LEARNING STYLES

The Teaching and Learning Center presents the following information on learning styles.  We have listed pertinent web sites, plus the TLC's resources on learning styles. 

What are learning styles?

• Auditory Learning Styles
• Tactile Learning Styles
• Visual Learning Styles
• Learning
• Study Strategies

Some theorists group them into a series of three sensory types.  Most other types of learning styles are extensions of these three basic styles, which are:

• auditory (hearing),

• tactile (doing), and

• visual (seeing).

The Kolb model of learning styles has four areas:

Howard Gardner theorizes a group of seven learning styles called Multiple Intelligences:  

During childhood, each person advances through various stages of each style. However, each person is born with tendencies toward one main style. There is no right or wrong style. Each one has advantages and disadvantages.

Unfortunately, most people have not had information presented in the style conducive to their learning. To determine your sensory type learning style, click here, or use the Learning Styles Inventory found on the Multimedia Study Skills CD-ROM in the Teaching and Learning Center.

As you learn more about your preferred learning style, you can enhance your own learning and communication skills. You can also work to offset the disadvantages that your learning style may present.

Once you have determined your sensory learning style, click on one of the sensory type learning style links below for style characteristics and study tips.  

• How Do I Learn Best? - VARK (Visual, Aural, Read/write, and Kinesthetic) learning styles inventory; a variation of the Kolb's model.  Online test.

• Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire - online test by Barbara A. Soloman and Richard M. Felder of North Carolina State University.

• Jung types - Where are you on the judging, sensing, thinking and intuitive scale?

• Keirsey Learning Styles Information:
  
  Online Keirsey Learning Styles tests
  
  Interpretation of Keirsey Learning Style tests
  
  Type Logic -  What's your type from the above test?  Read more about your type.
  
  Keirsey Character Sorter  
  
  Keirsey Temperament Sorter  - Along with the Keirsey Temperament Sorter questionnaire are descriptions of the personality temperaments. Dr. Keirsey's descriptions of temperament are based on his own studies of people, as well as his work in the field of psychology. In particular, his descriptions have been influenced by the works of Jung, Myers, Kretschmer, Spranger, Fromm, Haley, Bateson, and others. 
  
  The Keirsey Temperament Sorter, like all personality tests, is only a preliminary and rough indicator of personality. Please don't accept any personality test results without checking them out by watching people in action. People-watching enables you to detect the difference between what people say they do habitually and what they actually do. If the test results - as occasionally happens - don't fit your personality, they nonetheless provide a good place to start looking for a portrait that fits. Perhaps after you have read many portraits, and even asked others which of the portraits best describe you, you may be able to begin to define your own personality. 
  
  The brief descriptions on this web site are short versions of the descriptions in "Please Understand Me" or "Please Understand Me II." After identifying your personality, you might want to read the corresponding personality portrait in one or both of these books to decide if the description fits. 
  
  Excerpted from "Please Understand Me II" by David Keirsey Copyrighted © 1998

• Kolb's Learning Styles - an explanation of the four learning dimensions in the Kolb model.

• Learning Style Inventory for College  - Online test written by Catherine Jester, Learning Disability Specialist of Diablo Valley College.

• Learning Styles from Harding University.

• Learning Styles Inventory from Honolulu Community College 

• Learning Styles Chart - one page chart listing various activities and the accompanying learning style.

• Learning Styles Inventory - from Learning to Study through Critical Thinking by Jonelle A. Beatrice.

• Learning Styles Inventory from Honolulu Community College 

• Lumpers and Splitters - An OCTC Teaching and Learning Center page

• Middle Tennessee State University Site - excellent site by Middle Tennessee State University. This web-site contains information about various learning styles and some tests to help you determine your style. When you are in the site, click on a topic (on the left side of the page) to explore your learning styles. Begin with Hemispheric Dominance (Left of Right Brain Dominance) and work your way down the list. 
  
  Hemispheric Dominance

• On Learning Styles - teaching students with various learning styles (Myer's-Briggs Type Indicator). Copyright: Harvey J. Brightman, Georgia State University

• Seven Styles of Learning

• Success Types Survival Strategies - excellent site by John W. Pelley, Ph.D. author of "SuccessTypes for Medical Students," which is located in our Center's Study Skill and Learning Styles area.

• Thirty Things We Know for Sure about Adult Learners

Learning Styles and Learning Foreign Languages - Internet Site

• Using your learning type for language learning

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Teaching and Learning Center Books and CD-ROMs

• Becoming a Master Student by Dave Ellis

• How to Study Science by Fred Drewes

• SuccessTypes for Medical Students:  A Program for Improving Academic Performance by Dr. John W. Pelley

• Success Your Style! Right-Left-Brain Techniques for Learning by Nancy Lightfoot Matte and Susan Hilary Green Henderson

• Winning at Math:  Your Guide to Learning Mathematics through Successful Study Skills by Dr. Paul D. Nolting

• Multi-media Study Skills - Use the learning styles test.

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