Learning Styles & Career Success:Part 3: Thinking About Information

Kathleen E. High, M.Ed., GCDF Adjunct Career CounselorCareer Planning Center, Cypress Collegehttp://www.cypresscollege.edu/services/cpc

Workshop OverviewThere are many ways to teach and learn, and this workshop introduces participants to many theories related to how people take in, process, and apply new knowledge. This workshop (3rd of 4) emphasizes theories that relate to how people mentally process new information as they learn: Lecture, Kolb’s 4 Stages of Learning, Inductive vs. Deductive Learning, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and Reading/Writing Learning Styles are introduced. Participants will receive tips for utilizing these learning theories in their education.

Learning Objectives for this Workshop (Slide 1 of 2)

Participants will be able to:• Recognize three categories of learning styles• Define Lecture Style of teaching• Identify the four stages of learning • Recognize the six domains of Bloom’s Taxonomy• Associate reading and writing as a form of learning

Learning Objectives for this Workshop (Slide 2 of 2)

Participants will also be able to:• Identify helpful resources for learning in various

collaborative learning environments• Discover additional resources available on campus

relating to learning styles

What is YOUR Learning Style?Did you take the following assessment to identify your preferred learning style during the first workshop? If not, please do so now because we are about to discuss the results.• Career Cruising• http://public.careercruising.com/en/• User Name: cypress• Password: 90630

• Click on “Assessments” tab on the menu• Click on “Learning Styles Inventory”• Create a user name and password• Take the assessment

Let’s Begin . . .

•Many theories on how to teach and learn•Most learning styles theories fall into 1 of 3

categories:2.Taking Information In• Information Gathering & Processing

3.Thinking About Information• Mental Processing

4.Processing Information Together• Collaborative Learning

Workshop #1Mentioned Three Types of Learning Theories

This Workshop Focuses On:

The Second Type of Theories:

2.Thinking About InformationMental Processing

‘Thinking About Information ’ – Mental Processing Learning Styles

The following theories identify how you ‘process’ new knowledge and experiences• ‘Mental Processing’ Theories• Lecture Style• Stages of Learning – David Kolb’s LSI• Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning• Directive vs. Open-Ended Teaching Styles• Bloom’s Taxonomy• Reading & Writing Learning Style

Lecture Style

• Lecture• Teacher talks (explains material to be learned)• May or may not include visual aids

• Student passively listens and takes notes

Lecture StylePrepare for Lecture• Review the class syllabus to identify topic• Preview topic by reading text, summaries, notes,

websites, etc. • Take notes while previewing• Ask questions about the contentPrepare for Lecture• Sit where you can see and hear well• Take notes and ask questions After Lecture• Review notes and other prior reading materials

Learning Styles Inventory (LSI) by David KolbReveals individual’s preferences for focusing on one of four phases of the learning process:• Ask: • “Why do I need to know this?”• “What ideas are important?”• “How can I use this?• “What if I apply this elsewhere?

Stages of Learning

Using Stages of LearningApply the four stages to what you are learning:

“Why” learning strategies:• Look for purpose and personal connection to

material being learned• Ask:

• “Why does this matter?”• “How does this fit with what you already

know?”• “How does this relate to my goals?”

Stages of Learning (Continued)

Applying the four stages: (Continued)

• “What” learning strategies:• What ideas or techniques are important?• Break subject down to key elements or steps• Ask:

• “Is there a theory to explain events?”• “What do the experts say?”• “What are the key elements or steps?”• How can I create logical and concise order of

the facts?”

Stages of Learning (Continued)

Applying the four stages: (Continued)

• “How” learning strategies. • Ask: How does this work?• Find an opportunity to try it out• Investigate how ideas and techniques work• Put into practice what you learn• Have well-defined tasks, guided practice, and

frequent feedback

Stages of Learning (Cont’d)

• Applying the four stages: (Continued)• “What if?” learning strategies:• Ask: What if I tried this in a different setting?• Find other uses for what you learn• Seek ways to apply in your workplace,

relationships, or other areas of your life

Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning

Some people prefer:• Inductive Reasoning:• (Working from specific to general)

• Deductive Reasoning:• (Working from general to specific)

Inductive

Deductive

Using Inductive &Deductive • Inductive Reasoning: (specific to general)• Turn homework assignments into a task list• Conduct regular reviews of what you have

accomplished • Relate what you have done so far to the big

picture• Deductive Reasoning: (general to specific)• Read summaries/abstracts before beginning• Highlight thesis statement (main point)• Create an outline/Cornell, and/or Mind Map

summary and use it for studying and review time

Directive vs. Open-Ended Teaching Styles

Some people prefer:• Directive Teaching Style• Teacher gives specific assignments,

detailed instructions, an direct expectations and tasks to accomplish

• Open-Ended Teaching Style• Teacher gives a general topic or idea, and

gives the students freedom to determine what to do with it and how the final product will turn out

Using Directive & Open-Ended Styles• Directive Teaching Style• Ask the teacher gives specific, detailed

instructions and examples• Make sure you understand the teacher’s

expectations •Open-Ended Teaching Style• Ask the teacher for examples of prior student’s

work, and what made it good• Discuss project ideas with teacher before

beginning• Have him/her review your work as you progress

Bloom’s Taxonomy• Different ‘domains’ of critical thinking• They get more difficult as you go up the pyramid• Remembering• Understanding• Applying• Analyzing• Evaluating• Creating

• Most people prefer to operate in specific domains

Demonstrate Level 2 - Understanding: (Explain in your own words)• Explain the main point• Summarize the steps involved• Compare two similar items and explain how they are differentDemonstrate Level 1 - Remembering: (Recall the key terms, facts or events)• List the key points• State the primary features• Name a person involved

