It is a rare thing for a student to learn without encountering any stumbling blocks along the way. Learning sometimes takes a great deal of concentration and effort, and many mistakes are made before the path of least resistance is reached. Though it is impossible to predict all of the obstacles a student may encounter on the road to better grades, at the very least they can endeavor to understand how their minds naturally approach these predicaments.

SuperCamp, an academic summer camp for kids and teens, employs a very enlightening anecdote to help students discover and understand their own learning styles: The story of Slim ‘n’ Bil. As the story goes, Slim and Bil were very special, very smart people – but in very different ways. They knew each other so well that they didn’t bother to ask the question, “How smart are you?” but rather, “How are you smart?”

They became great friends once they realized that their combined names formed an acronym for learning styles. These learning styles demonstrated how people can use their strengths to tackle a difficult problem. The door of learning would be opened for individuals who understood how their mind naturally approaches a problem.

The acronym that Slim ‘n’ Bil discovered stands for these learning styles: Spatial-Visual, Linguistic, Interpersonal, Musical, Naturalist, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Intrapersonal, Logical-Mathematical. Each one uses a different method to absorb information efficiently. For example, a Naturalist learner looks for patterns and odd-one-out puzzles, while Bodily-Kinesthetic learners like movement and physical learning games.

Other learning methods are on different sides of the spectrum: Interpersonal learners love group challenges, while Intrapersonal learners like to create a personal objectives checklist. Logical-Mathematical learners prefer logic puzzles and use reason to tackle problems, while a Spatial-Visual learner likes to view challenges in dimension and shapes. Linguistic learners like words and stories to help them sort through facts, just as a Musical learner enjoys songs and rhyme to help them recall and organize information.

It should be noted that no one learning style is superior to another. Just as Slim ‘n’ Bil discovered, everyone sees problem-solving in a different way. Having many different perspectives can provide enlightenment to someone else who is only viewing the problem from one angle.

The first step to better grades and a better GPA is comprehension of a student’s own personal learning style. Better grades won’t be a stopping point either; their understanding of people’s strengths will ultimately help them in their future lives. SuperCamp believes that these style-specific techniques will last them far beyond their academic careers.

Students who understand how their brains best retain and recall information will become valuable assets in their future lives. They won’t just get better grades; challenges outside of academia will be easier to overcome when they contribute their unique perspective at work, with family, or with friends. We can learn a lot from Slim ‘n’ Bil.

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