Learning Styles

What is your learning style? This online survey is designed to find out what makes
you tick. Are you the sort of person that learns best by hearing? Or are you more of a
"hands-on" type of person? Which way of learning works best for you?

In this test there are five different categories that identify how you learn. Each one of
us uses a combination of these learning styles. Once you've taken our test you will
find out how you learn best. In future this may help you to learn more effectively and
easily, by choosing the learning methods that suit you. So take our test and find out!

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What Styles?
There are twenty questions in this survey that help identify five different learning
styles. The questions we've asked are designed to find out which learning styles best
suit you. Some of us have strengths in one particular area, others may find that a
combination of learning styles suits them. There has been a great deal of research
done on different people's learning styles, some of which focus on dimensions such
as cognitive ability, personality type and environmental preferences.
This survey focuses on the following five learning systems:
1) listening/reading (auditory learners)
2) seeing/visualising (visual learners)
3) experiencing/hands-on learning (kinaesthetic learners)
4) feeling/belonging (social/emotional learners)
5) reflecting/evaluating (metacognitive learners)
To find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of each learning style,
read on.

The Auditory Learner

Advantages
An auditory learner likes listening. If you are an auditory learner you benefit from
talks and lectures. You should also be able to absorb a lot of information from radio
programmes. You are very likely to have skills in sequencing and organising
information and have a methodical approach to many aspects of life. You may
remember information by using a checklist. You can often be considered a reliable
and independent worker

Disadvantages
It's highly likely that you are unable to multitask, having to complete one job before
embarking on another. There is also a possibility that you focus on small bits of
information and do not obtain a holistic and broad picture of something you are
working on. You may also prefer to work on your own rather than work in groups.

The Visual Learner

Advantages
A visual learner enjoys images. As a visual learner, you will be good at visualising
events and imagining situations. You can use visual strategies for remembering
information. You probably get considerable pleasure from learning involving visual
and creative skills. You may also see the whole picture when discussing or working
on a problem or task.

Disadvantages
You may need more time to complete tasks. You can be more interested in the
appearance of something than its actual value - which may be a disadvantage in
some situations, though not in all. You may not spend enough time on, or give
enough attention to specific details.

The Kinaesthetic Learner

Advantages
The kinaesthetic learner enjoys learning through doing. This active learning style is
useful for assembling and making products. You may find it easy to demonstrate
how to do something. You are likely to be able to enjoy the actual experience of
learning.

Disadvantages
You may miss some instructions or information if it is presented orally. You may find
it difficult to concentrate on a lengthy written task while seated. You might find it hard
to pay attention to detail - especially if it is in written form.

Social/Emotional Learners

Advantages
The social/emotional learner tends to enjoy working with others or in a team. You
tend to encourage others to be involved in a task and therefore you could be seen as
quite motivational. You probably enjoy working in groups and will have a prime
concern for the wellbeing of colleagues and friends. You thrive on discussion and
this can be very stimulating for you.

Disadvantages
You may become too dependant on assistance from others. You may find it difficult
to structure a task if you are completely on your own. It is possible that you are
greatly influenced by your feelings and this might affect your judgement.
The Metacognitive Learner

Advantages
The metacognitive learner wants to gain an overview. You tend to be good at
reflecting and problem solving. You should be able to use previous learning
effectively, when learning new information. You may need time to consider all
possibilities and this can be appreciated by others; they may seek out and trust your
advice.

Disadvantages
Your style of learning may be frustrating to others if you are working in a group. You
may take a long time to carry out a task, and could appear to be pedantic because of
this.

Learning for Life

Learning styles are important not only for learning, but for helping us through our
everyday lives. Learning styles relate to a person's preferences for absorbing
information, for solving problems and for success in social and personal situations.
They can have implications for learning, family life, marriage, leisure and work.

It is important that people are aware of their learning styles so they can relate them
to personality type and life preferences, leading to greater self-knowledge; knowing
more about yourself helps you gain maximum success and benefit from both leisure
and work.

