LEARNING STYLE INVENTORY

1. On your answer sheet, add the checkmarks in each a and b column, counting first the number of as checked and then the number of bs.
2. Enter the number of as and bs you checked in the boxes at the bottom of each column.
3. Transfer these numbers to the Scoring Grid. Enter the number of a choices in column one in the blank labeled “Independent,” the number of b choices in column one in the blank labeled “Social,” and so on.
4. Circle your higher score in each row. For example, if you scored 2 for Independent and 5 for Social, circle “5” and “Social.”
5. Your higher score in each row indicates a characteristic of your learning style. Scores that are close, such as 3 and 4, probably do not indicate a strong preference for either approach to learning. Scores that are far apart, such as 1 and 6, suggest a strong preference.

INTERPRETING YOUR SCORES

1. Independent or Social These scores indicate your preferred level of interaction with others. Independent learners prefer to work and study alone. They focus on the task at hand rather than on the people around them. Independent learners are often goal oriented and self-motivated. Social learners are more people oriented and prefer to learn and study with classmates. They often focus their attention on those around them and see a task as an opportunity for social interaction.
2. Pragmatic or Creative These scores suggest how you prefer to approach learning tasks. Pragmatic learners are practical and systematic. They approach tasks in an orderly, sequential manner. They like rules and learn step-by-step. Creative learners approach tasks imaginatively. They prefer to learn through discovery or experiment. They enjoy flexible, open-ended tasks and tend to dislike following rules.
3. Verbal or Spatial These scores indicate the way you prefer to take in and process information. Verbal learners rely on language, usually written text, to acquire information. They are skilled in the use of language and can work with other symbol systems (such as numbers) as well. Spatial learners prefer to take in information by studying graphics such as drawings, diagrams, films, or videos. They can visualize in their minds how things work or how they are positioned in space.
4. Rational or Emotional These scores suggest your preferred approach to decision making and problem solving. Rational learners are objective; they rely on facts and information when making decisions or solving problems. Rational learners are logical, often challenging or questioning a task. They enjoy prioritizing, analyzing, and arguing. Emotional learners are subjective; they focus on feelings and values. Emotional learners are socially conscious and consider what others think. They seek harmony and may base a decision in part on its effect on others. Emotional decision makers are often skilled at persuasion.
5. Concrete or Abstract These scores indicate how you prefer to perceive information. Concrete learners pay attention to what is concrete and observable. They focus on details and tend to perceive tasks in parts or steps. Concrete learners prefer specific, tangible tasks and usually take a no-nonsense approach to learning. Abstract learners tend to focus on the “big picture” — large ideas, meanings, and relationships.

• The inventory you completed is an informal measure of your learning style. Other, more formal measures including Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory, the Canfield Instructional Styles Inventory, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator may be available at your college’s counseling or academic skills center.
• The inventory you completed measures the five aspects of learning style that are most relevant to the writing process, but many other aspects exist.
• You are the best judge of the accuracy of the results of this inventory and how they apply to you. If you think that one or more of the aspects of your learning style indicated by the inventory do not describe you, trust your instincts.

APPLYING YOUR LEARNING STYLE TO YOUR WRITING

• A social learner may prefer to brainstorm possible topics with a friend.
• A verbal learner may flip through a news magazine for topics.
• A spatial learner may see a photograph that generates ideas.
• A social, spatial learner may prefer to discuss photographs with a classmate.

1. Your learning style profile indicates your strengths as a writer. Try to build on your strengths, which Figure 2.3 can help you identify. First circle the learning style characteristics that correspond to you. Then refer to the right-hand column to see your strengths as a writer in each area.
2. Experiment with options. Some students find that when they try a new approach, it works better than they expected. Sometimes choose an activity that does not match your preferred learning style.
3. Don’t expect the option that is consistent with your learning style to require less attention or effort. Even if you are a social learner, an interview must still be carefully planned and well executed.
4. Keep logs of the skills and approaches that work for you and the ones you need to work on. The logs may be part of your writing journal. (See the section on keeping a writing journal in this chapter.) Be specific: Record the assignment, the topic, and the skills you applied. Analyze your log, looking for patterns. Over time, you will discover more about the writing strategies and approaches that work best for you.

FIGURE 2.3 Your Strengths as a Writer