Learning Styles and Motivation

~Plutarch

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited.”

Learning Style

Is the way people absorb, process, and retain information

Learning Style

A concept popular since 1970. These are various approaches or ways of learning. They involve educating methods, particularly to an individual that is presumed that individual will learn best.

Dunn & Dunn

Environmental, emotional, sociological, physical, psychological

Letteri

Cognitive Style

Deductive Reasoning

General to specific

Inductive reasoning

Specific to general

Reinert

Perceptual modalities

NASSP

Environmental, emotional, sociological, physical, psychological/ cognitive, study skills

Ramirez

Bicognitive style, bicultural

Hill

Qualitative/theoretical symbols, modalities of inference, cultural

Schmeck

Cognitive processing, study methods, retention

Hunt

Need for structure, need for authority dependent/ independent

Gregorc

Perception/ ordering

McCarthy

Concrete experience vs. reflective observation/abstract conceptualization vs. active experimentation

Kolb

Innovative/ analytic/ common sense/dynamic

Cognitive thinking

Is the mental process that humans use to think, read, learn, remember, reason, pay attention, and ultimately, comprehend information and turn it into knowledge. Human beings can turn this knowledge into decisions and actions.

Biculturalism

Entails the adeptness to navigate and embrace the values, customs, and traditions of two different cultures simultaneously. Individuals who are bicultural possess a multifaceted identity, seamlessly incorporating elements from both cultures into their lives.

Inferences

Can be deductive, inductive, or abductive

Deductive inferences

Are the strongest because they can guarantee the truth of their conclusions.

Inductive inferences

Are the most widely used, but they do not guarantee the truth and instead deliver conclusions that are probably true.

Abductive reasoning

Also known as inference to the best explanation, is a method of reasoning that involves inferring which of several explanations for particular observed facts is the most compelling one. An abductive argument is used to make a logical assumption or a best guess, so its conclusion might be false.

Hemisphericity

Refers to a theoretical and controversial construct suggesting that some individuals have an innate superiority or habitual propensity for processing information with one or the other cerebral hemisphere, more or less independent of situational demands.

Type 1 learner

Above average academically, reflective, focused, able to see details sharply, and tolerant of structure (analytical)

Type 3 learner

Below average, impulsive, unfocused, able to see the big picture, and intolerant of structure (global)

Type 2 learner

Average, in between the two

Bicognitive

Analytical and global

Bicultural

Authority and peer orientation

Learners with low conceptual level

Concrete, impulsive, poor tolerance for frustration, require a great deal of structure in the academic setting.

Learners at a mid stage of conceptual level

Dependent on rules and authority, require structure but should be given some choices

Learners with higher conceptual level

Abstract, independent, inquiring self-assertive, questioning, requiring less structure, need alternatives.

Converger

Dominant learning abilities: abstract conceptualization and active experimentation. Greatest strength -practical application of ideas

Diverger

Opposite of converger: best at concrete experiences, reflective observation. Greatest strength- imaginative ability. Enjoy excelling at viewing concrete situations from many perspectives.

Linguistic learner

Likes to read, write and tell stories. Is good at memorizing names, places, dates and trivia. Learns best by saying, hearing, and seeing words.

Logical/Mathematical learner

Likes to do experiments, figure things out, work with numbers, ask questions and explore patterns and relationships.

Spatial learner

Likes to draw, build, design and create things, daydream, look at pictures/slides, watch movies and play with machines. Is good at imagining things, sensing changes, mazes/puzzles and reading maps, charts. Learns best by visualizing, dreaming, using the mind’s eye and working with colors/pictures.

Musical learner

Likes to sing, hum tunes, listen to music, play an instrument, and respond to music. Is good at picking up sounds, remembering melodies, noticing pitches/rhythms, and keeping time.

Bodily/kinesthetic learner

Likes to move around, touch and talk and use body language. Is good at physical activities (sports/dance, acting) and crafts. Learns best by touching, moving, interacting with space and processing knowledge through bodily sensations.

Interpersonal learner

Likes to have lots of friends, talk to people and join groups. Is good at understanding people, leading others, organizing, communicating, manipulating and mediating conflicts. Learns best by, sharing, comparing, relating, cooperating, and interviewing.

Intrapersonal learner

Likes to work alone, and pursue own interests. Is good at understanding self, focusing inward on feelings/dreams, following instincts, pursuing interests/goals, and being original. Learns best by working alone, individualized projects, self-paced instruction and having own space.

Naturalistic learner

Likes to be outside, with animals, geography, and weather, interacting with surroundings. Is good at categorizing, organizing a living area, planning a trip, preservation and conservation. Learns best by studying natural phenomenon, in a natural setting, learning about how things work.

Active

Learn best by doing something physical with the information

Reflective

Do the processing in their heads

Sensing

Prefer data and facts

Intuitive

Prefer theories and interpretations of factual information

Visual

Prefer charts, diagrams and pictures

Verbal

Prefer the spoken or written word

Sequentia

Easily make linear connections between individual steps

Global

Must get “big picture” before individual pieces fall into place