Unit 2: Identifying Learning Preferences

Objective: By the end of this lesson the student will be able to...

- Evaluate different learning preferences.

- Summarize the importance of different learning styles

Learning preferences are an important part of multiple intelligences. A learning preference, or a learning style as they are commonly known, is a method of learning in which a person best retains information. According to multiple intelligences people excel in different areas of learning, so the way they learn will also be different. A person may like to learn from a lecture as opposed to reading a textbook because they retain more information from what they hear as opposed to what they see. This means that the person is an auditory learner. There are three basic types of learning preferences. They are visual (seeing), auditory (hearing), and kinesthetic (hands on). There are many more types of learning preferences which become more detailed, but for the most part they branch off these basic three.

Question: How does someone find out their learning preference?

There are many different types of learning preferences, so in order to find out which is best a person must take a learning preferences test. Below are two examples of learning preferences tests.

[1] This site provides a chart with the three most common learning preferences: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. In the chart under each learning preference there are a series of yes or no questions asked depending on skills done in school. Depending on how many questions a person answers yes will determine what learning style a person prefers.

Question: Can a person have more than one learning preference that they can best learn ?

[2] This site is a more complex site in dealing with learning preferences. This test actually breaks down learning preferences into several other categories. When the site is opened click onto the free learning styles inventory test. Click on the same title again and begin taking the test. Once you are finished it will ask for your information. If you are a teacher it gives you the option to setup a group name and password, so if you wish to have your students take the test you will receive the results. This way you can adjust your teaching styles according to your students' results. Make sure to read the fine print but everything you would want to use the site for is free

Question: If a teacher finds out that they have no auditory learners in their class, should they stop teaching using auditory methods ?

Assignment: Use one of the tests provided or find your own, but take a learning preferences test in order to find out your best learning style. Usually a person's learning preference is also their preferred teaching style.

Learning Journal: In your learning journal answer the three questions above along with answer this question: How does knowing your own learning preference not only make you a better learner, but also a better teacher?

Once you are done move on to the next unit: Unit 3: Applying Multiple Intelligences to the Classroom