› 2018 Gifted Thinking Success File: Identifying Your Best Learning Styles

2018 Gifted Thinking Success File: Identifying Your Best Learning Styles

posted by Karen Quinn, The Testing Mom - March 5th, 2018

We have shared the many factors that contribute to your success file–choices you make, memory building, listening well, staying motivated, goal-setting and effective reading. Today we conclude with identifying your best learning styles, so you have a reference guide for the year. Becoming a masterful and gifted-thinking student is within your child’s reach!

Identifying your Best Learning Styles

Key Point
To be more effective, determine your best learning styles.

Know Thyself.

I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.
Old Chinese Proverb

People learn differently. Some prefer using pictures. Others like working in groups. How do you learn best? Here are the three major factors making up your learning style.

1. The three senses – auditory, visual and kinesthetics

2. The two reasoning types – deductive and inductive

3. The two environments – intrapersonal and interpersonal

Check these factors as they apply to different subjects to discover your learning preferences.

The Three Senses

Auditory – listening

( ) – I prefer to follow verbal instructions rather than written ones.

( ) – I find it comfortable to add spoken numbers mentally.

Visual – seeing, reading and visualizing

( ) – I score high on tests that depend on reading comprehension.

( ) – I can read formulas and understand them.

( ) – I prefer maps to verbal directions when I am trying to find a place.

Kinesthetics – moving, touching, writing and doing.

( ) – When I write things down, it clarifies my thoughts.

( ) – I have to manipulate formulas in order to understand them.

( ) – I like to draw pictures.

( ) – I am good at using my hands. I enjoy lab classes.

The Two Reasoning Types

Deductive reasoning

( ) – I like to look at the big picture first, then get the details.

( ) – When learning a new game, I like to know all the rules before playing.

( ) – In an argument, I state my premises first, then draw conclusions.

Inductive reasoning

( ) – I like to see some examples when first learning a new subject, before developing an overview.

( ) – I prefer to learn the rules of a new game “as we go along”.

The Two Learning Environments

Intrapersonal – working alone.

( ) – When solving word problems, I have to figure it out for myself.

( ) – Doing school work with a group often wastes a lot of time.

Interpersonal – working with others.

( ) – Before making a decision, I usually discuss it with my family or friends.

( ) – I like to do my homework with others.

What Are You Best At?

Ideally, we are good with each learning style. However, what we do best can depend on our mood, the subject matter, our friends and the teacher. Our goal is to monitor our learning effectiveness and to adjust our learning styles for maximum advantage.