Learning types and learning methods

Everyone learns differently - and that is precisely what is crucial when studying. While some people remember content best when they see it, others need conversation or even movement to really immerse themselves in the subject. If you know what type of learner you are, you can choose methods that suit you perfectly - and learn much more efficiently.

Table of contents

      1. The four classic learning types
      2. Further learning methods to try out
Photos of four people sitting on benches on the TU Dresden campus listening to something or looking at their laptops or mobile phones. © Anne Jantos

The four classic learning types

We show you the four classic learning types and the methods that suit them: from the visual learning type, which excels with pictures and sketches, to the auditory learning type, which anchors knowledge through listening and storytelling, to the kinaesthetic learning type, which understands through movement and trial and error, and the communicative learning type, which benefits most from interacting with others.

Visual learning type

Do you remember things best when you can see them? Then you are probably a visual learner. Sketches, illustrations or videos help you to see content clearly and memorize it better.

Helpful learning methods:

  • Diagrams and infographics (e.g. timeline of the French Revolution)

  • Educational videos / animations (e.g. YouTube formats such as Kurzgesagt or simpleclub)

  • Color codes and markers (mark important passages in the text with colors)

  • Concept maps (graphically represent connections - similar to mind maps, but more interconnected )

Auditory learning type

If you absorb content primarily by listening, talking and discussing, you are more of an auditory learner. Lectures, conversations or podcasts are particularly effective for you.

Helpful learning methods:

  • Audio books / podcasts (listen to history or specialist topics as a podcast)

  • Reading aloud / explaining (speaking content aloud or explaining it to someone else)

  • Audio notes (record your own summaries and listen to them while walking, for example)

  • Discussion groups (talk through content with fellow students or friends)

Kinesthetic / motor learning type

For you, learning means doing instead of just listening. Whether it's role-playing games, experiments or making models - if you get actively involved, the material will stick.

Helpful learning methods:

  • Learning through movement (e.g. solving math problems with building blocks)

  • Experiments / practical activities (e.g. carrying out chemical reactions yourself)

  • Learning through movement (e.g. repeating material on a walk or using flashcards)

  • Making models (e.g. creating molecule models or architecture projects )

Communicative learner

Discussions, group work or partner exercises will get you the furthest. If you talk to others, ask questions and go through topics together, you will remember content more easily - and also benefit from the perspective of your fellow students.

Helpful learning methods:

  • Group work / peer learning (discussing topics in small groups)

  • Role plays / simulations (e.g. reenacting a court hearing or interview situation)

  • Learning tandems (regularly go through topics in pairs and quiz each other)

  • Discussion forums / online groups (exchange in study-related chats or forums, e.g. on Opal )

Important: Of course, most students are a mixture of several learning types. It is therefore worth trying out methods and finding the right combination for you.

Further learning methods to try out

Cognitive learning methods

These methods help you to process and store information in a targeted manner in your head.

  • Repetition (e.g. reciting or writing vocabulary out loud several times)

  • Elaboration / linking with previous knowledge (explaining new information in your own words)

  • Chunking / forming units (e.g. memorizing telephone numbers in groups of three or four)

  • Index card system (e.g. with paper or apps such as Anki)

Active learning methods

Here you become active yourself and check whether you have really understood the material.

  • Learning by teaching (LdL) (explain a topic as if you were teaching it yourself)

  • Self-test / retrieval practice (e.g. use flashcards with questions on the front or have an AI ask you questions)

  • Mind mapping (visually structure and connect topics)

  • Develop practice questions (formulate and answer your own exam questions)

Metacognitive learning methods

These methods will help you to plan and reflect on your learning.

  • Learning planning / learning journal: (write down daily goals and reflect on learning progress)

  • Error analysis: (e.g. going through old exams, marking and understanding errors)

  • Checklists (tick off which topics you have already mastered)

  • Pomodoro technique (learning in 25-minute units with short breaks)

About this page

Gina Loreen Nattke
Last modified: Sep 01, 2025