Using Bloom’s Domains

Demonstrate Level 4 - Analyzing: (Divide idea into parts or steps)• Arrange the facts into chronological order• Divide the theory into three main points• Organize the facts into four categoriesDemonstrate Level 3 - Applying: (Using idea to produce wanted results)• List the key points• State the primary features• Name a person involved

Using Bloom’s Domains (Continued)

Demonstrate Level 6 - Creating: (Invent something new based on this idea)• Develop a presentation based on what you learned • Build or draw a model of the idea to be used in other classes• Make a visual aid based on the ideaDemonstrate Level 5 - Evaluating: (Rate the truth, usefulness or quality of an idea)• Judge the effectiveness of a specific study method• Recommend the most appropriate option• Rank the options in order of importance

Using Bloom’s Domains (Continued)

Reading and Writing

Reading and Writing• Some people learn best by reading about a

subject• Some learn best by writing about a subject

Using Reading and Writing• Read everything available on the subject• Use highlighters to identify key points• Take notes while you read (see next slide)• Apply the SQ3R Method to your readings:• Survey (Scan the content before reading)• Question (Ask questions about the content)• Read (Read from start to finish)• Recite (Repeat the material out loud)• Review (Identify key ideas and facts)

Three Popular Note Taking Styles

Cornell Method

Outline Method

Mind Mapping Method

Let’s Review The Theories Presented:

‘Thinking About Information ’ – Mental Processing Learning Styles• ‘Mental Processing’ Theories• Lecture Style• Stages of Learning – David Kolb’s LSI• Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning• Directive vs. Open-Ended Teaching Styles• Bloom’s Taxonomy• Reading & Writing Learning Style

Now, Let’s Apply This To You

• How do you best learn?• How can you improve your learning efforts?• How do you adapt to different teaching styles?• Are assignment instructions confusing?• Still want more help?• Counseling Classes can help• Visit the Career Planning Center• See a Career Counselor• Use our resources

How Do You Best Learn?• How do you find out? (Continued)

• Ask: “What styles do you enjoy using?”• Identify Prior Learning Successes• What helped you learn?

• Identify Prior Learning Challenges• What interfered with your prior learning?

How Can You Improve Your Learning Efforts?• Identify: • Your learning style preferences• What you want to learn• Why you want to learn it• How you will learn it• How you will determine if you learned it

Still Want More Help?

• Take Counseling Classes• Visit the Career Planning Center• See a Career Counselor

Counseling classes to help you learn to succeed• Counseling classes:• COUN 150: Academic & Life Success• A great class to help students get to know

themselves and what they want from college

• COUN 140: Educational Planning• If you know what you want to major in, this

class will help you identify and lay out the classes you need to reach that goal

Counseling classes help you learn to succeed• Counseling classes:• COUN 141: Career Exploration• Quickly (in 8 weeks) get to know yourself

and identify potential career options • COUN 151: Career & Life Planning• Get to know yourself and identify potential

career options and how to prepare for that potential career

Visit the Career Planning CenterTalk to a Career Counselor for help Identifying: • Your preferred learning styles• Your personality type • Why you may be struggling with the classes in

your major• A major/career goal that is compatible with your

learning style• Why you don’t like you current major

Visit the Career Planning Center• Talk to a Career Counselor for help

Identifying: (Continued) • Personality, Interests, Values, Preferred Skills,• Preferred Learning Styles

• How to develop your learning strategies and styles• How these traits translate into major /

career options• Class requirements for specific career options

you are considering

Visit the Career Planning Center

Talk to a career counselor: (Continued)

• Get a deeper understanding how to use personality to help with learning• Identify other barriers to success, and get referrals

to appropriate resources

Visit the Career Planning Center

• Talk to our friendly and helpful Career Center staff for help with:• Using the Career Planning Center’s resources• Identifying resources to help with study skills• Identifying resources that reveal preferred

training styles of different industries• Identifying additional campus support offices that

address other concerns you have

Visit the Career Planning Center• Use our resources:• Books or print resources:• Effective study methods• Learning style preferences• Personality-based learning styles

Visit the Career Planning Center• Use our resources:• Online resources:• Identify industry- or career-based learning

preferences• Career-related minimum education

requirements and options• Career Cruising database offers a learning styles

assessment

Almost done . . . As a result of participating in the Online Workshop, you have:• Learned why it is important to know your learning

styles• Identified many different teaching/learning styles• Acquired a wealth of Tips & Tricks to use when your

style doesn’t match your teacher’s style

Now it is time to learn about a few additional resources and finish this Online Workshop.

Almost done . . . As a result of participating in the Online Workshop, you have: (Continued)

• Identify how personality affects learning preferences• Receive tips for improving their learning efforts• Develop adaptive skills for dealing with different

teaching styles• Identify helpful resources for adapting to different

teaching styles

Now it is time to learn about a few additional resources and finish this Online Workshop.

ReferencesLearning Theories:• Learning Styles Overview

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_styles

• Lecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lecture

• Stages of Learning: Kolb’s Learning Styles Inventoryhttp://www.haygroup.com/leadershipandtalentondemand/ourproducts/item_details.aspx?itemid=122&type=5&t=1

ReferencesLearning Theories:• Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logical_reasoning

• Bloom’s Taxonomy• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom%27s_taxonomy

References and Sources:www.Dictionary.com

http://www.dreams-goals.com/IndividualLessons-AcademicSkills.html

Ellis, D. (2013). Becoming a Master Student (14th Ed.), Boston: Cengage.

Feldman, R. (2014). POWER learning (6th Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin.

References and Sources:Google Imageshttps://images.google.com/

www.wikipedia.org