Education: How To Best Recall Information for A Sequential Learning Style

My style of synthesizing information is known as the global learning style. However, I am a misfit in a world populated with sequential learners: people who expect b to follow a and don't require a overhead view of the big picture before they can come to that conclusion. To be honest, it has taken me awhile to realize that most people need things given to them in an orderly fashion progressing from the simplest unit to the most complex unit.

The following points identify the primary characteristics of a sequential learner.

1. ) Sequential learners learn in a linear fashion - one step progressing logically out of the previous.

2.) Sequential learners feel a strong need to understand all the pieces of the problem and are often unable to see the whole picture until they have a complete understanding of all the pieces.

3.) Sequential learners are organized, efficient, and generally have a standard method for approaching a problem.

4..) Sequential learners sometimes have difficulty seeing the big picture or understanding the concepts behind the facts.

5.) Sequential learners are good at receiving or giving precise and detailed directions.

Happily, for sequential learners, most education is sequential. Many teachers prefer tests such as multiple choice or true and false which favor the sequential learner. What can a sequential learner do to make the most of her strengths and to cope when they meet a teacher who doesn't always teach sequentially?

1.) When learning new material create an outline to help you see how the information fits together and to help you see the sequence.

2.) If you are in a class where the teacher skips around a lot when covering the material, do not be afraid to ask the teacher to fill in the blanks and explain the connections to you.

3.) Work through things step by step but if you run into situation where you don't completely understand what is happening, don't let that stop you. Stretch yourself and fill the gap according to what you know and move on.

4. ) Don't worry if you don't immediately understand the big picture or the concepts that the facts hang on. Keep studying the material and give yourself time to absorb all the information; once the information is absorbed, you are likely to get the big picture at that point.

5.) Group information in ways that are logical to you, it will help you recall it more easily.

There are many benefits to being a sequential learner. Sequential learners can often solve problems without fully understanding the big picture. They understand the steps and can work out solutions one step at a time. Sequential learners are also organized, efficient, and good at staying on task.