The Invisible Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘Learning styles’

The way you learn impacts the amount of information that you absorb, so it’s important to embrace the way you learn best. Circle the number which best rates your level of interest and involvement in each activity below to determine your learning style profile. When you are finished, draw a line to connect the scores to create a profile of your learning style.

The activity in the table above complements your learning style, which we have talked about here. To refresh your memory, see below.

How can you use the information to help you to better absorb new information? Some of the information here was taken from my workbook Journey to Getting It. Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the left side) by email or RSS Feed. I created a Mini Learning Toolkit and you can grab a copy by clicking here.

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I got the idea for this post after reading Book Learning vs. Experience a guest post from Adrienne Carlson on the World’s Strongest Librarian blog. It’s a great post and in it she shows the pros of book learning and experience. I think that both are critical in today’s work environment. I learn in many ways which has served me well over the years. Anyone who has been reading this blog for a few months know that I am an avid read, as well as an active reader, so I am always interacting with the words on the page.

I am an introvert and very shy so I have well developed listening skills and I often hear things that the average person would miss. And I meditate so I am very aware of what’s going on around me, and learn things through observation. I have turned my weaknesses into strengths, what about you? Yes, there are times when I would love to be the life of the party, but it isn’t going to happen because of my personality.

How can you build your reading, listening and observation skills to transform yourself into a learning machine? How do you learn best? Are you an audio, visual or kinesthetic learner?

Understanding the way you learn best allows you to capitalize on your strengths and build up the areas where you are less strong. How important is it for you learn in multiple ways? And how might doing so enhance your life?

Let’s keep the conversation flowing, please comment. Many readers read this blog from other sites, so why don’t you pop over to The Invisible Mentor and subscribe (top on the left side) by email or RSS Feed. I created a Mini Learning Toolkit and you can grab a copy by clicking here.

Reference & Photo Credit: via Apture

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• Metalearning and Learning Styles (downes.ca)

Anyone wishing to succeed personally and professionally must possess the “right” knowledge. Acquiring the “right” knowledge means understanding why you are learning what you are learning. There are specific situations that foster learning: meaningful projects, available support and resources and time to reflect on the tasks at hand, and what has already been done. Also, learning is enhanced when learners know their learning styles: visual, auditory and kinesthetic.

What is your preferred way to consume information?

• Visual learners: Want to see how something is done. Benefit most from maps, diagrams, charts, pictures, and films. If you show them, they will understand. They will likely say, “I see what you mean.”
• Auditory learners: Prefer to hear explanations and like to talk their way through things. Benefit most from traditional learning techniques, where the leader presents the information. They will likely say, “I hear what you say.”
• Kinesthetic learners: Want to get lots of hands-on experience so they can feel how something is done. Learn fastest when they are involved in the activity, such as science labs, drama presentations, skits, and field trips. They will likely say, “I feel what you mean.”

How we learn

A research report by The William Glasser Institute about how we learn indicates that we learn:

• 10 percent of what we Read
• 20 percent of what we Hear
• 30 percent of what we See
• 50 percent of what we See and Hear
• 70 percent of what we Discuss with Others
• 80 percent of what we Experience Personally
• 95 percent of what we Teach to Others

How can you use this information to your advantage?

To acquire knowledge for a reason, and be able to apply that knowledge, requires developing a learning strategy which uses all the information presented above.

Step 1

• In what area do you need to build your knowledge base to become more valuable to your employer, industry and your customers?
• Why is it important for you to learn this information? Promotion? Prestige? New job? Start a business?
• Identify the unique leaders (invisible mentors) who you can learn things from in the area that you are trying to build up
• Start to acquire knowledge in the identified area

Step 2

• If you do not know already, take a test to identify your predominant learning style
• Consume the information you want to learn in your predominant learning style

Step 3

• Apply your new found knowledge by using the information at work
• Discuss what you have learned with your peers, and others you know who would be interested
• Create a presentation to teach the information to others

By following these three simple steps, you will acquire knowledge for a specific reason, subsequently learning things that really matter to you and that can make a tangible difference in your life.

How might you use this information? Let’s keep the information flowing, please comment.

Video Credit & Definition via Apture