Understanding How Different Minds Learn: A Guide for Maritime Professionals

Maritime Training: Which Learning Style are you?

At Onboard Maritime, we know that every mind is unique. What works for one seafarer might not resonate with another, and that's perfectly normal! Our goal is to provide online maritime learning courses that caters to diverse learning styles, helping seafarers get the most out of their maritime training.

Diverse Ways of Seeing the World

Think about how you study for your MCA Orals Exam or prepare for your Chief Mate written exam. Do you gravitate towards the hard facts and figures, wanting to grasp the core information first? Or do you prefer to understand the broader context, the "why" and "how" behind the facts, before diving into the details?

Both approaches are valid and, in maritime training, incredibly important. Focusing solely on facts without context can lead to memorisation without true understanding. Conversely, only understanding the context without the underlying facts can make it difficult to apply knowledge practically.  The most effective learning often involves a blend of both. 

Examples of Different Study Approaches for Maritime Professionals

Let's look at some common ways seafarer’s prepare for MCA Oral Exams:

• The Fact-Finder: This maritime learner thrives on quizzes, flashcards, and direct recall. They might create detailed notes with bullet points and key definitions. Their focus is often on mastering individual pieces of information.  This learning might make use of Onboard Maritime’s Exclusive Witherby Online Library Access, which is available for Chief Mates & Master Mariner Unlimited courses.

• The Context-Seeker: This maritime learner prefers to read through explanations, watch videos that illustrate concepts, and discuss ideas to grasp the bigger picture. They might draw mind maps, create summaries that link concepts, or seek out real-world examples.  Onboard Maritime’s detailed study notes will help this learner build knowledge around each subject. Also, watching some of Onboard Maritime’s animated videos such as ship handling manoeuvres could help this learner seek the visual context they need to understand.  

• The Hands-On Learner: Many seafarers learn best by doing. This could involve gaining practical experience onboard the vessel, simulations, or applying knowledge in a tangible way.  Onboard Maritime’s 3D virtual ship and interactive models can be used to bring maritime training to life.  This might include exploring a ship layout and spotting hazards, to assembling and disassembling a pump.

• The Visual Learner: Charts, diagrams, videos, and images are crucial for these learners to understand and retain information. Like the context-seeker, this learner might benefit from watching Onboard Maritime’s animated videos such as the concept of transverse thrust.  A range of diagrams and study notes are also available on our Digital Learning Portal which visual learners might benefit from reviewing.

• The Auditory Learner: Listening to lectures, podcasts, or even reading content aloud helps these individuals process information.  These learners will benefit from Onboard Maritime’s live and on-demand interactive tutorials so they can ask the experts to help explain a theory so they fully understand.  Our small class sizes will help these learners benefit from personalised attention and increased interaction with our tutors and peers. See next MCA Orals Prep Course Dates

Which learner are you?  Interestingly, we observed how different maritime cadets use the wide variety of study materials on our Cadet Development Programme and we spotted one clear difference between the ranks of seafarers:

• Engineering Cadets often lean towards a more fact-based, direct approach. They frequently jump straight into self-assessment questions, testing their knowledge piece by piece and using these immediate feedback loops to solidify their understanding. This method allows them to quickly identify areas where they need to focus more attention on specific facts and procedures.

• Deck Cadets, on the other hand, tend to spend more time reading through content and attending live sessions. Their learning style often prioritises understanding the broader scenarios and operational procedures, discussing the information with peers and how it all interconnects before moving on to testing their recall. This comprehensive review helps them build a robust contextual framework for their knowledge.

  
  

These observations reinforce our commitment to providing a flexible and comprehensive learning environment for maritime professionals. Whether you're an engineering cadet who prefers to drill down with questions or a deck officer who likes to absorb the full narrative, our portal is designed to support your individual learning journey. Learn about our maritime e-learning courses.

Navigating exam stress? Read our blog: Tips for your MCA Oral Exam Preparation