321 – Assignment 1.1

Assignment 1.1

It is important to know your own learning style before you begin to assess those of others. In the Course Documents please click on the link to the learning styles assessments. You will see there are a variety of them – each of you much complete the first one, “Rightbrain-Leftbrain Assessment” and then choose at least two others to complete. Once finished, submit a post thoroughly discussing the following:

• Of the three assessments you completed, which do you feel represents your approach to learning and life the best?
• What have you learned about your learning style?
• How do you think you can utilize this information to help yourself as a learner? How about as an educator?

Generally, I have learned that my preference for learning is very visual and very kinesthetic. I also know I have adapted over the years to learn to adapt the other learning styles. I have also learned in the Memletics assessment that aural and verbal can be two very different things. This explains why I can listen to a piece of music and get the beat and notes almost instantly but it takes a concerted effort to remember the words.

I can utilize these assessments to create an environment for myself that is conducive to learning that fits my style. I can also use a combination of my learning styles and mix it up every once in a while without fear that I may miss something or without fear it is outside of my comfort zone. Although I am strong in a couple areas, I don’t have any styles I just despise or cannot learn from.

As an educator, I need to be aware that people do have different learning styles and to not stick to one or two ways of presenting material just because I am comfortable with that particular style(s). It is good to mix it up a bit so everyone gets a boost at some point.

For example, the first question was:

I really do both of these to different degrees! So I would re-frame this one question into two and average the results:

I understand something better after I try it out: Strongly disagree, Disagree, Agree, Strongly agree
I understand something better after I think it through: Strongly disagree, Disagree, Agree, Strongly agree

If I chose agree, giving me 3 points for the first question and strongly agree for the second question for 4 points, I can then average these on the scale pushing my preference toward thinking vs. trying.

Results of the first way:
<— Thinking (Reflective)  – X – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – Trying (Active) —> (very skewed)

Results of the second way:
<— Thinking (Reflective)  – - – - – - X – - – - – - – - – - Trying (Active) —> (more on target with my actual learning preference)

Part of the reason I bring this up is, as I age, I am finding myself sliding in different categories more and more. It is a growing process that doesn’t have a definitive beginning or end.