Planning 10 - Mr. Berra: Day 7

Learning Style

For you, knowing about learning styles is valuable because it allows them to explore ways to learn beyond your preferred style, therefore expanding the variety of ways you can use to learn. Such knowledge can help you learn better in situations where only less-preferred learning styles are presented.

One commonly used method of describing learning styles is to group the ways students prefer to perceive information:

• Kinesthetic/tactual learners attempt to feel, touch, manipulate, and "try things out". They learn best by "doing" and need direct involvement in what they are learning. These students may be physically demonstrative-for example, speaking and gesturing-but may be poorer listeners than other students.
• Auditory learners need to talk about what they are learning and how they are learning or how to use what they have learned. They are better listeners than some, but also need an opportunity to talk or participate in the discussion. They relate most effectively to the spoken word. Information may not mean much to them unless it has been heard; they may benefit by reading aloud to themselves.
• Visual learners need to see it. They respond to pictures, demonstrations, and learning that requires a good imagination. They relate to written information, notes, and diagrams. They often need to take notes, even if printed notes are provided during a lecture. Do not misinterpret this as not listening. Taking notes allows them to listen better!

Now, it's time to take the Learning Style Quiz. Discover your unique style of learning.

Again, think about registering to save your results. This will allow you to combine all your quiz results and give you a better idea of the type of work you would enjoy the most.

Myers - Briggs

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test is based on the work of Carl Jung in the early 1900s and has been developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers. It is one of the most widely used personality assessment tool and can help to understand how and why we feel and think the way we do. The theory is based on four personality preferences:

Extroversion (E) - (I) Introversion

Sensing (S) - (N) Intuition

Thinking (T) - (F) Feeling

Judgement (J) - (P) Perception

The four preferences in more detail

Where, primarily, do you prefer to direct your energy?

• If you prefer to direct your energy to deal with people, things, situations, or "the outer world", then your preference is for Extraversion. This is denoted by the letter "E".

• If you prefer to direct your energy to deal with ideas, information, explanations or beliefs, or "the inner world", then your preference is for Introversion. This is denoted by the letter "I".

How do you prefer to process information?

• If you prefer to deal with facts, what you know, to have clarity, or to describe what you see, then your preference is for Sensing. This is denoted by the letter "S".

• If you prefer to deal with ideas, look into the unknown, to generate new possibilities or to anticipate what isn't obvious, then your preference is for Intuition. This is denoted by the letter "N" (the letter I has already been used for Introversion).

How do you prefer to make decisions?

• If you prefer to decide on the basis of objective logic, using an analytic and detached approach, then your preference is for Thinking. This is denoted by the letter "T".

• If you prefer to decide using values and/or personal beliefs, on the basis of what you believe is important or what you or others care about, then your preference is for Feeling. This is denoted by the letter "F".

How do you prefer to organise your life?

• If you prefer your life to be planned, stable and organised then your preference is for Judging (not to be confused with 'Judgmental', which is quite different). This is denoted by the letter "J".

• If you prefer to go with the flow, to maintain flexibility and respond to things as they arise, then your preference is for Perception. This is denoted by the letter "P".

16 Types

When you put these four letters together, you get your personality type code, and there are sixteen combinations. For example, INTJ indicates that you prefer Introversion, iNtuition, Thinking and Judging (remember, this indicates preferences only - an INTJ also uses Extraversion, Sensing, Feeling and Perception).

This unique profile can be used in a number of ways, such as finding an appropriate career or identifying your natural leadership style.

Your personality preference is translated into a combination of these letters and indicates parts of your personality. Take the Myers Briggs and find out which one you are. An explanation of your type will follow after the test.

Multiple Intelligences

Multiple Intelligence Theory was developed by Harvard developmental psychologist, Dr. Howard Gardner, and focuses on different "intelligences" or learning styles. According to the theory, learners use most of these styles to some degree, but that each person has dominant styles and less-used styles in the learning process.

• Verbal/Linguist (word smart) - Able to use words and language by producing something with them (i.e., writers and public speakers), as well as listening and reading; may enjoy crossword puzzles and telling stories.
• Logical/Mathematical (number smart) - Able to work with numbers and their relationships to each other, and use abstract concepts and inductive or deductive reasoning to solve problems; includes the ability to make connections between pieces of information; may enjoy strategy games and experiments.
• Visual/Spatial (picture smart) - Able to picture an object in one's mind, to create mental images; think in images and pictures (i.e., painters, sculptors, navigators, architects); may enjoy chess or other games which require being able to imagine pieces in different positions before they are moved.
• Bodily/Kinesthetic (body smart) - Able to process knowledge through bodily sensations, understand one's physical movement and functions of the body, effectively use the body to express emotions, interpret body language of other people, play games or do other physical activities, such as building or making something; may enjoy athletics, dancing, or crafts.
• Musical/Rhythmic (music smart) - Able to recognize patterns in tone, rhythm, and beat, as well as create such patterns; includes sounds in the environment, the human voice, and music; often are discriminating listeners; may notice sounds that others may miss; may enjoy humming and singing.
• Interpersonal (people smart) - Able to communicate and interact easily with other people, and understand and empathize with their moods and feelings; may often be the leader among their peers; includes the abilities of a counsellor or teacher.
• Intrapersonal (self smart) - Able to understand oneself and one's own feelings and emotional responses, self-reflect (i.e., to "think about thinking" and other questions and ideas that cannot be answered by facts, such as philosophy); may appear shy; self motivated.
• Naturalist (nature smart) - Able to observe, understand, collect, and categorize (organize patterns) in the natural and human environment; may enjoy collecting and organizing collections, or keeping notes about a collection.

Take the Multiple Intelligence Quiz

Through the personality quizzes, you can explore your abilities, interests and preferences as part of making a career decision. The Multiple Intelligence Quiz can be used to make any learning situation work for you.

Record your results. This will allow you to combine all your quiz results and give you a better idea of the type of work you would enjoy the most.

              

This quiz will assist you in determining your areas of interest by helping you identify the degree to which you enjoy working with data/information, people or things.

The Work Value Quiz will outline values that are important clues to what kind of work and work conditions you would like. Hopefully, the quiz can help you determine your work motivations, your preferred work setting, how you like to interact with others, and your work style.