CHAPTER 1
Learning Styles
Focus on Learning Styles
Learning Styles & You
Left/Right Brain Self-Assessment
Left/Right Brain Dominance Characteristics
Suggested Aids for Left/Right Brain Learners
Learning Modalities
Self-Assessment of Modality Strengths
Characteristics of Learning Styles
Suggested Aids for Learning Modalities
Elements for Better Learning
Some Facts on Learning Styles
FOCUS ON
Learning Styles
1. Know how you learn.
2. Combine HOW and WHY with WHAT you learn.
3. Be aware of the time and environment where you learn best.
4. Apply various learning activities to meet your needs.
5. Utilize all your senses in learning something.
6. Apply how you learn to all new situations.
7. Be flexible in your thinking and learning.
8. Intentionally decide which learning modality to use.
9. Analyze your teacher's teaching style and apply appropriate learning strategies.
10. Creatively adapt materials to best fit your personal learning strengths.
Learning styles & you
You are what you are! You are unique. Each individual brain has a natural movement toward learning. But different people learn differently. The way you learn is called your learning style.
You'll do the best job of learning how to learn if you understand how you already take in and process new ideas. This book begins with some information about learning styles. Finding out about your learning style is the first step toward maximizing your brainpower! If you know your learning strengths, you will be able to make adjustments as you learn. This can help you reach your fullest potential in whatever you wish to learn or do. It's also helpful to learn about teaching styles. You can then adapt your learning to help you learn from any teacher.
Although a healthy brain functions as a whole, different parts of the brain are responsible for different functions. The brain has two hemispheres, or halves. Both of them act and react, think and process, and solve problems differently from each other. There is a general belief that one hemisphere is usually dominant in a person. However, the best brainpower is a result of the two hemispheres integrating with almost equal balance
People learn primarily through three basic modalities — ways in which you physically take in, process, and remember information. These are visual (seeing), auditory (hearing), and kinesthetic (feeling and doing). Like brain dominance, one of the three modalities is usually dominant for a person.
Left/right brain self-assessment
Read the following statements and circle the numbers of statements that describe you. Make quick decisions and trust your first responses. The scoring table at the end of the list will help you determine your "dominance." You may find that you are fairly balanced between the two hemispheres.
1. I have no trouble making decisions about the correct thing to do.
2. I see problems or pictures as a whole rather than in parts or details.
3. I follow written directions best and prefer to write and talk.
4. I often think of many things at once rather than thinking through one idea at a time.
5. I'm usually aware of the time.
6. When I'm introduced to someone for the first time, I pay particular attention to the person's face. I later forget the person's name, but I remember his or her face.
7. I attack most problem-solving activities analytically and logically.
8. When comparing things, I usually look for ways they are alike rather than ways they are different.
9. I'd rather take a true/false, multiple-choice, or matching test than an essay test.
10. Most often, I use my imagination and think in an abstract manner.
11. If I have a problem, I break it down into smaller, more manageable parts in order to arrive at a solution.
12. I seem to learn best if I can observe a demonstration or read the directions.
13. Generally, I like to be in control of a situation and I do not like to take too many risks.
14. I like assignments that are open-ended rather than more-structured assignments.
15. I learn best by seeing and hearing.
16. I learn best by touching or doing.
17. I usually think in concrete patterns and solve problems with a step-by-step approach.
18. If I try to remember information, I generally picture it in my mind.
19. Although I sometimes get upset, I am a rational person.
20. I don't mind trying anything once; I take risks when it is necessary.
21. Sometimes I talk to myself in order to think or learn something.
22. I can let my feelings "go." I am considered to be somewhat emotional.
23. I solve problems on an intellectual basis rather than an intuitive one.
24. People have told me that I'm creative.
25. I prefer to plan things and to know what's going to happen ahead of time.
26. I like to act in a spontaneous manner.
27. I prefer to think of one thing at a time.
28. I can easily remember melodies and tunes.
29. I am usually in control of my feelings.
30. I do well in geometry and geography.
31. I usually can recall information I need quickly and easily.
32. I enjoy reading and writing poetry; it comes to me easily.
33. I can really concentrate when I want to.
34. When I work in a group, I can "feel" the moods of others.
35. I understand mathematical concepts.
36. When solving problems or taking tests, I rely on one idea leading to another in order to come to a conclusion.
37. I can learn new vocabulary words easily.
38. When I plan a party, I "hang loose" rather than plan all of the details.
39. I usually can learn easily from any teacher.
40. In class I'm generally aware of what everyone is doing.
41. I notice and remember details.
42. I can easily see the whole picture when only a few puzzle pieces are in place.
43. I don't mind practicing something repeatedly in order to master it.
44. I communicate best with someone "in person" rather than on the phone.
45. I can remember jokes and punch lines.
46. I have trouble concentrating when I know I should.
47. I can write directions in a clear and logical manner.
48. I sometimes rely on my intuition when making decisions.
49. I basically have a day-to-day routine.
50. I sometimes can remember things according to where I "saw" them on the page.
Remember, this inventory is only an informal indication of which hemisphere is probably dominant for you. Both sides work together and cannot be totally separated.
Left/right brain dominance characteristics
LEFT RIGHT
• sequential • holistic
• intellectual • intuitive
• structured/planned • spontaneous
• controls feelings...
