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From color-coders and chatterboxes to quiet notetakers and hands-on builders, students absorb information in all kinds of ways. That’s where the 8 learning styles come in. While they aren’t hard science, they’re widely recognized as a helpful framework for understanding how different learners tick and how you can meet them where they are.
Keep reading for classroom-ready strategies tied to each of the 8 learning styles, or explore how ViewSonic Education Software can support diverse learners today!
Before jumping into the individual styles, though, there’s one question that always seems to come up, and it’s worth pausing on:
You’ve probably heard it before: “Every student has a specific learning style.” But is that actually true?
Well, it depends on who you ask.
Some experts argue there’s no strong evidence that tailoring your teaching style to a student’s learning preference improves results. Others say it’s less about hard proof and more about understanding how students like to learn and using that insight to connect more effectively.
So where does that leave us? One popular approach for understanding how students learn is the VARK model.
Introduced by Neil Fleming in 1987, the VARK model breaks learning preferences into four easy-to-remember types:
If you’re curious where you fall, try the VARK self-assessment. It’s quick and surprisingly revealing!
Still, not everyone agrees that four types cover it all. In fact, psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman pointed out in a 2018 Scientific American article that researchers have proposed anywhere from 3 to 170 different learning styles. That wide range is an important reminder that no single model can capture every learner’s experience.
There is good reason to believe that optimal learning for everyone involves the opportunity to engage in as many sensory modalities as possible. Scott Barry Kaufman
There is good reason to believe that optimal learning for everyone involves the opportunity to engage in as many sensory modalities as possible.
One of the most compelling alternatives to the VARK theory is Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Introduced in 1983 in his book Frames of Mind, Gardner challenged the idea that intelligence is a single, measurable thing (like IQ). Instead, he proposed that we all have a unique mix of 8 intelligences, each shaping how we think, learn, and interact with the world:
These relate closely to the learning styles we explain below.
Even if the science isn’t clear-cut, one thing remains clear: Students don’t all learn the same way. That is something every educator should keep in mind.
Mixing things up in the classroom by talking, drawing, building, and writing not only taps into a range of individual preferences, but also keeps your lessons fresh and your students engaged. That same variety matters online too. These quick reads on synchronous and asynchronous learning show how learning preferences still shape engagement, whether you’re teaching live or building self-paced lessons.
So, with a healthy mix of curiosity (and just a dash of skepticism), let’s take a closer look at the 8 most popular learning styles and how to make each one work in your classroom. Odds are, you’ve already got all of these 8 learning styles in your classroom right now.
Exploring the different learning styles isn’t about labeling students. It’s about growing your toolkit so you can reach more learners in ways that truly stick. We’ll break down each of the 8 learning styles, highlight what makes it unique, and share practical strategies you can start using right away.
Think of this as inspiration and not necessarily a checklist.
Visual-spatial learners are the ones who reach for a highlighter before you’ve even said “underline.” Abstract ideas often won’t land for them unless they’re laid out visually. Tools like diagrams, color-coding, and timelines all help the lesson click.
Think about a history class: isn’t it so much easier to recall a sequence of events when it’s laid out in a simple, color-coded timeline with icons?
So when a concept isn’t landing, don’t just try to explain with words. Get visual.
Visual tools aren’t just for visual learners; they’re also a huge support for multilingual students who may lean on images while they build language skills.
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A good-looking visual doesn’t always mean deep understanding. Too much decoration can cloud the message, so encourage clean, purposeful design. When students create visuals, ask them to explain their thinking. How they organize and represent ideas often says more than the design itself.
Auditory learners pick up on tone, rhythm, and phrasing, often recalling exactly how something was said. They come alive during discussions and may hum or talk quietly as they work. Silent reading and solo writing don’t always work for them; they need to hear information (and even say it out loud) for it to truly stick.
These strategies both help auditory learners and enrich classroom culture. Peer discussion, collaborative talk, and creative audio projects also benefit social learners and help multilingual students practice academic language.
Don’t assume all talking equals learning. Make space for structured, purposeful talk, not just chatter. Also, keep an eye on those who might appear distracted but are listening closely. Some auditory learners process best while doodling, moving, or even looking away.
These are the students tapping pencils, shifting in their seats, or asking, “When do we get to do something?” Kinesthetic learners don’t just enjoy movement; they need it. They learn best by doing, so when everything stays on paper or screens, they often check out. But get them moving, and it clicks, like the student who finally understood fractions by cutting and rearranging paper. It wasn’t just visual. It was hands-on, and that made all the difference.
Movement helps more than just kinesthetic learners. It also breaks up passive learning, boosts focus, and can be a game-changer for students who struggle with sit-and-listen formats.
Looking for practical ways to weave movement into your setup? Learn how to make your classroom more active.
Don’t mistake movement for misbehavior. When kinesthetic learners fidget or shift in their seats, they’re often trying to stay focused. At the same time, avoid treating movement as just a reward. It’s a vital part of how these students learn and stay engaged.
Verbal learners love words, whether spoken, written, or performed. These are your poets, debaters, journalers, and storytellers. Unlike auditory learners who focus on hearing information, verbal learners thrive on using language by crafting ideas, choosing words, and playing with phrasing. In other words, they express understanding best when they can write or talk it out.
Encouraging verbal expression builds communication skills for all learners and gives your word-lovers a space to shine.
Don’t confuse verbal with auditory learning. Verbal learners thrive on expressing through language, not just hearing it. Make sure they’re doing the talking or writing and not only listening to it.
These students love to ask: “Why?” Not to challenge, but because they need things to make sense. They thrive on structure, patterns, and clear cause-and-effect. Abstract concepts don’t always land right away. In math, for example, algebra might feel too disconnected. But apply those same principles in physics, such as by using formulas to explain how the world works, and suddenly it all clicks.
Logical tasks sharpen thinking for all students and provide a steady, focused approach that works well for those who crave order.
These learners can get lost in the details. If they’re stuck zooming in, help them step back and see the big picture. Not everything has a perfect formula, and that’s okay.
