I have just completed an online quiz to explore and discover my preferred personal learning style. According to the results from this website, I have the following preferred learning styles.
Active and Reflective Learners
An active learner tends to retain and understand information best by actively discussing, applying or explaining it to others. For example, they will want to attempt to find a solution before they think it through first which is what a reflective learner would do. My results indicate that I am well balanced in both of these styles of learning. With some further reading on this result, I have found that having a good balance between these two learning styles is preferable because an actively weighted learner will jump into tasks prematurely and a reflectively weighted learner will think through for too long and have difficulty in actually making a start.
A strategy for active learners to retain information better is when they do something with the information provided. For example, thinking of questions that may be asked in advance and thinking of how they might answer those questions. A reflective learner needs to continually stop and reflect or summarise what they have just read. This strategy helps their style of learning.
Sensing and Intuitive Learners
Sensing learners tend to be patient with detail. Also they are good at memorizing facts and doing hands on work. They like to learn facts and solving problems using well structured and known methods but do not like complications or surprises which is what intuitive learners seem to grasp with ease. The website I completed the quiz on had scored me as a moderate sensing level of learner. I support this result because the website states that sensing learners tend to resent material being tested that has not been explicitly covered in class. That is something I do, and also, I need to be able to relate it to real life situations. Intuitive learners like innovation and dislike repetition, they often prefer to discover new possibilities and relationships when finding solutions. Intuitive learners grasp new learning concepts comfortably and work a lot faster.
To be effective as a learner and problem solver, you need to be able to function both ways. For example, overemphasizing intuition can miss important details or steps when completing tasks and overemphasize sensing may rely on becoming familiar with methods and not enough on understanding and innovative thinking.
As mentioned earlier, sensors remember and understand information best if they can relate learning to the real world. To do this, they may need to ask for specific examples of new theory being learnt. Other ways are to brainstorm new information with peers, in other words, find new resources to better relate the information. Intuitive learners should take the time to analyse detail in questions before they begin answering, so they do not miss important steps. They should ask lectures for interpretations or theories that link the facts, or try to find the connections themselves.
Visual and Verbal Learners
I have a strong preference for visual learning, in accordance to the results. Most people are visual learners. Visual learners remember best what they see, such as pictures, diagrams, flow charts, time lines, films, and demonstrations. Verbal learners get more out of words, whether they be written or spoken explanations. To be an effective teacher, information should be presented both visually and verbally to cater for both learning styles.
Visual learners should obviously source any further information that provides visual stimulation to support learning new concepts. For example, if no further resources are available, draw colour coded concept maps that link key points from texts provided or simply highlight important key points. Verbal Learners should write summaries or outlines of course material in their own words. Group work can be particularly effective as they gain an understanding of material by hearing their peers explanations or explain things to their peers.
Sequential and Global Learners
Sequential learners learn best when good scaffolding has taken place within their zone of proximal development. Most classroom environments are taught this way. I scored with a moderate preference to this style of learning. Sequential learners will understand specific detail may have trouble relating it to different aspects of the same or different subject. Global learners seem to absorb large random chunks of material provided and it takes time to mentally gain an understanding of the information provided. Global learners may have some difficulty in explaining the steps of what they have learnt.
Sequential learners need to ensure they have clarified any missing steps for a better understanding during new learning before they progress. Also, they should practice relating their task to what they might already know for a deeper understanding. A global learner will already have the ability to relate new learning to what they already know. To enhance this, or avoid any problems, they need to take the time to skim through text prior to the delivery of learning new tasks to ensure they have an overview or big picture of the subject which will help that connection to other relative areas.
If you would like to research further about learning styles, my information was sourced from here.
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