Dimensions of Learning Style

There are many different dimensions of learning style - including environmental
preferences such as time of day, the place where the learning activity is taking place,
the background sound and type of lighting. Matching your learning style with the best
learning environment can make a big difference to the outcome.

The way information is presented is another aspect to be considered, for example, a

visual learner having to read lengthy manuals at work, without any visual support,
may struggle. If, however, sketches and diagrams are used to compliment the text,
the visual learner becomes a more effective learner.

In the learning styles questionnaire used in 'Take the Test' we have focussed on five
dimensions - each refers to a different learning style as follows:
1) listening/reading - auditory learners
2) seeing/visualising - visual learners
3) experiencing/hands-on - kinaesthetic learners
4) feeling/belonging - social/emotional learners
5) reflecting/evaluating - metacognitive learners<
There is no hierarchy of style, no style is better than another, as
learning style is very individual. What can determine success, or otherwise, is the
matching of style to the task. People who have difficulty in work and in learning may
do so because of the mismatch between their work tasks and their own specific
style. Change the way a task is presented and the difficulties can disappear.

The Role of the Task

When you set out to tackle a task, the best results may be achieved by matching
what has to be done with your actual preference for learning. What we have to do in
our lives and our jobs is important, but it's often best to tailor the task to the learner,
rather than the other way around. Tasks can usually be changed to accommodate
the learner's preference. This can be done by first assessing an individual's preferred
learning style and then working out the skills required to complete the task, as well
as identifying the learning resources that are available.

The Role of the Environment

The learning environment will affect an individual's learning experience. Some of us
are more sensitive to certain environmental factors than others. These factors can
include lighting - some prefer bright lights, while others prefer dim lights; colour, the
use of music and seating arrangements. Some learners prefer to listen to music
while working, others like totally quiet surroundings. Some prefer to sit on a sofa
while reading or writing, while others may be more comfortable sitting at a desk.
Everyone should try to recognise his/her own environmental preferences and as far
as possible incorporate them into the learning or work activity.

Our survey doesn't focus on environment, but an individual usually knows what sort
they prefer. Both self-awareness and the survey results will help the individual
become aware of his/her learning style or combination of styles.

Career Choice
What are the implications of learning style on career choice? It may not be as black
and white as one would think. For example, a visual learner who finds it difficult to
work in a traditional library setting, may overcome these difficulties by creating a
more visual appeal to both the library and the actual job. They may also have
different ways of recalling information, that could be useful to other visual learners
who visit the library!

This shows that the phrase 'square peg in a round hole' is not always cast in stone.
Most jobs can be adapted to make them suitable, to some extent, to most styles.
However, it is important to carefully consider your learning style/personality type
before choosing a particular career as you may feel it necessary to favour some
occupations over others to ensure the best possible fit.

Life Choices and Chances

Many events in life are out of our control. Many, however, are within one's control.
Decisions we make about employment, friends, marriage partners, accommodation
and location of our home are all, to a certain extent, conscious ones and within our
control. Learning styles/personality type can also influence the successful outcome
of these. For instance, a very visual person may become unhappy if the room they
work in looks onto a brick wall, or an auditory learner may find it very hard to
concentrate if there is a radio on in the background.

Nothing is really 'cast in stone' - people adapt, circumstances change and

environmental factors can differ. Nevertheless most people have a longstanding and
deeply ingrained preference for tackling tasks and for living their lives (work and
play) in a particular way. Learning styles can help us understand ourselves and put
that information to good use in life and work.

References
Dunn, R., Dunn, K. and Price, G.E. (1996) Learning Styles Inventory, Lawrence, KA:
Price Systems.

Given, B.K. (2002) Teaching to the Brain's Natural Learning Systems. Association
for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Given, B.K. and Reid, G. (1999) Learning Styles: A Guide for teachers and Parents.
Red Rose Publications, North Promenade, St. Annes on Sea, Lancashire, U.K.