Social learners thrive through interaction. They process ideas by talking them out, whether through discussion, peer feedback, or teamwork. You’ll often see them thinking out loud, building clarity as they speak. While they can manage independent work in short bursts, they’re most engaged when working with others.
Think of the student who struggled with a new science concept until they explained it to a partner. By putting the idea into words, they clarified it for themselves.
These learners can accidentally take over, so to keep things balanced, assign rotating roles, set clear expectations, and make time for individual reflection.
These are your deep thinkers, the ones who may not speak up much but often turn in the most insightful reflections. Group work and noisy classrooms can overwhelm them, but give them autonomy, quiet time, and meaningful choice, and they shine. They’re not disengaged or shy; they just need space to think.
Quiet time benefits everyone, but for intrapersonal learners, it’s essential. Making space for independent thought builds confidence, critical thinking, and ownership.
Don’t mistake their quiet for disengagement. Intrapersonal learners are often deeply tuned in but not outwardly expressive. Give them room, and they’ll surprise you with the depth they bring.
Naturalistic learners light up when a lesson connects to the world around them. They’re observant, curious, and drawn to patterns and systems in the natural world. They might struggle with abstract content, but give them a chance to see it in action, and they’re all in.
So how do we bring the outside world into the classroom (even when we’re stuck inside)?
Bringing in nature builds relevance and curiosity for all learners. It also supports mindfulness, observation skills, and a deeper understanding of systems across subjects. Looking for ideas? Check out these tips on bringing nature into your classroom design.
Don’t treat this learning style as a bonus or “add-on.” Even in non-science subjects, naturalistic learners can thrive through nature-based analogies, data collection, and system-based thinking.
You might recognize these 8 learning styles in your students or even yourself, but in the end, it’s not about labeling. It’s about staying open to the many ways learning can happen. Most learners are a blend of styles, not a perfect fit for just one approach (or one of the 170 theories out there!). And even if each student did fit just one style, you’d still be managing a mix of preferences in any classroom. That’s why Howard Gardner acknowledges that anything you truly understand, “you can describe and convey … in several ways.”
When you keep that mindset—especially with students facing learning or behavioral challenges—you open more doors to connection, support, and growth. So go ahead and mix it up. Try a new approach or two this week. You never know what might click, or who it might help shine.
If you’re looking for more ideas to reach your students’ learning styles, then dive into our tips on interactive presentation Ideas. Or, why not check out how to build a classroom fit for diverse learners?
Growing Together
Learning styles are the different ways individuals prefer to receive, process, and retain information when learning. Some students understand concepts best through visuals, while others learn more effectively through listening, discussion, reading, or hands-on activities. Because most classrooms include students with different preferences, teachers often use a mix of instructional approaches. Digital tools such as ViewSonic interactive displays and the myViewBoard whiteboarding platform make it easier to present lessons visually, verbally, and interactively within the same class session.
The most commonly referenced framework describes 8 learning styles: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, verbal, logical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic. Each style reflects a different way students may prefer to engage with information, such as seeing diagrams, discussing ideas, working with others, or learning through hands-on practice. In real classrooms, teachers typically combine several approaches so lessons reach more learners. Many schools use technology like ViewSonic interactive displays and myViewBoard to present visuals, collaborative activities, and discussions in a single lesson.
There is no single universally accepted number of learning styles because different educational models categorize them differently. One widely discussed framework identifies 8 learning styles, while another popular model called VARK groups learners into 4 types: visual, auditory, reading and writing, and kinesthetic. Rather than focusing on the exact number, many educators strive to present content in multiple formats. Education technology, including ViewSonic solutions and platforms like myViewBoard, helps teachers combine visuals, audio, discussion, and interactive learning activities.
Your learning style is the approach that helps you understand and remember information most effectively, and tools like the VARK self-assessment may help you determine this. Some learners prefer visual materials like charts or diagrams, while others learn better through listening, discussion, reading, writing, or physical practice. Many students actually use a combination of learning styles depending on the subject and learning environment. Teachers often provide multiple ways to interact with content, and classroom tools such as ViewSonic interactive displays and myViewBoard allow lessons to include visuals, collaboration, and interactive activities that support different learners.
Learning styles are important because they highlight that students absorb and engage with information in different ways. When teachers present lessons using a variety of methods such as visuals, discussion, collaboration, and hands-on activities, more students can participate and understand the material. Many educators support this approach with classroom technology that allows several types of interaction during a lesson. For example, ViewSonic interactive displays and the myViewBoard platform help teachers combine visual explanations, collaborative work, and interactive activities in the same learning experience.
Teachers can support different learning styles by using a variety of teaching methods within the same lesson. This might include visual diagrams, group discussions, hands-on activities, written reflection, and collaborative problem solving. Using multiple approaches helps ensure more students can engage with the material effectively. Interactive classroom technology also supports this approach by allowing teachers to present content in different formats, such as visuals, annotations, and collaborative exercises using tools like ViewSonic interactive displays and the myViewBoard platform.
Learning styles can help teachers think about using varied instructional methods, but research shows that matching instruction to a single preferred style does not always improve learning outcomes. What tends to be more effective is presenting information in multiple ways and encouraging active participation from students. This approach exposes learners to visuals, discussion, practice, and reflection during the same lesson. Many educators support this type of multimodal teaching with classroom technology such as ViewSonic interactive displays and collaborative tools available through myViewBoard.
Yes, technology can support kinesthetic learners by enabling interactive and hands-on learning experiences. Touch-enabled displays, digital whiteboards, simulations, and collaborative problem-solving tools allow students to interact directly with lesson content rather than only watching or listening. These tools help students learn by doing and experimenting. In many modern classrooms, teachers use ViewSonic interactive displays and the myViewBoard ecosystem to create touch-based activities, group exercises, and collaborative learning experiences that engage hands-on learners.
