invest in upskilling, also spend a minute getting your workspace sorted. We know it will help.