Take the Test

In this survey you can explore your personal learning style.

For each question, you have the choice of a number between one and four as the
answer. One means this doesn't really apply to you, and four means that it very
much applies to you.

You can go back and change your answers if you want, either once you've seen all
the questions, or at any time before you finish. Just click the back button to return to
the one you want to change.

This section shows results from all over the United Kingdom. One thing we want to
examine is whether geographical location makes a difference to people's learning
styles. We have no idea what the results will be, or even if there's any difference!
That's why it's interesting to do studies like this one. So check out the "Does
Location Matter" section of our results.

Also, we're interested to know whether people in different careers have different
learning styles, which you'll see in the "What Style for your Career?" section. It might
be that people with similar learning styles tend to do the same sort of job. Or maybe
there's little or no difference between learning styles and career choice. Have a look
and find out.

Similarly - Gender. With your help, as we gather data, we may well find that a
number of differences appear!
Are you male or female?
What age are you?
Where do you live?
What is your occupation?

Each of the following questions please rate on a scale of 1 – 4.

If you want to find out about a famous person in history, would you be likely to go to
a public library/bookshop and read about them?
Do you enjoy making things?
Do you often consider how something works?
Do you enjoy joining interest groups?
In your spare time do you like to read?
When learning a new skill do you like someone to show you how to do it?
Do you enjoy solving problems?
Do you like to obtain information from watching a television programme?
Would you describe yourself as a hands-on learner, that is, do you need to do
something in order to learn more effectively?
If you are learning something new, do you like discussing it with others?
When taking notes do you use a lot of the page and do you like drawing pictures as
an aid?
When learning a new skill, do you like someone to verbally explain it to you?
Do you like to consider all angles before deciding on an opinion?
In your spare time do you like to be involved in a range of activities?
When you are learning or studying a challenging task, do you need to be comfortable
in your surroundings?
Do you take time to reflect before making a decision?
When remembering telephone numbers or other similar types of information, do you
visualise these things in your mind?
If you were assembling a piece of DIY furniture, do you read the instructions before
proceeding?
If you wanted to learn about a period of history, would you go to an historical place?
Do you like to take your time and enjoy doing a task?

Results
This section shows results from all over the United Kingdom. One thing we want to
examine is whether geographical location makes a difference to people's learning
styles. We have no idea what the results will be, or even if there's any difference!
That's why it's interesting to do studies like this one. So check out the "Does
Location Matter" section of our results.

Also, we're interested to know whether people in different careers have different
learning styles, which you'll see in the "What Style for your Career?" section. It might
be that people with similar learning styles tend to do the same sort of job. Or maybe
there's little or no difference between learning styles and career choice. Have a look
and find out.

Similarly - Gender. With your help, as we gather data, we may well find that a
number of differences appear!
Studying at the Open University
Over two million people have already chosen to study with The Open University - the
wide range of courses and qualifications allows you to create a flexible programme
of study to meet your own needs.

If you've enjoyed doing our survey and wish to find out more about pursuing a career
in learning, there are a number of options that may suit you.

Beginning to study
If you have no experience of higher education deciding to become an undergraduate
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This course can be found at: http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?

C01S180_3_191

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Whatever you decide to do, you'll never study alone. At the start of each course you
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http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01G01_5_0

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The Open University offers Europe's largest Master's programme in education.
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We'd like to draw your attention to some of the short courses that the Open
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Living with the Net
Ever wanted to know how computing can enrich your life? Then
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http://tscp.open.ac.uk/t180.htm is a short course designed to help you through the
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Understanding e-learning: a guide for teachers and learners

What are the theoretical underpinnings of the Internet as a learning tool? Just how
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http://tscp.open.ac.uk/t186.htm

It's a course designed for those people who have already taken the plunge and have
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website.
http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C02T186_technology

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