As mobile learning becomes more and more popular, so does the potential for distraction in the classroom. With so many captivating apps and games, it is easy to see how students would have a hard time putting their smartphones and other mobile devices away. While confiscating or removing them from the classroom is one approach, it might not always be the most effective. More and more teachers are experimenting with ways to integrate mobile learning into their lesson plans. Continue reading to learn how mobile learning can benefit education in and out of the classroom.
Read on for a list of creative ways you can transform a distracting mobile device into a learning tool. If you’re interested in how to better integrate technology into your classroom, visit ViewSonic Education.
While the benefits of technology in the classroom have been well established, mobile devices are another issue. Smartphones have always been associated with leisure and entertainment more than education and learning, and teachers are inclined toward blanket bans in the classroom. However, blanket bans ignore the benefits that mobile learning can bring to the classroom. These powerful handheld devices not only enable access to the Internet and a universe of educational apps, but their fast speeds and vast processing power make them essential tools, particularly for engineering and science students.
Furthermore, while not every student has access to a notebook or tablet computer, a recent survey by the Pew Research Center shows that 95% of American teens own a smartphone. In fact, this poll indicates that nearly half of American teens are online “almost constantly,” even during school hours. While most of the time this means surfing YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat (the top three apps, according to Pew), this also means these devices are readily available for use in the classroom. In fact, 30% of smartphone owners already use their mobile devices for on-the-go learning and compared to other devices, mobile learners are proven to be 43% more productive.
So, rather than trying to ban something that is so necessary, innovative teachers and technology startups are figuring out how to turn these potential sources of distraction into potent educational devices.
Ken Halla, a 22-year veteran high school history teacher, is at the forefront of incorporating mobile technologies into the classroom. To help students stay better organized, Halla recommends using Remind101 to remind students of upcoming assignments. “I was stunned by how many kids started doing homework,” he said in a recent article by the National Education Association. Remind also allows teachers and students to share photos, handouts, and flyers, and enables instant messaging so teachers can handle issues as they arise.
Halla also uses polleverywhere.com to assess learning. Students receive texts through the app with multiple choice questions, and Halla says their performance on these questions shows him which areas students are doing well in, and which sections need more reviewing.
myViewBoard Suite is a collection of apps and tools that can help build better student engagement with interactive lessons. When used in combination with myViewBoard Companion, students can interact with the digital whiteboard from their mobile devices. This resource streamlines the educational experience, enabling teachers to seamlessly send announcements, begin discussions, share resources, and submit and grade assignments. Students only need a QR code for the learning process to begin. Companion is great for mobile interactivity so students can share onto the Whiteboard canvas, complete pop quizzes, throw screens, and wireless control for teachers.
Sure, mobile devices are sources of entertainment and screen time facilitates socializing for most students, but these devices also enable access to a vast array of educational apps. Educational apps are shown to enhance classroom performance by offering interactive and engaging learning experiences. These learning apps can provide virtually unlimited access to educational content and by innovating new learning techniques, promote collaboration among students, teachers, and parents.
Quiz generator Quizlet, for example, enables teachers to create flashcards, games, and quizzes that are always available on their phones. Students can collaborate and challenge each other, allowing them to learn while being social and having fun.
Furthermore, while mathematics is tough for many students, the educational app Photomath makes math clear, understandable, and even fun. The Photomath app uses the smartphone’s camera to read and solve students’ mathematical problems instantly, checking their work for any printed or handwritten problems. This app teaches students how to approach math problems through clear steps and detailed instructions, and even offers multiple methods for solving problems. Teachers and students alike say this app is highly effective.
Students have an array of learning styles, and each student has a style that works best for them. Luckily, the array of educational apps that have been designed can reach students no matter what their learning style is. For students that learn better on their own rather than in a social setting, or need extra support outside of the classroom, there are numerous apps available to assist them.
EdX, for example, brings over 2,000 classes from the world’s top universities to students’ smartphones. Featuring video tutorials, study material handouts, and interactive quizzes, EdX enables advanced supplementary learning at an individual’s own pace.
Khan Academy is another highly popular learning app that features video tutorials to drive home classroom studies. Khan Academy videos feature teachers describing their lessons in drawings on virtual blackboards, helping students and visual learning centers bring home maximum results.
Likewise, Udemy is an extremely popular learning resource that offers over 100,000 classes from top instructors, interactive quizzes, and the ability to track student progress.
Computer programming is increasingly important in the modern world, and SoloLearn enables students to learn the world’s most in-demand programming languages, including Python, HTML, and Java, on their mobile devices, at their own pace.
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Innovative teacher Ken Halla allows what is perhaps the most revolutionary use of mobile devices in the classroom – listening to music while doing solo work. Halla requires them to use headphones, of course, and to not listen too loudly to ensure that they don’t distract others. Also, he asks them to listen on an app that only streams music so they won’t become disengaged by picking a new song every few minutes. He says that the noise level in the classroom goes down and productivity increases.
Integrating mobile devices into classroom learning will continue to be a challenge for teachers. Ensuring that they’re primarily used for education requires vigilance. The traditional image of the teacher lecturing from the blackboard at the front of the classroom is increasingly old-fashioned, and the proliferation of mobile devices requires that teachers continuously encourage, motivate, and guide their students, both individually and in small groups.
Follow these links if you’re a teacher interested in finding out more about how to use E-sports to improve student performance, or why digital accessibility is crucial at schools.
Most teachers and experts would state that student engagement is mandatory for learners to fulfill their potential, but actually measuring student engagement has always been tricky. Aside from asking students to assess their own levels of engagement — a perfectly valid process, albeit one which is influenced by bias — measurement has often relied upon the perception of teachers or outside observers. Of course, these perceptions can also be flawed.
Thankfully, digital technology, or EdTech, has helped to change this, offering ways to gain a much more accurate sense of how engaged students are. Read on to find out how, or choose to learn about myViewBoard Sens and other ViewSonic’s Education Solutions.
It is widely accepted that the higher the level of student engagement, the better. But what exactly is student engagement? The Glossary of Education Reform, which was created by the Great Schools Partnership, uses the following definition for student engagement: “the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion that students show when they are learning and being taught.” Yet, actually measuring student engagement has traditionally been a challenge. After all, simple observation makes it difficult to accurately quantify their level of engagement, and teachers or other observers can easily miss signs of disengagement.
