Learning styles (M3)

I have worked in a team with Finn and Andy.
We were tasked to complete an exercise in which we had to use team work to complete a series of tasks.
The tasks lead us to create a circle out of an A4 piece of paper in which we had to fit all of us through.
Me and Finn are both Visual and Auditory and it allowed us to work well together in the team.
Andy on the other hand is a kinaesthetic learner and even though he has a different style, it benefited us as me and Finn were able to read out instructions, when Andy was doing the cutting.


Pragmatist, Activist, Reflector and Theorist:

Pragmatist

• Like to experiment with new approaches to see if they work in practice
• Often return from training courses keen to try new ideas out
• Prefer to act quickly and get things done - impatient with discussions, etc.
• Essentially practical
• Treat problems and opportunities as a challenge

Preferred learning activities

• Activities with clear link between subject matter and what happens on the job
• Project work
• Shown techniques with practical benefits, e.g. how to save time, how to deal with difficult people
• Opportunities to try out/practise learning
• Coaching/feedback from a credible expert in the job-related field
• Job-related examples/anecdotes
• Practical demonstrations
• Immediate opportunities to implement what is learned
• Simulations and role-plays

Summary: "Pragmatists develop their philosophy around the idea that the function of thought is as an instrument or tool for prediction, action, and problem solving." - Wikipedia

This means that people who are pragmatists tend stick to one idea of teaching, resolving problems etc.
Pragmatists will do anything to achieve their goal. They do not let their own emotions or feelings get in the way of their goal. These type of people will ignore their own ideals to get their job done and look for the quickest way to get things done.

Activist

• Enthusiastically seek new experiences - 'try anything once'
• Open-minded, rather than sceptical
• Enjoy fire-fighting/short-term crises
• Like brainstorming
• Short span of enthusiasm - bored by implementation and long-term planning
• Gregarious, self-centred and seek limelight

Preferred learning activities

• New experiences/problems opportunities
• Short 'here-and-now' activities such as role-playing
• Range of diverse activities
• 'Limelight' opportunities, such as presentations, chairing meetings, leading discussions
• Can generate ideas without constraints of structure, policy or feasibility
• Difficult tasks and challenges - 'thrown in at deep end'
• Team problem-solving, brainstorming
• Risk-taking encouraged, not punished

Passive, non-interactive, repetitive, detailed and precise activities would be unsuitable for this group.

Activists usually prefer to do practical tasks and learn on the job. Doing things practically such as building a table and learning how to build it on the go.

Reflector

• Like to observe events from a distance and evaluate from different perspective
• Collect data and do thorough research before making decisions
• Tend to 'put things off' - 'sleep on it'
• Cautious and take all possible implications into account - 'the big picture'
• Observe others and take back seat in meetings/discussions
• Good listeners

Preferred learning activities

• Encouraged to observe, listen and evaluate
• Background notes and prior reading
• 'Time to think' - no pressure/deadlines
• Research and review activities, e.g. producing reports
• 'Structured' methods for exchanging views
• This is the group best suited to e-learning and distance learning methods

'Limelight' roles, action without planning, seeking instant reactions, time pressures, expediency and 'cut-and-dried' instructions are all likely to produce negative reactions among this group.

Reflectors are people who prefer to learn by observation and watching others to see how they do it. They will spend a lot of time thinking about how to do the task before doing it themselves.


Theorist

• Adapt and integrate observations into theories
• Use logical, step-by-step approaches, like to analyse
• Perfectionists
• Embrace systems thinking and theory models
• Value rationality and logic - 'Does it make sense?' 'How does this fit with that?'
• Uncomfortable with subjective judgments, lateral thinking or trivia - prefer certainty

Preferred learning activities

• Time to explore relationships between ideas/events/situations
• Opportunities to question and probe assumptions/logic/method
• Activities that 'stretch' the learner intellectually
• Structured exercises with clear purposes
• Analytical exercises
• Interesting and challenging ideas/concepts, even if relevance not clear at first
• Complex activities

Theorists learn most efficiently by working methodically and also learn by experimenting. These type of people like to read instructions rather than jumping straight to the task.

'Touchy-feely' activities, those without structure or clear context, decision-making without reference criteria/information, and activities that lack depth and are 'gimmicky' or superficial are all likely to prove unsuitable for this group.