In a previous article we spoke about not only hiring candidates that meet the job requirements and core competencies of the organization but also show a propensity to pass the FINRA licensure exams. In this article we will share information on the importance of identifying and designing your FINRA program to meet your candidates’ learning styles.
Learning style preferences have been widely adapted into teaching and learning environments. There are four major learning styles that are used in adult learning today. Visual, Auditory, Reflective, and Kinesthetic (VARK). Visual learners learn by seeing, so they are engaged by charts, graphs, pictures, and PowerPoint Presentations. Auditory Learners learn by hearing. They learn by discussions, listening to stories and then repeating stories or information to others. Reflective Learners learn by reading and writing. They prefer to read material and the write or summarize the content to learn. Last there is Kinesthetic learners who learn by physically doing. They learn by experience, or observation and activity along with experimentation.
Learning Styles
It is helpful to understand the learning styles of potential candidates as they come on board. By knowing your candidates learning style, you will be able to develop strategies to help them enhance their learning potential. There are several on-line resources and assessments that can be used to identify Learning styles. You can check out these links to learning styles assessments:
By knowing the learning style of your candidates you can adjust how you and your team are engaging and supporting them.
Visual Learners
For the Visual learners you should share graphs and charts to demonstrate concepts. The Bond yield “teeter totter” is a great example of how visual learners can use graphics to learn. I know whenever I talk about the bond yields, I always see people using their forearm like a “teeter totter” and their mouthing the words, “yields rise…bond price falls.” Visual learners tend to reflect on those graphics when thinking through concepts. There are several examples of graphs that you can share with visual learners to learn about FINRA concepts. If you want more ideas to share with your visual learners, one way to build your library is to engage them in an activity to have them draw concepts that help them remember different FINRA content and share it with the class. If it resonates with others you can add that to your visual learner library. This not only works for FINRA concepts but also any other topic you might be teaching.
Example the Bond Yield “Teeter Totter” visual
Auditory Learners
If you have auditory learners in your class, you can assign audio books or have them join small group discussions on specific topics. Creating reading groups can be helpful. You can assign auditory learners to sit down together in small groups and they can read aloud to each other and then discuss what they have read. Offering activities where they can listen to explanations and then repeat and explain back the concept is also helpful for auditory learners in the group. Lastly, “YouTube” videos or other FINRA training videos can be helpful for this group. Again, you can have a small group watch or listen to them together and then have each participant complete a teach back to the group.
Reflective Learners
Most FINRA study materials are currently built for the reflective learners. Much of the study material provided by vendors include books full of FINRA content and then review quizzes or exams to test learning. One way to provide even more support for reflective learners is to ask them to provide written summaries of those topics they might struggle with and then review the summaries with them. You can also have them read those summaries to the auditory learners after you review them.
Kinesthetic Learners
Studying for the FINRA exam for Kinesthetic or “hands on” learners can be challenging because they like to jump in and quickly solve problems. They usually prefer fast paced learning environments and if there is complexity in a topic they might be quickly dis-interested. In a classroom setting they are easily distracted if the content or activity is moving along slowly. They tend to like the big picture but might struggle with the in-depth learning or details that are needed to grasp complex financial theories. To continue to keep these learners engaged, it is important to actively involve them with the learning process. It is key that you keep lectures short and break up reading so that they do not become bored with the topic. Create simulations or role-playing exercises that can help engage them in that “trial and error” experience. If you can build interactive eLearning modules for simulation for these learners, it is worth it.
By understanding your FINRA Candidates learning styles you can have an impact on their study experience. It is critical you design your FINRA program to address the needs of all four learning styles. By offering activities that support each style you can be flexible in your approach and continue to have the entire cohort engaged and learning. By knowing the learning styles of your candidates, you can place them in the right learning style group or create assignments to optimize their learning. Ultimately, by knowing your FINRA candidates’ learning styles and adjusting the FINRA programs to meet those styles may sound like a big investment but it can reduce the failure to pass costs.