Fortunately, modern EdTech had helped to not only make measurement much easier but also much more reliable too. This is especially true when it comes to artificial intelligence, virtual assistants, and student-centered insight technology, which can all help educators to easily detect signs of engagement or disengagement.
One of the most exciting digital technology trends that are helping teachers with the task of measuring student engagement is student-centered insight technology. In fact, the myViewBoard software platform provides educators with the necessary information to understand and respond to students’ needs, based on non-verbal cues.
The technology uses sensors, typically positioned at the front of the class, which are able to detect not only faces within the room but the expressions on those faces and what those expressions mean. This then equips educators and academic institutions with the ability to identify, understand and respond to learners’ emotional states.
With such technology in place, teachers will be able to identify the level of engagement that exists within their class and even identify specific points in time when facial expressions suggest dips or spikes in engagement. This can then allow educators to adapt to their students’ needs and adjust their lessons accordingly, either in the moment or in the future.
Artificial Intelligence and virtual assistants within education can play a role in helping to measure how engaged students are in a class.
The data that can potentially help educators better understand student engagement includes the number of clicks per user, or the number of words typed. Classroom attendance can be tracked over time, as can the various students who volunteer answers during a discussion.
This data can then be uploaded to the cloud and, using virtual assistants, comparisons can be made with other similar classes, lessons, or schools. For example, myViewBoard Sens is an AI powdered hardware and software solution to help measure student engagement and classroom environment and provide real-time insights. myViewBoard Sens harnesses the power of data to improve learning outcomes to optimize schools for the best possible learning outcomes. These insights can allow educators to consider how their students’ data compares to others. Changes can then be made to the teaching methods used or the structure of the class.
Some students may need to engage in asynchronous learning, with virtual assistant technology helping teachers identify signs of disengagement beyond student-centered insights, including eye-tracking and body language. In the future, wearable technology and smart devices may also provide educators with access to heart rate data and other similar information, making this process incredibly scientific, but also incredibly accurate.
Virtual assistant technology solutions, such as myViewBoard Sens could also suggest what needs to be done to improve the quality of a lesson or give insight into the types of strategies and techniques that have boosted engagement levels elsewhere.
Course evaluations have been a mainstay within student engagement measurement, and these will often take the form of student surveys. However, they are not a foolproof method, as they often occur at the end of a course. This means that students have to recall how they felt, rather than answering at the moment. It also means students may feel a sense of relief that a class is over, resulting in them giving overly generous responses.
At the same time, student surveys are one of the few ways in which engagement is measured by actually asking students for their thoughts. The value of this insight could potentially be increased through the use of digital technology.
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For instance, classroom management software packages and audience response systems may include options for surveys or allow teachers to run instant polls. These surveys and polls can be anonymous, in order to encourage students to share their true feelings, and this provides instantaneous feedback. Alternatively, anonymous surveys can be sent out digitally at the end of each lesson. What’s more, integrating engaging games that can be played on the whiteboard will boost student engagement.
In the past, measuring student engagement has primarily centered around perceptions, whether from students or classroom observers. However, with the rise of technology like facial expression recognition and virtual assistants, it is now possible to gain a much more accurate insight into whether students are focused, entertained, enthused, and intrigued.
If you’d like to learn more about how to use technology to boost student engagement, check out our complete guide on technology in the classroom.
Achieving an appropriate level of productivity with remote work is an important consideration for workers and employers alike, and while there is evidence to show that people can be just as productive — or even more productive — while working at home, optimizing productivity relies upon creating the right work environment, adopting the right work habits and avoiding some of the common telecommuting pitfalls.
Continue reading to learn some of the ways productivity can be optimized, or visit our work-from-home solutions page for further insights into remote work.
With the rise of work-from-home arrangements, researchers have spent a considerable amount of time focusing on the topic of productivity with remote work. After all, when employees work from home, employers have fewer methods available to monitor progress. Moreover, there is also the understandable fear that people’s homes have many distractions that could hinder the amount of work they are actually able to do on a day-to-day basis.
Although research shows that productivity is among the potential benefits of working from home, it is important to understand that the people working from home are individuals. What may be true in general may not automatically be true for you. Some people find the adjustment difficult, whether due to distractions or a tendency to procrastinate.
Learning how to work-from-home effectively may or may not come naturally to you. The good news is, there are some strategic steps that can be taken to help you to become more productive.
One of the biggest problems people run into when working from home is a tendency to procrastinate; disruption to your regular routine can contribute to this. Many people are used to waking up, getting ready, and traveling to work. When you shift to working from home, there is no longer a clear distinction between home life and work life.
However, you can take certain steps to optimize your work routine and create a clear divide. One way to do this is to commit — whenever possible — to starting and finishing work at the same time. You can also make a conscious effort to get ready for work properly, as if you were going into the office, as opposed to staying in your pajamas.
Making an effort to normalize your everyday routine can go some way towards helping you to get into the work mindset and that can be crucial if you are going to stay focused on your work tasks throughout the day.
Your environment can have a significant bearing on how productive you are, which is why businesses invest so heavily in workplace design. Yet, the same basic principles apply at home too, which is why it is so important that you make an effort to optimize your work environment and ensure you are using the best possible location within your home.
Part of this will require you to think carefully about the distractions in your house. For instance, you may be tempted to work in your bedroom or living room — and that may be the best option for you — but you need to consider whether things like the television, games consoles, or other entertainment options are going to hinder productivity.
You also need to give some thought to noise. Where in your house are you most likely to find peace and quiet? Where can you work and avoid interruptions? Although flexibility is a plus point of working from home, it has its pitfalls and it may actually be better to pinpoint the ideal place to work and then stick to it as much as possible.
Next, you need to think about your work equipment. While you may be able to work from home using a smartphone or tablet, it is likely that a desktop or laptop will be preferable in most cases. In some jobs, you may also be able to benefit from a dual-screen setup, and you will need to make sure you have the best software to do your job effectively.
