As you saw in this chapter, thinking critically about your learning preferences can help you succeed in college and your career. Revisit the following key points, and consider how you can use this information to support your success now and in the future.
A learning preference is the way in which a person prefers to acquire and work with information. When you understand your learning preferences, you can further develop the skills and techniques associated with those preferences to “play to your strengths.”
According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), four dimensions affect our behavior: Extravert/Introvert, Sensing/Intuitive, Thinking/Feeling, and Judging/Perceiving. These dimensions influence where we focus our energy, the kind of information we prefer working with, how we make decisions, and how we organize our time and activities.
The VARK (Visual, Aural, Read-Write, Kinesthetic) model provides another way to understand how people prefer to take in and process new information.
Knowing your MBTI type and VARK preferences helps you develop and use effective study strategies.
Using learning strategies outside your comfort zone gives you the flexibility that can help you succeed, no matter what teaching styles your instructors have.
Learning doesn’t end at graduation. Your employer will expect you to learn new information, master new processes, and work effectively with team members who have different ways of building new skills and knowledge. Using your understanding of learning preferences, you can improve your relationship with your supervisor and teach and supervise others more effectively.