Auditory learners thrive when they hear information. Traditional lecture styles work well for auditory learners, and auditory learners also excel when lessons are set to music. Online learning typically requires a person to listen to a single speaker for an extended period of time, which auditory learners are especially well-equipped to do.
People who learn best when talking about and sharing ideas with others are interactive learners. Though online education is normally an individual pursuit, many online courses provide opportunities for chat and group collaboration. If you work best in groups, look for an online course that allows you to interact with other students.
Visual learners learn best when they can see the information that is presented to them. Graphics and charts are particularly helpful to them. Online courses often provide extensive visual materials as a supplement to lectures, making these courses an ideal choice for visual learners. Look for courses that provide diagrams, graphs, charts and demonstrations.
Psychologist Harvey Silver has argued that technological intelligence is a unique kind of intelligence with its own accompanying learning style. Students who thrive in a technological environment are internet-savvy, good typists and knowledgeable about the basics of computers. Even if this is not a student's primary learning style, it's vital to be moderately technologically competent to thrive in an online learning environment. Students who struggle with typing or who are unfamiliar with the Internet and computers may find this type of education a challenge.
Though online schools are working diligently to create more interactive and integrated learning experiences, not all learning styles are adapted to this mode of education. Kinesthetic learners learn best when interacting with the material. A kinesthetic learner, for example, would learn physics best by performing a physics experiment. Tactile learners need to touch material directly. They might learn math best by counting money. Because online learning doesn't allow students to physically engage with the material, online courses may not work best for this style of learning.