Post on 13-Dec-2015
The Counselling Unit UWI, Mona
Study Skills
Learning Styles –
Discovering how you learn
Discovering our learning styles allows us to:
Seek out experiences that draw on the strengths of our styles
Adapt our speaking, writing, thinking, and listening to the styles of other people
Develop our skills at other learning styles
When we learn, two things initially happen
Perceiving - how we ‘take in’ reality
Processing - how we internalize the experience
Perceiving & Processing
Perceiving Concrete approach –
sensing and feeling
Abstract approach – analyze, intellectualize
Processing Actively
experimenting – “jump in” and do things
Reflectively observing – watch and ponder what is going on
Style I
Perceive through concrete experience and process through reflective observation
View concrete situations form many points of view
Approach events as observer Reflect on the situation rather than take
action
Style I cont’d
Enjoy generating a range of ideas Work for harmony and build support Have a concern for people Engender trust Favorite question when learning new
information – Why?
Style II
Perceive through abstract conceptualization
Process through reflective observation
Understand a wide range of information & good at putting it into a concise, logical form
Style II cont’d
More interested in abstract ideas than people
Thorough, goal-oriented Excel in traditional learning situation –
chalk & talk Favorite question – What?
Style III
Perceive through abstract conceptualization
Process through active experimentation
Skilled at finding practical uses for ideas
Good problem solvers and decision makers
Style III cont’d
Prefer working with things than with people
Plans and schedules are their thing
Favorite Question – How does this work?
Style IV
Perceive information through concrete experience
Process new learning through active experimentation
Learn from “hands-on” experiences
Style IV cont’d
Enjoy new and challenging experiences Listen more to their ‘gut’ feelings than any
logical analysis Risk takers Not fazed by new people or situations Favorite question – What if?
How to use our learning styles
Recognize our own styles and capitalize on the strengths we already have
Extend our success by exploring other learning styles
How to use our learning styles cont’d
Consciously choose to use the characteristics of each style by asking ourselves four questions:
How to use our learning styles cont’d
Why is it important to my education that I learn this?
What are the important concepts and facts I need to learn in mastering this information?
How to use our learning styles cont’d
How can I try this out or practice this new idea to see if it makes sense for my life today?
What if this idea can be extended more broadly to other situations in my life?
Reference: Ellis, D. (1994) Becoming a master student (7th ed)Rapid City, SD. Haughton Mifflin