Understanding How You Learn

Understanding How You Learn

• Understanding how you learn is important because everyone has unique preferences.

Exploring Learning Preferences

• Multiple Pathways to Learning is a tool based on Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences (MI) Theory for exploring learning preferences.
• The Personality Spectrum is another tool, based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).

Theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI)

• The MI theory states the human brain has a range of potentials.
• These different types of intelligences rarely function in isolation.
• Multiple intelligences are used simultaneously for tasks.

Multiple Intelligences

Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence

• Involves the ability to communicate through language, as in listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
• Study strategies include highlighting text, summarizing notes, and reciting information.

Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

• Encompasses problem-solving and understanding logic, patterns, sequences, math, and science.
• Organizing material logically, finding patterns, and analyzing information are effective study strategies.

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

• Emphasizes using the physical body skillfully to take in knowledge through bodily sensation, coordination, and working with hands.
• Active study strategies include moving while studying, rewriting notes to engage "muscle memory," and acting out scripts of material.

Visual-Spatial Intelligence

• Centers on the ability to perceive and create images, in addition to understanding spatial relationships; visual art, graphics design, charts, and maps.
• Strategies involve developing graphic organizers, drawing mind maps, developing charts and tables, and using color in notes for organization.

Interpersonal Intelligence

• Relates to the ability to relate to and understand others.
• Includes the ability to notice moods, motivations, and feelings in social activity, cooperative learning, and teamwork.
• Best study strategies involve studying in a group, teaching someone else the material, and discussing information over the phone or via text.

Intrapersonal Intelligence

• Focuses on the ability to understand one's own feelings and behavior; self-awareness, independence, and time spent alone.
• Study strategies include studying in quiet areas and reflecting on the personal meaning of information.

Musical-Rhythmic Intelligence

• Deals with the ability to comprehend and create meaningful sound and sensitivity to music and musical patterns.
• Study strategies here are creating rhythms out of the words and writing songs that help learning concepts.

Naturalistic Intelligence

• Ability to identify and distinguish species, with a high interest in elements of the natural environment.
• Effective study strategies involve breaking down information into categories, looking for relationships among ideas, and studying in a natural setting.
• The eight intelligences differ in development from person to person.
• When facing difficulty doing a task, you may be using less developed intelligence.
• Intelligences can grow or recede throughout life.

Personality Spectrum

• Psychologist Joyce Bishop developed the Personality Spectrum assessment, adopting the Keirsey Sorter and MBTI.
• There are four personality types in Personality Spectrum and preferred study techniques:
  • Thinkers create charts and diagrams, and learn through problem solving.
  • Organizers define tasks and organize material.
  • Givers study with others and teach material to others.
  • Adventurers are hands-on learners who develop games or puzzles.
• Strategic choices to make in the classroom:
  • Playing to strengths
  • Working to strengthen weaker areas
  • Asking your instructor for help

Learning Disabilities (LDs)

• Neurological disorders inhibit one's ability to store, process, and produce information, but not including mental retardation, autism, behavioral disorders, or ADHD.
• Specific strategies can help manage and even overcome areas of challenge.
• Evaluation for a learning disability should be considered with persistent problems in:
  • Reading comprehension
  • Understanding language and abstract concepts, including math
  • Social skills, such as interpreting social cues
  • Being on time, by following schedules and meeting deadlines
  • Reading or following maps
  • Multistep tasks and following directions

Specific Learning Disabilities and Their Signs

• Dyslexia:
  • Difficulty reading and translating language into thought or thought into language.
• Dyscalculia:
  • Difficulty in recognizing numbers and symbols, understanding abstract math concepts, and performing mental math calculations.
• Developmental writing disorders:
  • Difficulty in composing sentences, organizing a writing assignment, and translating thoughts coherently.
• Handwriting disorders:
  • Distorted/incorrect language and spelling, inappropriately sized/spaced letters, and a large gap between spoken/written language skills.
• Speech and language disorders:
  • Difficulty in producing speech sounds, using spoken language to communicate, and understanding what others say.
• LD-related social issues:
  • Difficulty in recognizing facial or vocal cues, understanding how others are feeling, controlling verbal and physical impulsivity, and respecting others' personal space.
• LD-related organizational issues:
  • Difficulty in scheduling/organizing personal, academic, or work-related materials.

Executive Function

• The prefrontal cortex controls executive function.
• Prefrontal cortex development finishes around age 18-25.
• Executive function allows people to:
  • Perceive possible consequences of a choice.
  • Weigh the pros and cons of different choices.
  • Take risks of putting a choice to work based on the greatest reward.
  • Younger people may make impulsive choices with developing executive function.

Thinking and Questioning

• Thinking is defined to be what occurs when questions are asked and moved to the answers.

Metacognition

• Thinking about Thinking and planning how to think.
• Thinking skill can be improved through focus and effort.

Analytical (Critical) Thinking Skills

• Gathering information, examining the main idea with supporting evidence, and evaluating the two; understanding, solving a problem, and making a decision.
• Evaluation includes examining whether the claims are supported and a factual/accurate opinion.

Factors in Evaluation

• Are claims in a blog post supported by facts, or are the claims factual and accurate?
• Causes and effects should link logically and avoid biases.
• Evidence with a bias is slanted.
• Factual statements differ from opinionated statements.
• Concrete words/statistics differ from abstract words.
• Describing current events differs from predicting events.
• Language should use emotional words and avoid absolutes.

Creative Thinking Skills

• Thinking creatively is to generate new ideas that promote useful change, whether personal or world-altering.
• The five ingredients of creativity are believing that you can develop the the skill, receptiveness to new ideas, comfort with time alone, acceptance of mistakes, risk-taking, and hard work.
• Asking what to accomplish, what the craziest ideas could be, and what ways you can reach your goal.
• Shifting perspective by finding out how something can be done differently, how to approach from a new angle, and how to enable creativity.
• Consider where/with whom you feel inspired and when you're most likely to experience a flow.
• To take risks, determine what unconventional way is the best.

Practical Thinking Skills

• Practical thinking is analyzing a situation with critical thinking and creative ideas, putting the ideas into action.
• Practical thinking is street smart.

Questions to Jump-Start Practical Thinking

• Learning from experience
• What worked well and not so well about approach
• What boosted your ability to take action

Problem Solving Skills

• Problem solving is defined as the ability to find solutions to complex situations.
• Following steps include:
  • Define the problem
  • Analyze the problem by gathering information.
  • Generate possible solutions
  • Use creative strategies.
  • Evaluate the solution
  • Assess pros and consider the best outcome.
  • Put the solution to work
  • Evaluate if the solution worked considering effects