Contrary to popular belief, you can implement various learning strategies into your academics rather than a single method. Reading books and cramming are the major types of Learning, but there are other ways to learn.
Research says there are at least 13 different ways to acquire knowledge related to how a new thought is received and assimilated. In this article, I mentioned and explained the 15 different types of learning strategies that are available. So without further ado, let’s get right into it. But before that, what are learning strategies?
What Are Learning Strategies?
Learning strategies are ways in which people can improve their Learning. It is an effective way to help people learn and remember things. There are various ways to use these learning strategies to learn more effectively.
You can use these strategies in any environment, home, school, or work. They can be used by students and adults who want to improve their skills and knowledge. Learning strategies can also be used by people trying to learn a new language or skill.
There are 15 learning strategies, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Let’s take a look at them.
15 Different Types of Learning Strategies
1. Implicit Learning
Implicit Learning is the process of learning without consciously trying to learn. Instead, it is the process of learning through exposure and repetition.
You can use implicit Learning in a variety of ways. For example, it can be used when people are exposed to new information but do not know it is a piece of new information. The person may not be aware that they are being taught something, but their brain will still register and store the information for later use.
The subconsciousness system is active in implicit Learning, a way of Learning by doing and repetition. However, the conscious mind may be involved or not involved at all.
Implicit Learning takes place with the assistance of multiple senses, including sight, sound, and touch. For example, many people learn language implicitly by listening to the sounds made when words are articulated (speech).
2. Explicit Learning
Contrary to implicit Learning, Explicit Learning is a learning strategy involving direct instruction and material repetition. It is one of the most common methods used in classrooms and education.
The explicit learning strategy states that the best way for students to learn a new concept is by explaining it to them. In classrooms, this process is evident in the teacher giving instructions and repeating instructions given by the student.
Explicit Learning can be more effective because it offers learners a clear goal, which helps them focus on what they are trying to learn.
3. Associative Learning
Associative Learning is an example of a learning strategy where associations are formed between stimuli and responses. It is a widely popular type of Learning where a person assimilates knowledge by connecting two stimuli or ideas.
Our minds connect several ideas and specific events or reactions from the outside world.
This makes this strategy effective because it allows us to learn from many different experiences, not just through trial and error. Although associative Learning requires effort, it is extremely deep and rich.
4. Non-associative Learning
Unlike associative Learning, Non-associative Learning is a type that does not rely on associations.
Non-associative Learning is a learning strategy that helps improve Learning by making learners aware of their mistakes.
Non-associative Learning is a strategy that helps improve Learning by making learners aware of their mistakes. It does not rely on external associations. Instead, it relies on feedback from the environment. This type of Learning is also known as “errorless” or “shaping.”
A good example of this type of strategy is shaping animal training. The trainer rewards the desired behavior and punishes any other behaviors. This way, the animal learns what behavior is desired and should be avoided to get rewarded.
5. Significant Learning
Significant Learning is a learning strategy focusing on the student’s interests, emotions, and motivation to learn. The main idea of this strategy is to make the learning process more significant and memorable for the learner.
This strategy is often used as an alternative to traditional school teaching methods. In this approach, teachers focus on what interests their students and try to make the lessons more interactive by using different techniques like storytelling, games, videos, and simulations.
6. Cooperative Learning
Just as the name implies, Cooperative learning is a learning strategy that involves students working together in small groups to solve problems, discuss and debate ideas, and learn from each other.
Cooperative Learning is a type of collaborative teaching that allows students to work together on projects. You can break down the process of cooperative Learning into four stages: problem-solving, discussion, critical thinking, and evaluation.
Cooperative Learning is an effective learning strategy that uses small groups of learners to solve problems or complete tasks. This group is created of no more than five individuals, each of which plays a particular role.
7. Emotional Learning
Emotional Learning is a strategy that focuses on the emotional aspect of Learning. It is an approach to teaching and Learning that emphasizes emotions’ importance in cognitive, social, and moral development.
Emotional Learning theory has been applied to various fields such as education, health care, management, and psychotherapy. This type of Learning has received a lot of attention since it enables effective emotion management during the learning process.
Students gain greatly from this technique since it makes them feel good and enhances their interpersonal relationships.
8. Observational Learning (or shadowing)
Another learning strategy is observation, which is best suited for highly visual learners. This type is based on a model situation whereby a participant acts like a model or in a way that sets an example for someone else, who then observes and gets knowledge as a result.