Communication is also absolutely critical for optimizing productivity. In fact, according to a report from Holmes, which surveyed 400 corporations in the United States and the United Kingdom, communication barriers alone cost organizations an average of more than $62 million per year in lost productivity, while those with excellent communication thrive.
With this in mind, headphones, a microphone, and a webcam are important, and you should ensure you can be reached via phone, messaging apps, and video conferencing software. The easier it is for co-workers, business partners, clients, and/or customers to contact you, the lower the chances of productivity being affected by communication problems.
With your routine, environment and equipment optimized, you also need to consider some of your behaviors and habits, and whether they are compatible with being productive. Do you work better in silence, or when listening to music? You may prefer listening to music, but does it have a positive or negative impact on your work rate?
Are you taking breaks from your work and could these be optimized further? Various studies have shown the value of breaks in enhancing productivity, so try to avoid the temptation to just keep working, even if you feel up against it in terms of your workload. When you are on your breaks, try to avoid work-related stresses, including emails.
You also need to reflect on any distractions you encounter while working. For example, you might find yourself browsing the internet and getting distracted by websites that are not related to work. Consider how you can stop these habits, such as using these habits as a reward system for completing work tasks or simply saving them for break times.
It is perfectly possible to be as productive when working from home as you would be in an office and some people even find they are more productive when working this way. Yet, achieving excellent productivity with remote work does depend on you taking appropriate action to optimize your routine, environment, equipment, and behavior.
Try to avoid unnecessary distractions and give careful thought to the things that help or hinder your progress at work. Everybody has different habits and preferences, but one of the most important things to try to create is a sense that you are still at work. With this in mind, your working day should still feel different from the rest of your home life.
If you enjoyed this article you may also like How to Work from Home: A 2020 Guide to Remote Work. Additionally, be sure to visit our work-from-home solutions page for further insights into remote and hybrid work.
Graphics cards represent one of the single most important components of any good esports setup, but actually finding a suitable esports graphics card can seem somewhat challenging at first. After all, there are many different things to consider, from size to memory, to the resolution you want to play at, and even whether or not you are going to want the option for overclocking.
Read on for more on how to choose your gaming graphics card or learn how to set up the ultimate gaming setup by reading The Best Esports Setup: A Complete Guide.
Getting the best esports graphics card is an important part of putting together your gaming PC, but there is a lot to take on board and the abundance of information may seem overwhelming. In truth, there are no real easy solutions here and you will need to take the time to seriously consider the various options.
With that being said, it can significantly help to have an understanding of some of the key aspects to weigh up, and how they actually contribute to improving performance. This article will attempt to help with this.
First, it is important to understand that people commonly refer to a graphics processing unit, or GPU, as a graphics card, but they are technically different things. The GPU is actually a chip that a graphics card uses and some graphics cards may have two GPUs. Nevertheless, for the most part, the terms have grown to be considered synonymous.
There are hundreds of graphics cards available, but the actual GPU is likely to be manufactured by one of the two main market leaders, which are Nvidia and AMD. Ultimately, your decision here may depend on budget and what you are looking for, as a top of the range Nvidia gaming GPU is likely to be better if you are seeking absolute peak performance, whereas AMD may be the better option if you are looking for a solid performance on a tighter budget.
As a general rule, you can expect a budget esports graphics card to cost around $200, a mid-range card to cost around $300 to $700, and a high-performance esports graphics card to cost more. The very best cards on the market may set you back more than $1,000, but this will not be a necessary investment for the vast majority of esports players.
The following are all significant factors, which you will need to take into account when choosing a gaming graphics card.
On a basic level, as an article for PC Gamer highlights, bigger can be better when it comes to finding an esports graphics card, but you do need to take several things into consideration. Firstly, the most powerful graphics cards can be very large, so you need to make sure you have sufficient space in your computer’s case to actually fit the card in. Secondly, you also need to consider your power supply, because the very best cards may require a special high wattage power supply. The wattage used will usually be referenced in product descriptions, so keep this in mind when you buy.
It is absolutely imperative that you buy a graphics card with your gaming monitor in mind. The simple rule here is that the higher the resolution you intend to play your games at, the better your esports graphics card will need to be. If you are intending to play in 4K, for instance, you are going to need a high-end graphics card, capable of supporting that. It is also worth taking the time to understand the difference between G-Sync and FreeSync.
Graphics cards require memory, or video RAM, and this is another crucial consideration. The card’s memory will usually be expressed in gigabytes (GBs) and for gaming purposes, you are probably going to want a card with at least 4GBs of VRAM. Ideally, if you are intending to play at high resolutions, 8GB will be preferable and you could exceed 8GB if you want to give yourself some leeway and ensure your card will remain useful for years to come.
Overclocking refers to the process of getting more performance out of your graphics card than it is officially intended to deliver. It is often associated with processors but is possible with graphics cards too, although the benefits are less relevant. It is important to remember that graphics cards can give off a lot of heat and overclocking increases this, so it is only worth considering if you have adequate airflow. Generally, it is better to just buy a better graphics card, but the potential for overclocking may provide some additional future-proofing.
While there are a lot of different things to take into account when choosing your gaming graphics card, the main things to remember are that you should prioritize memory and buying the right card for your monitor resolution, and you should also choose a card that is appropriate, based on the power and space available to you.
Interested in finding out more about esports setups? Then read The Best Esports Setup: A Complete Guide for a better understanding. Or delve into what makes a good esports monitor here Best Monitors for Eye Strain – A Complete Guide in 2020. You can also check out our ELITE professional gaming monitors to suit your graphics card.
In the days of an ongoing pandemic, device hygiene and cleanliness are becoming more and more of a concern. It is important to know when and how to clean your devices as well as how to prevent your devices from getting dirty in the first place. From practical cleaning with microfiber cloths to more expensive options like UV light cleaners, find out what actually works and what not to do while cleaning your device. But if you’ve already learned all about disinfecting your personal devices, why not check out this How to Work from Home: A 2020 Guide to Remote Work.
