Soaking up new information, otherwise called learning, is something unique to every student. Learning techniques can be quite complex and if you don’t know how you learn new material, you could be hurting your studies.

Learning techniques are often divided into three categories by educators: visual, auditory and tactile. The visual learners are those who have the greatest learning experience by using visual aides they can see. An auditory learner is a person who processes information most effectively by hearing the instruction, most often through lectures. Tactile learners are the hands-on folks; they learn most effectively through physical touch and demonstrations.

Home-study courses are a great way to expand your knowledge and help grow your business. But before taking one, determine what learning technique best works for you. By doing so, it can help you pick which course is best for you, since the techniques vary.

Remember, your ultimate goal is to learn how to best serve your clients. Read Part 1 (visual learner) and Part 2 (auditory learner).

Tactile learners 

Tactile learners are students who learn best through hands-on experiences. Sometimes referred to as kinesthetic learners, these students gain and process their knowledge through exercises that involve touch and feeling.

Remember, in a home-study course, your home or office is your classroom and you have the ability to adjust your surroundings as you see fit to maximize your learning experience.

For studying purposes, here are a few tips you might want to follow:

  • Study in short blocks of time. Also, make sure to take frequent breaks between sessions.
  • Role-playing and acting out situations can also help your learning process. Remember tactile learning is about physical experiences.
  • When browsing home-study courses, be sure to choose classes with hands-on work and labs.
  • Ask friends or family members to be your testing subjects for massage techniques. You can practice on them to see and feel what you are doing correctly.
  • Memory games can be included into your studying to enhance memorization and comprehension.
  • Classes that require hands-on exams will benefit you more.
  • When reading, write down important passages and concepts in a way you can understand.
  • Use objects, such as flashcards or visual props, to aid in studying.

As always, make sure to check with your national and state licensing bodies to make sure the courses you select are acceptable for continuing education credits.