Shadowing is a widely used method based on this Learning. For example, this is used during onboarding of new employees: a worker who has just joined the organization shadows an existing employee to watch what tasks to do and how they are completed.
Language learning also uses this very same strategy. This method involves hearing a voice recording of the language being learned while also speaking out loud some of the sentences that are heard. Again, language assimilation is greatly aided by the learner’s voice, which mimics the speaker’s voice on the recording like a shadow.
9. Experiential Learning
Experiential Learning is based on experience and is one of the best ways to learn. It is a learning strategy used to help students develop skills and knowledge.
In experiential Learning, students learn by doing. They are actively involved in acquiring new knowledge and experiencing the consequences of their decisions. In this way, they can apply what they have learned in future actions.
The best way to understand experiential Learning is through an example: imagine that you are in a physics course with an experiment about acceleration and gravity. The teacher will give you some materials (e.g., weights) and ask you to set up the experiment yourself so that you can feel the effects of gravity on your own body. You will then better understand what it means when we say, “the heavier something is, the faster it falls”.
10. Learning By Discovery
Learning by discovery is often called “active learning,” in which students actively participate in their education by asking questions, seeking knowledge, connecting new ideas to previously taught ideas, and organizing each concept in light of the student’s context.
Learning by discovery is a learning strategy that uses the process of inquiry and exploration to learn. It is an active learner’s approach and doesn’t require any prior knowledge.
You can apply this strategy to Learning in many ways, for instance, by allowing students to explore their curiosity and find their answers. It also allows students to develop creativity and problem-solving skills.
11. Rote Learning
Rote Learning is a learning strategy that involves memorizing information by repetition. It is a type of Learning that instills ideas in the mind. It is frequently used to memorize constants like dates and names, which can be learned through repetition but is not advised for learning some topics that require reflection.
However, it can be applied to any subject and used at any stage of the education process. This strategy is often used for review but can also be used for initial memorization.
12. Receptive Learning
Receptive Learning is contrary to Learning by discovery. Instead, receptive Learning is a way to learn by listening and watching. This learning strategy is often used when there is no time for hands-on training or when the learner needs more experience with the topic.
The main advantage of receptive Learning is that it allows learners to go through the information at their own pace, which makes it easier to retain knowledge and skills. Receptive learners can also ask questions during the process, which helps them understand the material better.
On the other hand, receptive learners may feel frustrated because they need help to apply what they learned right away (if at all). This learning strategy also does not allow for active participation in a group setting.
13. Immersive Learning
Immersive Learning is a term that refers to the use of virtual reality and augmented reality in education. You can use it for teaching and training purposes.
With this approach to Learning, students are no longer restricted to simply hearing what their teachers say about a subject to gain firsthand experience. Immersive Learning allows learners to experience everything firsthand without leaving their seats or doing anything physical. Students can experience what they learn more closely thanks to technological advancements in various programs, software, and electronic resources like virtual reality goggles or 3D printing equipment.
14. E-learning, or online Learning
E-learning is a learning strategy that uses digital technologies to deliver educational content. E-learning courses can be accessed online, on mobile devices, or through other digital devices.
You can use E-learning in various contexts and settings, such as in the workplace, in formal education and lifelong learning settings, and for personal development.
It has many advantages over traditional teaching and training methods, including the ability to provide information to people who cannot attend a live course (e.g., because they live too far away or have disabilities). It also allows students to learn at their own pace by taking breaks as they need them.
15. Social Learning
According to Albert Bandura’s “Social Learning Theory,” the learner actively participates in the learning process rather than merely observing others and copying their behavior. Bandura agrees with this idea. Because of this, his theory incorporates cognitive Learning, which contends that psychological factors affect behavior, and behavioral Learning (how the environment affects it). Furthermore, he emphasizes that to learn something; three conditions must be satisfied:
- Retention aids in remembering what has been seen.
- Reproduction and the capacity to replicate the behavior.
- Motivation is the desire to practice that conduct.
Social Learning is a powerful tool for facilitating Learning because it empowers learners to share their knowledge with others and learn from each other. It also helps increase creativity among learners by encouraging them to think outside the box and develop new ideas for solutions.
Conclusion
Learning strategies help learners understand difficult concepts and topics better using different approaches and techniques, which we’ve already discussed in this article. With these 15 different types of learning strategies, you’re able to implement new and better ideas.