The truth is our phones are dirty. We touch our phones nearly constantly and anything we touch with our hands might find its way onto our phones. Not to mention phones seem to be such a part of us, that they tend to slip under the radar when it comes to cleanliness. Let’s get into what device hygiene actually means.
Device hygiene means keeping the surfaces and screens of your devices clean and bacteria-free. More and more people have a growing concern over personal device cleanliness, and in a time where germs are public enemy number one, it is no wonder people feel this way. Appliances like computers, phones, and tablets are disconcertingly susceptible to germs, being that we touch them constantly and probably more than we realize. That being said there are a few ways to keep electronics clean. Some of them are common sense, others seem more unusual, while some run the risk of causing damage to your phone.
But it’s important not to confuse “device hygiene” with “cyber hygiene.”
Unlike device hygiene which refers to the cleanliness of your physical device, cyber hygiene is a routine in which users develop a way to regularly maintain the health of their computer or device.
What do you need to clean your devices? Well, the truth is you don’t need much, but there are a variety of methods and ways to keep your devices clean ranging from simple to over the top. Another thing to keep in mind is that what works for one device might not be the best method for another. Devices like keyboards, mice, monitors, or earphones might all have different requirements and standards for keeping them clean. To get exact guidelines it’s best to look up the company that produces your device. Larger companies such as Apple or Samsung have begun offering guidelines for how to clean their devices in a way that won’t see you damaging them. However, there are some common solutions that you can go ahead and try out!
Perhaps the most common way to clean your devices is with a microfiber cloth. It is likely that every home has a microfiber cloth laying around somewhere, so they are usually an easy and quick solution. Microfiber is effective because of how well it absorbs oils and wipes bacteria off of your device. It is recommended that you dab some water or cleaning product onto your cloth before wiping down your device.
It is strongly recommended not to spray anything directly onto your device and instead apply it to your microfiber cloth before gently cleaning your screen.
Another popular solution to keeping your phone free of germs are cleaning methods that use UV light to kill bacteria. Many of these products are a sort of coffin-like box for your phone. You can place your phone into this UV box for around 10 minutes to get your phone spick and span.
The main downfall with these products seems to be their price tag. And while the science behind using UV light is sound, there isn’t really a way to notice a before and after difference with the naked eye.
Furthermore, many people prefer to use wipes or solutions specifically made for cleaning devices like phones. Many of these wipes are alcohol-free or have a low enough alcohol content so damage to your phone is not so much of a worry. Some users prefer to mix alcoholic solutions at home to save a bit of money, just make sure you don’t overdo it with the isopropyl.
When talking about device hygiene, perhaps one of the most important aspects to take into consideration would be the cleanliness of our shared devices. Things like keyboards and mice are sometimes personal, yet they are often shared between family members or colleagues. This is also true of things like digital whiteboards in boardrooms, classrooms, or meeting spaces. So keeping these sorts of devices clean becomes especially important when thinking of just how many people come into contact with them on a daily basis.
Keeping your keyboard clean and germ-free involves some of the same methods previously discussed. The one thing you do not want to do is spray any chemicals directly onto your keyboard, this could cause damage. First, dampen your microfiber cloth with water, if you are having difficulty removing particles from between the keys, try using compressed air. If you do require something a bit stronger you may try specialty cleaning wipes, for example, Lysol or Clorox wipes that are designed for electronics. It is recommended that you clean your keyboard about once or twice a month.
Similar to a keyboard, it would first be wise to dampen a microfiber cloth down and scrub your device gently. However, unlike your keyboard, it is recommended that you use some toothpicks or Q-tips to help you reach those hard-to-reach spaces. For a step-by-step guide on how to clean your computer mouse check out this tutorial on Wikihow.
Large touchscreen displays are especially important to keep clean because they are so widely used among coworkers and piers. Take schools for example, where multiple students all touch the same display. A boardroom where day-to-day meetings come one after another is another good example of why touchscreen displays are important to keep clean. Here are a few steps you can take to keep those large screen displays clean and germ-free!
Now that you are aware of how to clean your device, it’s important to know exactly how not to clean your device. Rule number one, never submerge your device in liquid or water and avoid using household chemical cleaners. These chemical cleaners sometimes include alcohol-based solutions that could damage the screens on your devices.
While cleaning your devices is effective, it is important to remember that one of the most effective ways to keep them clean is actually to wash your hands! At the end of the day, it is your hands that will carry germs and bacteria back and forth from you to your phone and vice-versa. So whatever you do make sure you keep your hands as clean as possible!
Whether you use your devices every thirty seconds or just a few times a day it’s important to know how to keep them clean and free of bacteria and germs. From the new UV cleaners to the reliable microfiber cloth it’s important to know how to clean devices, especially the shared device that you and your colleagues use every day.
If you’re just getting into a work-from-home work style, then be sure to check out How to Work from Home: A 2020 Guide to Remote Work. On the other hand, if you are focused on the health aspects of monitors continue reading learning about office ergonomics. Or discover ViewSonic’s ergonomic monitors here.
Despite the numerous advantages associated with the practice, it is perfectly common to experience problems working from home. After all, it is unlikely you designed your home with work in mind and even if you did, you may not have access to all of the equipment and comforts you might find in a professional working environment, such as an office. However, it is also important to know that there are solutions.
Read on to learn more about some of the most common problems people run into when adapting to remote work, and also be sure to visit our office at home solutions page for valuable insights into optimizing your office at home.
Modern technology has helped to facilitate remote work and it can offer many benefits, but it is equally important to highlight the problems working from home can throw up. After all, for most people, the concept is still relatively new and it stands to reason that there are pitfalls to avoid and potential difficulties in making the adjustment.
Fortunately, in the majority of cases, the pitfalls can be avoided, and steps can be taken to mitigate some of the disadvantages associated with remote work. Five of the most common issues linked to work from home arrangements are outlined below. Understanding these problems and their solutions can be vital for telecommuting success.
