As humans, we differ in many ways and our personalities allow us to react and deal with situations as accordingly. However, just as our reactions differ according to our personalities, as learners, we too have preferences to which style we opt for, according to our suitability. There are various styles to learning; based on the work produced by Kolb, Peter Honey and Alan Mumford developed and identified four learning styles which include Pragmatist, Reflector, Activist and Theorist. It is said that in order to achieve the best of our academic abilities, one must understand and use the learning style which is best suited to maximise themselves.
Furthermore, just as how our personalities evolve through experiences, we also change and adjust our learning strategies based on our own development and on the different learning situations in which we find ourselves. By understanding ourselves and becoming more aware of these differences, we become more capable of adjusting to new situations throughout our lifetime as learners. As a keen reader of classic literature and philosophy, a core element found in both is to think things through and then implement them into your life. Through this, I have found that I am a pragmatic learner; in which I often need time to process the information I have found and then learning to practise this within the real world. By doing so, it allows me to respect the challenges I am faced with as well as enriching myself with newfound knowledge.
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Learning styles refer to the different ways that people process and retain information and they serve as an indicator of the learning method that each student prefers. The learning styles theories/models that we will discuss about in this report are the Neil Fleming’s Visual-Auditory-Read/Write-Kinesthetic model and David Kolb’s Experiential Learning model.
In school everyone learns differently; however, according to the article The Myth of Learning Styles, “The idea of learning styles is based on a theory… developed in the early 1980’s.” (pg 1.) A lot has certainly changed from the 1980’s as we learn new more material in every class we take. With this being said, someone the scientists referred to in the article “assumed” that learning styles challenged the way of the educational system when in reality, it is simply a myth. Students, like myself, only prefer to process information that they find useful or interesting to him or her. Thus giving us the problems of that teachers may take too long to cover one idea, and students may miss out out on information because he or she did not prefer that learning style.
For years, there have been many theorists who have shared their views on how individuals learn. Such research has determined that individuals have different learning styles. It is important for teacher to understand the learning styles of both themselves and their students because it helps them to relay the subject knowledge to the students. The teacher is in a position where they must be able to assess the learning styles of their students. This means that the students and teachers are both in a process of learning.
Learning style is an individual 's unique approach to learning based on strengths, weaknesses, and, preferences. Learning styles explains the concept that every person learns differently. Assessments of learning style typically ask individuals to evaluate what sort of information presentation they prefer, and, what kind of mental activity they find most engaging, and, attractive for them. Theories about learning styles agree that all people can be classified according to their style of learning. In this paper different theories about learning styles are reviewed briefly. At the end, Gendlin experiential theory is reviewed in detail.
It’s important for me to identify my ‘Learning Style’ because it maximises my own personal learning; Honey and Mumford states ‘’each learner ought to understand their learning style and seek out opportunities to learn using that style’’ to do this. I’d say I’m very particular about the way I go about learning and I am not entirely open-minded in my approach to
We all learn in diverse ways, inclined by the combination of our past educational experiences, study practices and personal approach to particular tasks. This can be designated as our learning style, defined as ‘particular ways of gathering, processing and storing information and experiences’ (Cuthbert, P.F., 2005).
The beauty of mankind is that we are all unique in countless ways. We are all gifted with our own particular sets of skills, talents and interests. To state the overused cliché, we are all like snowflakes; no two people are exactly alike. I take comfort in the fact that no one can tell me exactly how to live my life solely based on the notion that it’s my life. I am my own person with my own personality, my own set of goals, and my own plans for the future.
“Just as students have different personalities, they also have different ways of learing (Slavin, 107).” Learning styles are another important factor to incorporate when implementing the best learning environment. Learning styles are defined as an individual's mode of gaining knowledge. The most common learning styles addressed are auditory, visual, and kinesthetic. Auditory leaners understand information through hearing. Visual learners need more visual aids in the learning process, such as diagrams, webs, or pictures. Kinesthetic learners learn better by using manipulatives or by being physically involved in the learning process. Learning styles is a piece of the “backbone” of differentiated learning. Both are used to individualize instruction to help students achieve the most success.
It can be argued that the more modalities employed and presented to students, the greater their chance for successful learning becomes. As educators, if we appeal to all strategies of learning, we are more likely to enhance the learning of everyone in our target audience. This may be challenging as we ourselves tend to flock to a particular learning style, and in turn, tend to teach the same way. It also may be a challenge to address each individuals learning style, as it may be difficult, or even impossible to know each and every one of their learning preferences. However, the first step in overcoming that challenge is to be well versed in our own learning preferences. If we are well versed in our own
We all learn in different ways, influenced by the combination of our past educational experiences, study practices and personal approach to specific tasks. This can be described as our learning style, defined as ‘particular ways of gathering, processing and storing information and experiences’ (Cuthbert, P.F., 2005).
In this chapter I learned about my learning style and how different learning styles impact our lives.
Further, Honey and Mumford LSQ outcome categorize individual according to their learning style as an activist, reflector, theorist and pragmatist (Appendix 5). The (LSQ) revealed RN.J learning style was a pragmatist. An individual with pragmatist learning style benefits from what is learned
Learning styles and barriers to learning can be by the VARK to give a profile of learning preferences of how a person takes in and gives out information or Tidwell and Rodgers Practical learning styles Questionnaire. The VARK learning styles determines if the person learns by being a theorist, reflector, activist and/or pragmatist. The practical learning styles questionnaire looks at how people learn by their orientation, whether they are a realistic or creative, by their interaction, are they a doer or a thinker, by how they represent things, either by words or pictures, and how they process information, whether they are a surface or deep processor. There are many other
In conclusion by reading and learning that there are different learning styles and the style I predominately follow, I now know how to apply some simple techniques that will aid in my learning in my classes. I might never be able to change my style of learning and, even less likely, change
The Honey and Mumford (1989) exercise has categorised my strongest learning style as a Reflector. I agree with this conclusion as I am cautious in my approach in some areas and gather all the facts before committing myself to a long term strategy. This is supported by Iain Henderson (CIPD, 2008) who further explains that reflectors;