Learning Styles

Wow, just took the Felder and Solomon learning styles quiz and got my results back. Before revealing my results, I must say for a majority of the questions I was a fence sitter, was not sure if I was more (a) or (b). The questions required me to really think about what I would do in the situation.
As you can see below, my results for the learning styles test indicate me sitting balanced between both dimensions on the scale.

Learning Styles Results

       Results for: Chloe Good

      ACT                      X                            REF

           11  9   7   5   3   1   1   3   5   7   9   11

                              <-- -->

      SEN          X                                        INT

           11  9   7   5   3   1   1   3   5   7   9   11

                              <-- -->

      VIS              X                                    VRB

           11  9   7   5   3   1   1   3   5   7   9   11

                              <-- -->

      SEQ                          X                        GLO

           11  9   7   5   3   1   1   3   5   7   9   11

                              <-- -->

       

I am 60% active and 40% reflective learner. I have to say I tend to really think about the requirements of a task and really analyse it in great detail. I often think so  much and pull the given task apart , that I have some many questions that need clarification. My family often says "yours just over analysing the situation". I may well be but I just cant stop, I want to be spot on with what the marker is looking for. From this trait, I thought I would have been more on the reflective side. Having said that, with some tasks (not many) I push them back and  do them quickly or not at all so I do not analyse the situation to much.

According to the Felder and Solomon test I am a Sensory learner oppose to a intuitive learner. I had a look at the explanations to find out the difference between sensory and intuitive learners. This helped me decide what learning experience are best suited to my learning style and if I agree or disagree with the outcome. Based on the description,  I agree with the test results. I feel I definitely show the attributes of a sensory learner. Sensory learners are good at memorizing facts and learn best when the content is connected to the real world. They do not like surprises or complications and completing routine calculations. Perhaps this explains why I excelled in some students and not at others in school.

I am more of a visual learner than verbal. I feel this one goes hand in hand with being a sensory learner. Again, I like concepts and ideas being visually brought to my attention. If I am given information on something that has a whole heap of writing, I often skim read it and miss judge the intended outcome. If the same piece of paper is given to me but just broken up with some pictures, charts and diagrams, I will instantly be more engaged and the task no longer feels like a huge chore. The information is retained better as I think back to the pictures and diagrams and I visually remember reading or completing that activity. These are the exact qualities a visual learner displays.

Felder and Solomon define me as a well balanced sequential and global learner. a sequential learner learns best when the task is scaffolded.  They learn by taking the concept and idea step by step before gaining the 'big picture'. On the other hand, global learners like to understand the whole picture and work backwards completing the steps of the task. Personally, depending on the task in front of me I display one of these learning styles. Sometimes, I tackle the task by firstly understanding what is required and then break it done. Other times I will work step by step until I have the final picture. It really depends on what the task is that I am completing, how well it is explained and the materials/resources I have at my disposal.

Overall, I found this test fairly accurate with the results I was given. I think it is very important that students and learning managers understand the learning styles as it really helps to understand who you are, how you learn and provides a chance to work with your strengths rather than against them.