Younger students are often told about the differences in visual and audio learning - some students learn better with verbal instructions while others rely on graphic interpretations of the material. In college, it usually is up to the student to find a way to make the material from lectures, reading and homework fit their preferred learning method.

Unfortunately, most of the material present in college is very text and audio heavy - long lectures, thick textbooks and difficult papers. For visual learners, translating that information into a graphic display to help them retain the material can be a challenge.

Fortunately, there are a number of tools that can assist in the process of translating text to graphics, maps, webs, charts and diagrams. Gone are the days of 'A is for Apple' and instead there's a new found appreciation for the flow chart.

One website that's helping students build graphic organizers is graphic.org. With dozens of styles of graph and charts at their disposal, students can create learning tools to enhance and support their classroom learning.

By understanding what type of learning suits you best, and by comprehending the material well enough to build it into a graphical learning tool, you can improve your grades and decrease the time you spend studying ineffectively. Experiment with different learning styles for a healthier learning environment.