There is no single, "correct" way to learn.
People learn in all sorts of different ways. Most of
us have preferred ways of learning, even if we're unaware
of them.
Here's a brief description of some of the main learning
styles, as described by Richard Felder and Barbara Solomon
from North Carolina State University.
Adapted from http://www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/ILSdir/styles.htm
| Active |
Reflective |
|
Active learners understand new
information by doing something with it. Active
learners tend to like group work.
Let's try it out and see how it works.
|
Reflective learners prefer to
think about new information first before acting
on it. They often prefer to work alone rather than
in groups.
Let's think it through first.
|
| Sensory |
Intuitive |
|
Sensory learners usually like
learning facts. They solve problems by well established
methods, and they dislike surprises and complications.
Sensors are generally careful, practical and patient.
They understand information best if they can see
how it connects to the real world.
|
Intuitive learners prefer discovering
new relationships and possibilities. They are usually
comfortable with abstractions and mathematical
calculations. Intuitive learners tend to work quickly
and dislike routine tasks and memorisation.
|
| Visual |
Verbal |
|
Visual learners understand new
information best by seeing it in the form of pictures,
demonstrations, diagrams, charts and sketches.
|
Verbal learners understand new
information best through written and spoken words.
|
| Sequential |
Global |
|
Sequential learners gain understanding
in linear steps, where each step follows logically
from the previous one.
|
Global learners tend to learn
in large jumps by absorbing material in a random
order without necessarily seeing any connections,
and then suddenly "getting it".
|
Your preference for one style or another may be strong, moderate
or mild, but everyone uses all of these styles sometimes. If
you want to become a more effective learner, you should aim for
a balance between all styles.
Online
Activity - Learning Styles Questionnaire
Barbara Solomon and Richard Felder have developed the
Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire. The ILS questionnaire
contains 44 either/or questions that will give you a
more precise indication of your preferred learning styles.
When you finish the questionnaire you will receive your
results immediately, as well as advice on how to become
a more effective learner. To do the questionnaire, go
to this web site and follow the instructions:
http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html
Tip
Don't take your results
too seriously. They are meant to be a guide only.
Try taking the test more than once on different days,
and compare the results.
