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  What's Your Learning Style?

Learning styles refer to the ways we prefer to approach new information. Each of us learns and processes information in our own unique way, though we share certain learning patterns, preferences, and approaches.

Anytime you begin something new — when you start a new job, move to a new town, take up a hobby — you're learning. When you understand more about your individual style of learning, you can adjust your surroundings to make the most of the situation and master new topics that might otherwise be difficult for you. It's also helpful to realize that other people may approach thinking, learning, and communicating in a way that is different from your own.

Researchers have developed many different types of learning style inventories to classify how people learn. The type I've found most helpful examines how we perceive (take in) information through our senses. How we see, hear, feel, and move through the world deeply affects our ability to learn. And whether we tend to rely more or less on one sense than another has a tremendous influence on how we interpret new experiences as well as succeed in whatever we are working with each day.

Below is an assessment you can use to determine your learning style.

  1. Read each task listed in the left-hand column.
  2. Circle one description from the three choices to the right that best matches how you usually handle each task.
  3. Count the number of highlighted items in each column.
  4. Write your total at the bottom of each column.
  5. Remember that these questions don't have right or wrong answers — your answers offer insight about how you learn.
 
 
Spelling Do you try to see the word in your mind? Do you imagine what it would look like on paper? Do you use a phonetic approach to sound out the word? Do you hear it in your thoughts or say it aloud. Do you write down the word to find out if it feels right? Maybe you run your finger over it or type it out?
Talking Do you dislike listening for a long time? Do you often use words such as "see," "picture," and "imagine"? Do you enjoy listening? (Or maybe, you're impatient to talk?) Do you often use words such as "say," "hear," "tune," and "think"? Do you like to gesture and use expressive movements? Do you often use words such as "feel," "touch," and "hold"?
Visualizing Do you see vivid, detailed pictures? Do you think in sounds and voices? Do you have few images, all involving movement?
Concentrating Does seeing untidiness or movement distract you? Do you notice things in your visual field that others don't? Are you distracted by sounds or noises? Do you prefer to manage the amount and type of noise around you? Are you distracted by activity around you? Do you shut out conversations and go inside yourself?
Meeting someone again Do you forget names, but remember faces? Can you usually remember where you met? Do you tend to remember names? Can you usually remember what you talked about? Do you tend to remember what you did together? Can you almost feel your time together?
Contacting people on business Do you prefer direct, face-to-face, personal meetings? Do you prefer the telephone for intense conversations? Do you prefer to talk while walking or participating in an activity?
Relaxing Do you prefer to watch TV, see a play, go to a movie? Do you prefer to listen to the radio, play music, read, talk with a friend? Do you prefer to play sports, knit, build something with your hands?
Trying to interpret someone's mood Do you primarily look at facial expressions? Do you listen to the tone of voice? Do you watch for body language?
Reading Do you like descriptive scenes? Do you pause to imagine the action? Do you enjoy the dialogue most? Can you "hear" the characters talk? Do you prefer action stories? (Or, maybe don't even enjoy reading for pleasure?)
Doing something new at work Do you like to see demonstrations, diagrams, and flow charts? Do you find verbal and written instructions helpful? Do you like talking it over? Do you prefer to jump right in and try it?
Putting something together Do you look at the picture and then, maybe, read the directions? Do you like reading or talking with someone about it? Do you find yourself talking aloud as you work? Do you usually ignore the directions and figure it out as you go along?
Getting help with a computer application Do you seek out pictures or diagrams? Do you call the help desk? Do you ask a neighbor? Do you just keep trying? Do you perhaps try it on another computer?
Teaching someone Do you prefer to show them? Do you prefer to tell them? Write it out? Do you demonstrate how it's done? Ask them to try it?
Total Visual: Auditory: Tactile/Kinesthetic:
 
The column with the highest total represents your primary processing style. The column with the second most choices is your auxiliary style.

Your primary learning style: ____________________________

Your auxilary learning style: ____________________________

Now that you know which learning style you prefer, you can use your style to boost your learning curve when working on learning more. For instance, when reading a book, try the following:

If your primary learning style is Visual, draw pictures in the margins of books, look at the graphics, and read the text explaining the graphics. Try to envision the topic or play out a movie in your mind of how you'll act out the subject matter.

If your primary learning style is Auditory, listen to the words you read. Try to develop an internal dialogue between you and the text. Don't be embarrassed to read out loud or talk through the information.

If your primary learning style is Tactile/ Kinesthetic, use a highlighter pen to mark passages that are meaningful to you. Take notes, transferring the information you're learning to the margins of the book, into your journal, or into the computer. Hold the book in your hands instead of placing it on a table. Walk around as you read. Feel the words and ideas. Get busy — both mentally and physically.

 
  (c) Marcia L. Conner, 1993-2002. All rights reserved.
 

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