One of the most common problems working from home can lead to is difficulty in striking the right work/life balance. Achieving some level of separation between your personal and professional life is important for stress reduction, as well as your all-round emotional well-being, but telecommuting can potentially shatter this divide.
Furthermore, the flexibility that working from home offers can lead to problems. For instance, you may find that you no longer have strict working hours, which can make it easy to procrastinate or drag tasks out. This can then lead to you working later than you normally would, giving you less time to relax.
The solution here revolves around self-discipline. You should try to establish a clear divide between the hours where you will work and the hours where you will do other things. There may be some essential crossover at times, but to the greatest extent possible, you should create a distinction between work hours and non-work hours.
When it comes to learning how to work from home, successful adaptation involves learning to avoid distractions in your home. These may include your television, video games consoles, or even household chores. Moreover, you may find that you spend a considerable amount of time on your phone or computer, browsing websites that are not work-related.
With that said, your home can also help you to get away from distractions that are associated with office life, like colleagues coming over for a chat. What this means is, if you can avoid the distractions in your home, you may find that you actually get more work done when working from home than you would when going into a physical workplace.
The key to avoiding distractions is identifying the things that are likely to keep you away from work and then cutting off easy access to them. If your games console is a distraction and it is in your bedroom, make sure you work away from your bedroom. Turn your TV off and make a rule that you only casually browse the internet during set break times.
Another problem you may experience when making the move to working from home is a relative lack of social interaction. After all, you will not be physically present in the same place as your co-workers. It is also surprisingly easy to become isolated because work can over-flow into the time you would normally use for socializing.
To some extent, the communication you would normally have with other people in the workplace can be replicated through technological solutions, such as telephone calls, video chats, emails, video conferencing, and text messages. Make sure you look presentable and take an active role in these activities, so you are still communicating with people.
Additionally, you can reduce the psychological impact by ensuring you maintain a healthy social life away from work. To do this, you will need to make sure you are finishing work on time. You can also use your scheduled breaks during work hours for things like shopping, making phone calls to friends, and interacting with anyone else in your home.
Generally speaking, there is a natural element of movement that comes from working in an office or similar workplace. After all, you have to travel to and from work, you will need to move around the office, you will leave your desk to go on your break and you may leave the building entirely for lunch. One of the biggest problems working from home can lead to is a lack of movement, resulting in you developing a sedentary lifestyle.
Research published in the Korean Journal of Family Medicine shows that a lack of movement during the day can lead to serious health problems, including a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes.
With this particular problem, however, awareness is half of the battle. Once you grasp the problem, it can largely be solved by making a conscious effort to do something about it. Once every hour, take a minute or two to move around, away from your workstation and make an effort to get some exercise several times a week after work too.
Finally, it is possible you may encounter some physical discomfort while working from home and this is usually because of the lack of ergonomic design associated with many home working spaces, especially when compared to a professional office. You might, for example, fall into the habit of using a laptop while sitting on your sofa, or even while in bed.
If you spend several hours every day sitting at awkward angles, typing on a computer, you may find that you experience problems ranging from back or neck aches, through to repetitive strain injuries in your wrists. On top of this, you may find that you are also more prone to problems like eye strain from staring at a screen all day.
In terms of solutions, investing in a high-quality desk and chair, and sitting at an appropriate height and angle can help with repetitive strain and back issues, while the various monitors designed to reduce eye strain on the market also have a possible role to play, including curved screen monitors and monitors with built-in blue light filters.
Working remotely can be advantageous, but it is imperative that you understand some of the problems working from home can create too, and take action to limit any potential negative effects. The five topics covered in this article are among the most common difficulties remote workers encounter, but all five also have potential solutions.
In many cases, the problems people struggle with during periods of working from home can be resolved once a level of awareness is obtained. From there, it becomes much easier to take proactive steps to fix an issue.
If you found this article to be helpful please feel free to visit our work from home solutions page where you’ll find more valuable articles and insights into creating a productive workspace at home.
If you are used to working in an office or other centralized workspace, you may run into some initial difficulties when transitioning to working from home and it can take a little bit of getting used to. However, the adjustment period does not need to be a lengthy one, and there are a number of practical things you can do, in order to settle into a new way of working and get past some of the common teething problems.
Continue reading for some specific tips on managing this transition or visit our work from home solutions page for more insights into creating a productive workspace at home.
Transitioning to working from home is vital, because there are clear differences between working in an office and working independently, while physically isolated from your work colleagues. Nevertheless, there are a number of things you can do to make this transitional period more manageable and to achieve a level of consistency.
Once you learn to make the adjustment, it becomes much easier in the future to switch between office-based working and telecommuting, as required. In this article, we offer four tips to assist with this.
Part of transitioning to working from home involves changing the way you view your home. For many people, there is a clear divide between work life and home life, with this being clearly flagged in your mind by travel to and from the workplace, and defined working hours. However, with remote work, it is easy for this to change, as the divide is no longer so clear and the flexibility can allow working hours to creep into what would normally be personal time.
Try to think about how you would behave in a physical workplace and then replicate the behavior as much as you can while you work from home. For example, you could follow your usual morning routine, you could establish a location with your house where you will actually do your work, and you can establish clear working hours.
If you have not previously utilized or relied upon video calls very often, it is best to try to get used to them as soon as you can. After all, there are numerous business benefits of video conferencing, including the ability to convey information clearly, in a similar way to how it would be achieved in face-to-face meetings.
However, beyond this, video calls are a great way to recreate some of the social interaction that you would typically have over the course of a working day in an office. Maintaining the right level of social interaction while working from home can be vital for your mental health, which can suffer if you do not take precautions.
Another common problem when adjusting to working from home concerns managing your own time effectively. When you are not supervised, in close contact with stakeholders, and when there are not the usual breaks in the day to provide structure, it can be surprisingly easy to lose track of time, lose focus, or procrastinate.
