By Mona J Casady Chapter Four Applying Your Learning Style Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 1 This chapter should help you to: • Be aware of what influences your learning style • Identify your learning style • Adjust to teaching styles • Advance your thinking and learning skills Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 2 Brain Mode Influences Left Brain Mode Influences • Thinking and skills that are logical, sequential, linear, rational, and verbal Right Brain Mode Influences • Thinking and skills that are intuitive, random, holistic, emotional, and nonverbal Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 3 Comparing Learning Styles Factual - Make lists and memorize facts Analytical - Analyze data and look for concepts Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 4 Comparing Learning Styles Participative/Dependent Study with others, discuss in class Competitive/Independent Study alone, listen to lecture Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 5 Comparing Learning Styles • Visual • Auditory • Kinesthetic Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 6 Visual • Remembers what was seen • Takes notes; writes information • Understands by seeing • Likes visual cues that are well organized Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 7 Auditory • Remembers what was discussed • Speaks aloud; records on tape • Understands by hearing and talking • Likes music and listening to stories Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 8 Kinesthetic • • • • Chapter 4 Remembers what was done Practices application Understands by doing Likes action; points and gestures Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 9 Adjust to Teaching Styles What if the instructor’s style is not compatible with your learning style? • Learning will be more challenging than if the instructor’s style matches your learning style • By strengthening your less-refined learning styles, you can adjust to the instructor’s style and excel in the course • Your efforts in strengthening the other learning styles will pay off as you encounter various types of courses and instructors throughout college Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 10 Advancing Your Thinking Skills Creative Thinking • Discovering new and better ideas • Using your imagination • Brainstorming Critical Thinking • Facing a challenge • Solving a problem • Making sound decisions Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 11 Memorization Techniques • Preparing flash cards • Vocabulary - word on one side and definition on the other • States and their capitals • Questions and their answers Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 12 Memorization Techniques • Learning names - create an adjective to match first letter of name – (Example: Able Abby, Bright Brad) • Using Mnemonics: (Example) Getting an EDGE to college success: Efficiency Determination Grace Enthusiasm Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 13 Decision Making Making sound decisions involves the use of high-level thinking skills, consideration of personal values, and knowledge of self. Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 14 Steps to Lifetime Learning • • • • Desire to become smarter (First Step) Be aware of how you learn Strengthen all dimensions of learning. Improve your creative thinking and critical thinking skills • Elevate your learning level • Apply your intelligence in making decisions and solving problems (Ultimate Step) Chapter 4 Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 15