Discovering Your Learning Style

In the Beginning…From the moment you were born,

you’ve been learning.Before you were 5, you learned faster

than at any other time in your life.You learned:

A whole language Athletic abilities How to read and react to others Social skills you can use today

And Now… You developed your

own preferences for learning

The more you know about your style of learning, the better you can adapt for success

What are Learning Styles?Learning is a

natural and constant process of gathering and processing info

How you prefer to gather info and then what you do with it

Observers Prefer to think

about what is being taught

Participants Prefer to

experience learning firsthand

Why Bother?As a student, if you know your preferred

learning styles and recognize your instructor’s teaching style, you can adjust your learning skills to meet that instructor’s demands.

If you do not adjust to your instructor’s teaching, your learning success will be affected negatively

More Learning StylesSequential learner – tend to think in

one-two-three orderRandom learner – tend to learn better in

a less structured mannerBalanced learner – you are able to

adapt to either style and can do it better and more easily than individuals who fall into the other two categories

Learning to be Flexible Being aware of your

preferences and learning to adapt to others makes you think and recall more efficiently

Using both styles benefits memory and thinking

You will always retain your natural preferences, but you can stretch your mind and enhance your ability to understand the styles of others

Identifying Teaching StylesYou job is to learn and succeed in every

learning situationSome instructors will be easy to

understand, while others will be difficultBest strategy is to:

Observe your instructor Learn about their teaching style and habits Find ways to adapt to each style

The Sequential InstructorLikes facts and detailsShows more interest in data than

peopleLecture based instructionGrades answers as right or wrong; no

partial creditCan you think of a sequential instructor?

The Random Instructor Enjoys people Prefers role-playing,

open discussion, small group work

Gives imaginative assignments

Stresses concepts and conclusions

Can you name a random instructor?

The Balanced Instructor Equal mix of the

sequential and random preferences

Generally well liked b/c they attract both styles

Can you name a balanced instructor?

How to assess your instructor’s style

Listen for cues in how they present their material

Determine what kinds of questions they ask

Observe their behaviorLook at how they are dressed

Clues in how they present material

Sequential Lecture Outlined notes Rarely deviate Monotone

speaking Always stick to

the topic

Random Tell stories Use metaphors Analogies Humor Allow for

wandering during a lecture

Clues in asking questionsSequential

Require you to recall and recite facts, data, and specific theories

Don’t ask for your opinion

Random Ask you to interpret Give and opinion Suggest an

application Form a connection

to some other subject area

Provide for multiple answers

Clues in their behaviorSequential

Formal Stand behind

lectern or table Write notes in

outline form Use black pen

only

Random Wander around

room Sit on table Gesture with

hands Change their

vocal tone

Clues in how they dressSequential

Random

Your Senses and LearningVisual learners

Prefer to use their eyes to learnAuditory learners

Prefer to use their ears to learnTactile (kinesthetic) learners

Prefer to use their bodies to learn

Multiple IntelligencesLogical/

mathematical Visual/spatialBody/kinestheticMusical/rhythmic Inter-personal

IntrapersonalVerbal/linguisticNaturalist