With the flexibility and personalised approach offered by online schooling, students have more opportunities to explore learning in ways that suit their natural inclinations. At Queen’s Online School, we celebrate individuality and inclusivity. This extends to the value we see in every child’s unique approach to learning. By understanding your child’s learning style, you can help create an engaging and effective study environment right at home, complementing the support they receive from our experienced and nurturing teaching staff.
This guide will help you identify your child’s learning style and adapt their online education experience to maximise their academic success and confidence.
The Importance of Learning Styles in an Online Environment
Learning styles describe the ways children most effectively absorb, process, and retain information. Since online education provides freedom from rigid classroom structures, your child can explore their best learning methods more freely. Queen’s Online School encourages this by offering varied learning resources, interactive online classes, and personalised support that parents can enhance at home. Whilst lessons are live and structured, students also have access to a large library of recorded lessons, available for refreshing the memory or revising for examinations.
The main learning styles are:
- Visual Learners – Learn best through images, diagrams, and spatial understanding.
- Auditory Learners– Grasp concepts more easily through listening and discussion.
- Kinaesthetic Learners – Prefer hands-on activities and learn through movement and touch.
- Reading/Writing Learners– Absorb information effectively through reading and writing.
How to Identify Your Child’s Learning Style
Recognising your child’s learning style helps you understand how they engage with their online classes and where they might need extra support. Here’s how you can identify their learning preferences:
Observe Their Interaction with Online Content: Does your child seem most engaged during video explanations, discussion sessions, or interactive activities? Observing how they respond to various online materials can provide clear clues.
Experiment with Different Approaches: Try different activities at home to see what sparks the most interest—reading, drawing, discussing, or building.
Have a Conversation: If they’re old enough, ask them what methods they find most enjoyable or effective during their online studies.
Learning Style Breakdown and Tips for Online Schooling
Here’s a breakdown of each learning style, along with tips from Queen’s about how to make our resources even more effective for your child.
Visual Learners
Visual learners thrive on seeing information. They engage well with charts, diagrams, and visual aids.
– Encourage Notetaking with Diagrams: When watching class videos, encourage students to sketch diagrams or mind maps of key ideas.
– Use Colour-Coding: Let them colour-code their notes or organise their online files by colour or icon themes, which can help with memory.
– Take advantage of our digital workbooks: Many subjects in our lessons at Queen’s Online School incorporate visuals, student can add even more. Encourage your child to take advantage of any graphics, slides, or illustrative materials provided by their teachers.
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners absorb information best through sound. They benefit from listening to explanations and discussing concepts.
– Encourage Participation in Live Discussions: Our interactive online classes often include group discussions. Encourage your child to join in, as discussing ideas out loud helps them solidify understanding.
– Listen and Recap Together: After class, ask them to explain what they learned. Talking through lessons can reinforce their memory and comprehension.
– Supplement with Audiobooks or Podcasts: If available, audiobooks or educational podcasts can help reinforce topics they’re studying with us at Queen’s.
Kinaesthetic Learners
Kinaesthetic learners benefit from active, hands-on learning and do well with movement-based activities.
– Encourage Physical Movement Between Lessons: Short breaks with stretching, a quick walk, or even hands-on projects related to their studies can help keep them focused and energised.
– Use Physical Items for Abstract Concepts: For subjects like maths or science, using physical objects to model problems can be beneficial or AR tools and mind mapping can keep students active in their lessons.
– Incorporate Projects: Queen’s Online School offers project-based learning activities that kinaesthetic learners will enjoy. Help them set up a workspace where they can get hands-on with assignments and projects.
Reading/Writing Learners
Reading/writing learners excel with text-based materials. They enjoy reading, note-taking, and summarising.
– Encourage Detailed Notetaking: As they watch lessons, encourage them to take notes or write summaries of each class, which helps reinforce their learning. Make revision cards after lessons and store them for later dates.
-Provide Extra Reading Materials: If they’re interested, explore additional online resources, books, or articles that dive deeper into class topics.
– Utilise the Queen’s Online School Resource Library: Our online platform offers a range of materials that can help them further engage with subjects, from reading to supplemental notes.
Supporting Your Child’s Learning Style at Queen’s Online School
Once you understand your child’s learning style, you can work with their teachers to tailor their online experience for maximum benefit. At Queen’s Online School, we strive to support diverse learning needs through a flexible, well-rounded approach. Here are a few ways to collaborate with us:
– Communicate with Teachers: Don’t be afraid to share your observations about your child’s learning style with their teachers. This can lead to personalised strategies for enhancing their learning experience.
– Incorporate Home-Based Reinforcements: Reinforce online learning by creating an environment at home that supports their style—whether through visuals, hands-on tools, or audio resources.
– Encourage Self-Confidence: Help your child understand that each learning style is valuable. This reassurance builds self-esteem and encourages them to learn in the way that feels natural to them.
Embracing Flexibility & Blended Learning Styles
Many children don’t fit neatly into one learning style—they may prefer a combination. In an online learning setting like Queen’s Online School, embracing a flexible approach can make learning enjoyable and productive. Use different methods in tandem to support their diverse preferences, and don’t hesitate to mix styles as needed.
Final Thoughts
At Queen’s, we champion inclusivity and individuality. By understanding and supporting your child’s learning style, you contribute to a positive and engaging online schooling experience. Explore these approaches with them, stay flexible, and enjoy discovering what makes them light up as they learn. Together, we can help them build a foundation for academic success and a lifelong love for learning.
With these strategies, Queen’s becomes more than just an online school—it becomes a personalised pathway to help your child reach their full potential. Why not get in touch today to find out how we can enhance your child’s learning experience?
