What is my Learning Identity?

October 2011

Henrico High School

International Baccalaureate Program

What’s your learning style

• Answer the questions “true” or “false”

• Select what you do most of the time• Yes, the questions ask the same

thing in different ways.

Diagnosis: Step 1

• Put a Check Mark if• You answered TRUE• To Questions 1,6,12,16,21• 1 or two checks = Seeing• 3 checks= adaptable• 4-5 checks = Hearing

Diagnosis: Step 2

• Put an X on your paper• If you answered TRUE• To Questions 2,7,11,17,22• 1-2 X’s= Multi-sensory• 3 X’s = Adaptable• 4-5 X’s = Seeing

Diagnosis: Step 3

• Place a BOX• If you answered TRUE• To questions 8,18,23 • Or FALSE • To questions 3 and 13• 1-2 boxes = Feedback• 3 boxes = Adaptable• 4-5 boxes = Independent

Diagnosis: Step 4

• Place a CIRCLE• If you answered TRUE• To questions 9.14. 19• Or False • To questions 4 and 24• 4-5 circles = MOVER• 3 circles = adaptable• 1-2 circles = SITTER

Diagnosis: Step 5

• Place a triangle• If you answered TRUE • To questions 5,15,25• Or FALSE• To questions 10 and 20• 4-5 Triangles = Morning• 3 Triangles = adaptable• 1-2 Triangles = Afternoon

What does this mean?

Auditory Learners

• You learn by hearing• You would rather have oral instructions than written• You like to have things explained• Study techniques: Study with a partner

Read out loud to yourself

Books on Tape

Listen to your “mind’s ear”

Visual Learners

• You learn by seeing• You would rather read the instructions yourself or

have a diagram• You are more comfortable with a textbook• Study Techniques: Ask for a handout, book

reference or website to reinforce material–In a lecture class, take notes and draw

pictures –Refer to books, movies, visual stimuli

Multi-sensory and Adaptable Learners

• It depends on the situation and the subject• You prefer “hands on” and to learn by doing• Study Skills -- Use your laptop

–Find interactive websites–Listen to books on tape while you read–Stand and sit, or bounce a ball while you

study

Feedback or Independent

Feedback

• Break the assignment down into small parts

• Have feedback on each part with your teacher

• Don’t try to do it all at once

• Get your teacher to help you in this organization process

Independent

• Set self deadlines so you don’t wait until the last minute

• Ask the teacher for feedback and positive reinforcement

Mover or Sitter?

Mover

• Stretch breaks every half hour

• In class – foot stretches, shoulder lifts, gum, deep breathing, lower your jaw

Sitter

• Find an uncluttered environment where you won’t be interrupted

• Get all your materials together before you start so you won’t interrupt yourself

Morning or Afternoon?

Morning

• If you can, have hardest classes in morning

• Rather than stay up late, get up a little early to study

• Don’t wait until Sunday night to do homework!

Evening

• Do your homework first thing when you get home

• Don’t procrastinate

It’s up to YOU!

• Go with your STRENGTHS! Build on them to accommodate your challenges!!

What is your Learner Temperament?

• Place a mark on the 20 characteristics that you think describe you best!

Making the Diagnosis

• Draw a line down the middle between the columns• Draw a horizontal line under the words SENSIBLE

and INVENTIVE and above the words IMAGINATIVE and PLAYFUL

• Count the # of marks you made in each quadrant• Label the quadrants: Organized = SJ• Knowledgeable = NT• Imaginative = NF• Playful = SP

What does this mean?

• SJ’s– Like precise directions and following rules, loves a routine– Good steady work ethic; likes working on one thing at a time– Good memory– Likes real life application– Likes familiar things; stressed by too much change– Good with facts, weaker on “big picture” – Has common sense– Good decision maker– Likes to have a plan– Is goal/production oriented

What does this mean?

• NT’s– Don’t like to read directions – you already know how– Likes variety in working – Wants to see the possibilities in lessons, wants to know

why and understand things– Likes new things, curious – good intuition and imagination– Gets the big picture easily but may forget facts– Enjoys fantasy; not really a “people person”– Likes to debate, likes to be right– Impatient; wants to get to the point

What does this mean?

• NF’s– You too are a “know it all” and don’t want to read

directions– You like variety, new things, fantasy– You have a good imagination and a “big picture” person– But you really care about others and try to make people

proud– You like people to get along– You are easily embarrassed by disapproval– You are very verbal– You like working with others

What does it mean?

• SP’s– You like precise directions – You like real-life, practical applications, and have common sense– You like familiar things but you like flexibility and enjoy surprises– You are good with facts but have a harder time with the big picture– You tend to be a procrastinator; you start things but don’t finish them. – You tend to get distracted by other interests – SQUIRREL!– You are very adaptive– You like to have fun!

In a classroom:

• More teachers are SJ’s and NF’s• Fewer teachers are NT’s or SP’s• Typical reaction to a set of directions “Get out a

piece of paper and a pencil”– SJ’s already have out a paper and pencil and their book– NT’s want to know why we need paper and pencil– NF’s have their paper and have given some to their

neighbors– SP’s have folded the paper into a hat and are wearing it!