With work, personal, and many other demands, it is critical to be as productive as possible; and understanding learning styles can help maximize efficiency. Below is an outline inspired by a class so you too can learn how you learn—to most effectively tailor to it.
Note: this is a recap of Learning Styles and Strategies by educators Richard Felder and Barbara Soloman and is reproduced with permission.
- Active and/or Reflective
- Active learners learn by doing things such as discussing or applying it
- Reflective learners learn by thinking things through first
- Sensing and/or Intuitive
- Sensing learners tend to prefer facts, details, practicality, real world connections, and established methods
- Intuitive learners tend to prefer discovering relationships and possibilities and tend to work faster and with more innovation
- Visual and/or Verbal
- Visual learners do well processing information through diagrams, sketches, photographs, and so forth
- Verbal learners do well writing summaries, outlines, and listening to and explaining information, and the like
- Sequential and/or Global
- Sequential learners like linear steps that follow in logical order
- Global learners like more random larger jumps to suddenly “get it”
Still not sure which style you are? Take this questionnaire to find out. Then become a part of the discussion, by relaying your learning preferences and what mediums teach you best.
Want More? Check out this article on “Technology as a Learning tool,” this index of “Seven Things You Should Know About” technologies and the like, and this three-part series of “100 Web Tools to Enhance Collaboration.” Just be sure to return and share your knowledge.
