Online Homeschool Can Work for Any Learning Style

Online learning is more accepted than ever as a solution for adults and traditional students to complete their diploma or degree on their schedule, but you may be worried it’s not for you. However, online learning isn’t just for one type of person or one learning style. It can work for everyone, including you! Here’s how you can adapt the way you learn best to help you prepare to excel in your online high school diploma.

Online education can be for everyone

Today, online education is more accepted than ever as a solution for adults and traditional students to complete their diploma or degree on their schedule. While the flexibility of online school seems perfect for your busy life, you’re not sure if you’re cut out for it. When your only experience has been with a traditional classroom and teachers setting hard deadlines for your work, the idea of having to keep yourself motivated can feel a bit overwhelming. Can you stay focused on your studies and keep yourself moving forward? Are you taking enough notes or, maybe too many notes? Online learning isn’t just for one type of person or one learning style. It can work for everyone, including you! Here’s how you can adapt the way you learn best to help you prepare to excel in your online high school diploma.

Figure out your learning style

Before you can figure out how you can make online learning work for you, start by identifying what your learning style is. Learning styles group common ways that people learn into one or two categories. You may have a few different ways you prefer to learn or that work best for you. You may even use different styles for different types of tasks. Pinpointing what generally works best for you can help you develop different strategies for studying and test-taking that suit your needs.

The seven learning styles are

• Visual. You prefer using photos, images, and things you can see to better understand what you’re studying. Graphs, maps, and diagrams are your go-to when you’re learning.
• Aural. You learn better when you listen to a lecture. You might prefer to study or learn by listening to audiobooks.
• Verbal. You prefer words, so writing, reading, and taking notes help you best when you’re preparing for a test.
• Physical. You like to be active when you’re learning, whether that means being able to touch the things you’re learning about, or making sure you walk or be active while studying.
• Logical. You like logic, so you need to run what you learn through a few examples to really understand it.
• Social. You are a people person and learning in a study group or bouncing ideas off of a study buddy help you remember what you need to know.
• Solitary. You prefer to work alone and can absorb information better when you do it on your terms, without distractions.

You probably combine two or more of the learning styles without thinking about it. For example, you might be an aural learner who likes to study with others. It allows you to read notes aloud and go back and forth with your study buddies to make sure you don’t miss anything. Or, you might be a verbal learner who prefers studying alone and remembers facts and figures best by rewriting the information or copying your notes at least once or twice.

Making your learning style work for online classes

You might think that online high school can’t work for you because you’re used to studying and learning in your set style. But with a few strategies, you can tweak your learning style to work with self-paced courses. Here’s what you can do to adapt how you learn best to a flexible James Madison curriculum.

Tips for Visual Learners. It’s not tough for visual learners to adapt to online studying. Textbooks and study guides often already include the charts and visual examples that can help you better understand what you’re reading. There are still a few extra things you can do to make the online experience work better for you. That includes trying out a color-coded system for your notes, creating your own charts, graphs, or doodles about the subject you’re studying, or watching tutorial videos that cover the information you need to learn.

Tips for Aural Learners. You like to hear information, so you probably listen to more than a few podcasts. You may think that, since you learn better when you hear a lecture or recording, reading and studying online won’t work for you. But there are several ways to adapt your online study guides to your learning style. With text-to-speech apps, you can have your study guides read to you. You can also read your study material out loud and record yourself. Later, when it’s time to study for an exam, you can replay your recording to help you remember what you learned. There are also podcasts and videos that can supplement your education, depending on the subject you’re studying.

Tips for Verbal Learners. As a verbal learner, online classes are pretty much made for you. Reading study guides and textbooks that are assigned for each class works for your learning style. There’s always room for improvement, though, so to give your study skills a boost, you can try different strategies. Rewriting notes, writing what you learned in a different format, or trying to write out the lesson from memory are all different methods you can use to prepare for a test.

Tips for Physical Learners. It can be a bit more difficult to imagine being able to adapt this learning style to self-paced online high school classes, but the ability to learn whenever and wherever you have an internet connection makes it easier. If you’re a physical learner who likes to move while you’re studying, taking your tablet to the gym and reading while you run can be a solution. Or, for a lower impact workout/study session, taking a walk while studying your notes can help you work off extra energy and absorb the information.

Tips for Logical Learners. When you’re a logical learner, you like things in a certain order. Organizing your notes in a way that makes sense to you - not just in the order you read it - can help you build confidence for your next exam. Try applying the concepts you learn to a few different examples. This will help you make sense of the core ideas.

Tips for Social Learners. As a social learner, study groups are where it’s at as far as you’re concerned. Working with others to bounce ideas off of each other, as well as discussing the material you’re learning, makes a positive impact on your scores. Online learning can seem a bit scary for you because you’re working on your own. But with James Madison, you have a community of classmates and alumni to chat and study with through social media. Following the James Madison High School Facebook page or joining the student community can help you add the social element you love to your study time.

Tips for Solitary Learners. As a solitary learner, your style is already suited to online education. However, it’s important to remember to pace yourself, take study breaks, and take time to relax between your study sessions. You may want to immerse yourself in your lessons to finish your classes as soon as possible, but breaks are necessary to clear your brain and make sure you can focus on each new piece of information you learn.

Prepare to succeed in online homeschool

With the flexibility of James Madison High School, you can take your time adjusting to a new way of learning and prepare for exams on your schedule. No matter your learning style, you can adjust your study methods to work for your online courses and take extra time when you need it. Still not sure if you can make online school work for you? Call and speak to our Admissions team at to see how you can make online homeschooling work for you.