One of the best ways to try to manage time while working from home is to not only organize the work you plan to do over the course of the day, but plan out when you will do each task. Tools like Google Calendar can assist here, allowing you to schedule individual tasks, and sticking to this and will help you to keep up your productivity.
You may need to have a certain degree of flexibility, as things do not always go to plan, but structure is important.
When you are getting used to how to work from home, it can be easy to neglect the breaks you would usually take during the working day. Yet, these breaks exist for a reason – they give you time to rest, de-stress, collect your thoughts and prevent yourself from becoming completely overwhelmed.
Remember, in addition to the proper breaks you take over the course of the day, including for your lunch, you should also take smaller breaks to get up, move around and help to protect your eyes from problems associated with staring at a screen all day. Moreover, finishing work on time, whenever possible, can also help you to recuperate.
The process of transitioning to working from home can seem daunting at first, especially if you are not used to working in isolation. However, with the right strategy and some basic self-discipline, the adjustment does not need to be especially problematic and you should soon get used to the fundamental differences in approach.
Be sure to check out what’s essential when working from home by reading Essential Tools for Remote Work or visit our home office solutions page for further insights into remote and hybrid work.
As remote work becomes more normalized and research into the topic increases, we are developing a better understanding of some of the benefits of working from home. While this includes some fairly obvious advantages, such as a reduced need to travel and the potential for more flexible working hours, studies have also thrown up some more surprising findings, such as the potential for increased productivity.
Continue reading to learn more about five of the biggest upsides of telecommuting or visit our home office solutions page for more ways to optimize your workspace at home.
The benefits of working from home are numerous and as our understanding of these advantages increases, the popularity of remote work grows as well. After all, it is understandable that employers would want to capitalize on any benefits, while for employees, working from home can be an appealing alternative to daily office life.
With that being said, the rise of remote work is still a relatively recent phenomenon. From 2007 until 2019, prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, it was estimated that work from home arrangements had increased by 159 percent.
As a consequence of this, many individuals working from home (and their employers) are still getting to grips with some of the main pros and cons. In this article, we will cover five of the biggest benefits in more detail and, where possible, provide advice on how you can make sure you actually reap those rewards.
For employees, one of the most immediately obvious benefits of working from home is the reduced need to travel. This is because remote work eliminates the daily commute to and from work, which can save a significant amount of time over the course of a typical week, while the technology used can also help to reduce other business travel too.
Reduced travel then has a number of potential knock-on effects, such as lower stress levels. Workers can capitalize on this further by spending slightly longer in bed in the mornings, which will help to improve the quality of your sleep so that you are better prepared for work each day. The lack of travel may also give you more time to complete work-related tasks because it frees up some extra time during your typical day.
Meanwhile, for employers, fewer employees traveling to a physical workspace can help to avoid overcrowding and can reduce the size of the premises needed to operate effectively. On top of this, companies can promote work from home initiatives as being environmentally conscious, which can be a good public relations move.
Another of the key benefits of working from home is the greater flexibility, not only in terms of precisely where you carry out your daily work tasks but also in terms of the time you start and the time you finish. In some cases, you may also find you have the flexibility to work longer on one day, in order to work reduced hours the next day.
When it comes to learning how to work from home effectively, carefully managing this flexibility is key. For instance, the flexibility to work from your living room, bedroom, or study room can be great for personal comfort, as can flexible working hours. Yet, you do also need some structure and routine, in order to get the best results.
For this reason, regardless of the hours you choose, it is often recommended that you try to be as consistent as possible from day-to-day so that you are getting plenty of time to rest and recuperate.
For employers, one of the most surprising benefits of working from home may be a boost to productivity. While it may seem logical that remote work will lead to procrastination, due to a lack of supervision, a Ctrip study actually found that employees who worked from home were more productive than those who went into the office as usual.
There are a number of potential explanations for this, including a reduction in the number of distractions from work colleagues. There may also be a prevalent sense that the work carried out from home will ultimately be subject to suspicion and scrutiny. Meanwhile, a fear that work from home privileges could be revoked may serve as motivation.
Another big productivity benefit of working from home is linked to illness. Typically, if an employee comes into the office with an illness, there is a risk that the illness spreads, resulting in absence from multiple people at the same time. Working from home prevents this spread and also allows workers who are not badly ill to continue working.
Both employees and employers also have opportunities to save money through work at home initiatives. If you are a worker, the savings can include everything from petrol or public transport costs associated with your daily commute, through to saving on lunches and workplace fundraising collections organized by colleagues.
If you are an employer, allowing people to work from home can help you to reduce some of the costs associated with your office or work premises. For instance, the aforementioned study, focused on Ctrip, found that the company saved around $1,900 per employee for the nine-month research period, due to savings related to space and furniture.
Nevertheless, some of these savings may only be felt in the longer term, because there may be some initial investment required to allow remote work to transpire, such as providing employees with laptops and other essential equipment.
Finally, a major benefit of remote work is the removal of some of the employment barriers that would otherwise be in place, and the single most obvious example of this is related to physical location or distance.
When office attendance is mandatory, a worker needs to live in close proximity to the workplace, because they will need to travel to and from the office every day. This means workers must either be willing to relocate or must seek employment close to home. For employers, of course, this also means a more shallow talent pool to choose from.
Yet, when telecommuting becomes the norm, this barrier is no longer as relevant. Employers can potentially look to find talent from all across the globe and workers can find work in other parts of the world too.
“If you have home-based positions to fill, your candidate pool stretches as far as the internet,” explains Mike Kappel, in an article written for Forbes. “And there are no relocation costs.”
Ultimately, working from home can be beneficial for both employers and employees, especially when they have an awareness of what the potential advantages are and how to make the most of them. In particular, the flexibility, lack of travel, and cost-saving benefits can be advantageous to workers, while employers may find that they have a more productive workforce, a deeper talent pool to hire from, and more space in their office.
Whether you’re a telecommuting veteran or just getting started, make sure you have the Essential Tools for Remote Work so that you can take advantage of all it has to offer. Also, don’t forget to visit our work from home solutions page for more insights into working from home.