learning styles & career success: part 1: why learning styles matter kathleen e. high, m.ed.,...
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Learning Styles & Career Success:Part 1: Why Learning Styles Matter
Kathleen E. High, M.Ed., GCDF Adjunct Career CounselorCareer Planning Center, Cypress Collegehttp://www.cypresscollege.edu/services/cpc
Workshop Overview
There are many ways to teach and learn, and several things that affect the learning process. Learning is required throughout life, and a person’s ability to learn will impact his/her academic and career success. This workshop introduces participants to three types of theories related to how people take in, process, and apply new knowledge. Individuals will take an assessment to identify their preferred sensory style of receiving new information, and will receive many tips for utilizing those preferred ways of learning. Tips and tricks for adapting to different teaching styles will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives for this Workshop (Slide 1 of 2)
Participants will be able to:• Identify why it is important to know about learning
styles• Associate life transitions with a need for learning• Register that there is a difference between teaching
and learning• Recognize multiple styles available for teaching,
learning, and studying• Identify how personality affects learning
preferences
Learning Objectives for this Workshop (Slide 2 of 2)
Participants will also be able to:• Recognize three categories that most learning styles
theories will fit into• Acquire tips for adapting to teacher’s whose style is
different from theirs• Receive tips for improving their learning efforts• Develop adaptive skills for dealing with different
teaching styles• Identify helpful resources for adapting to different
teaching styles
Let’s Begin . . .
Why is it important to know about learning styles?• Mastering learning styles leads to academic and
career success• Exploring why people learn differently leads to
deeper understanding of themselves.• People are different• Students prefer different learning styles• Teachers prefer different teaching styles
Let’s Explore these important factors in greater depth . . .
Before going further, it is important to remember that there is no right or wrong learning style.
Each style has advantages and disadvantages.
Knowing your learning style is not meant to limit you, but to expand you – by helping you to work, learn and live more efficiently.
• gives you a head start and maximizes your learning potential
• enables you to succeed in college• gives you customized techniques to score better
on tests and exams• allows you to learn “your way” – through your
own best strategies
Mastering Learning Styles Leads to Academic Success
• shows you how to overcome the limitations of poor instructors
• reduces the stress and frustration of learning experiences
• expands your existing learning and studying strategies
Mastering Learning Styles Leads to Academic Success (Continued)
Mastering Learning Styles Leads to Career Success (Slide 1 of 4)
Need for Lifelong Learning• The world is changing very fast• Institutions and individuals need to adapt to
survive• Adapting means constantly learning new things
Effective Learning Starts With “Why?”• Most people need to know why before they are
motivated to learnClear Career Goal Identifies the “Why”• Career goal determines education required
Mastering Learning Styles Leads to Career Success (Slide 2 of 4)
New Career = New Employee• New employees need to learn their new job
Advancement• Need to learn new skills to get promotions
Changing Jobs• Changing employers and/or jobs requires learning
new jobContinuing Education Units• Many professions require ‘Continuing Education
Units’ (CEUs) to maintain licensing/certification
Mastering Learning Styles Leads to Career Success (Slide 3 of 4)
Industry’s training styles• Different industries (business, law enforcement,
health care, etc.) have different training styles (hands-on vs. formal education, directive vs, open-ended, etc.)
Employer’s training styles• Within an industry, different employers have
different ways of training employees• Emphasize higher education, on-the-job
training, outside seminars, informal mentoring, on-site professional development training sessions, etc.
Mastering Learning Styles Leads to Career Success (Slide 4 of 4)
Formal Education Required for Many Careers• Different degree/certificate majors may have
different teaching styles• Law Enforcement, Business = directive• The Arts, English, Philosophy = open-ended
Must Succeed in College to Achieve Career• At the college level, most teachers are experts in
their subjects (chemistry, math, English, etc.) – not in teaching / learning• Many teachers tend to teach the way they learn or
were taught
Why Do People Learn Differently? (Slide 1 of 5)
• Genetics• Personality• Experience• How they have been taught
Why Do People Learn Differently? (Slide 2 of 5)
Genetics• Multiple Intelligences
and natural talents mean that some tasks are naturally easier for some people to do than others
Why Do People Learn Differently? (Slide 3 of 5)
Personality• We have inborn preferences for how we• Take in information • Process that information
• We want to have new information presented the way we want to receive it
Why Do People Learn Differently? (Slide 4 of 5)
Experience• What you have been exposed to through: • Home life• Hobbies• Culture• School• Work
• Provides opportunities to learn new things and in new ways
Why Do People Learn Differently? (Slide 5 of 5)
How You Have Been Taught• Different eras or generations emphasized
different learning/teaching styles• How did parents, culture, prior teachers,
bosses, etc. teach you things?• Hands-on Activity• Lecture• Demonstration, etc.
• Previously-adopted learning styles can become a familiar, comfortable habit
People are Different (Slide 1 of 4)
• People are different, and learn differently• Teachers teach differently•Majors and classes emphasize different
learning styles• Different Personalities = Different Preferred
Learning Styles
Personality affects learning styles• Some people prefer:• Immediate, active, useful hands-on applications
for learning• Clear instructions and expectations, detailed,
fact-based information, opportunity to practice by doing, and practical applications for learning• Small number of complex and challenging theory-
based, multi-faceted projects• Cooperative, helpful, non-competitive
environments allowing multiple viewpoints
People are Different (Slide 2 of 4)
• Some people prefer:• Learning with others• Learning alone• Focusing on specific facts with practical
application• Focusing on theories, ideas and models
People are Different (Slide 3 of 4)
• Some people prefer: • Emphasizing cause-and-effect relationship• Emphasizing how material affects people• A structured, well-organized learning
environment with clear expectations• Learning in an open-ended, flexible way that
allows for changes along the journey as the unexpected affects things
People are Different (Slide 4 of 4)
In Workshop #1Mentioned Three Types of Learning Theories:
There are many different theories about how learning works. Most fit into one of the following categories:
1. Taking Information In: Information Gathering & Processing
2. Thinking About Information: Mental Processing
3. Processing Information Together: Collaborative Learning
So, What are Those TheoriesAbout Learning Styles?There are several theories about how people teach and learn. This workshop is Part 1: “Why Learning Styles are Important.” To delve deeper into important theories, three additional workshops are available to you:
Learning Styles & Career Success Series• Part 2 “Taking In Information”
Information Gathering & Processing• Part 3 “Thinking About Information”
Mental Processing• Part 4 “Processing Information Together”
Collaborative Learning
What is YOUR Learning Style?Take the following assessment to identify your preferred sensory learning (take information in) style :• Career Cruising• http://public.careercruising.com/en/• User Name: cypress• Password: 90630
• Click “Assessments” tab on the menu• Click “Learning Styles Inventory”• Create a user name and password• Take the assessment
Now, Let’s Apply This To YOU!• How do you best learn?• How can you improve your learning efforts?• How do you adapt to different teaching styles?• Are assignment instructions confusing?• Still want more help?
How Do You Best Learn? (Slide 1 of 3)
What were the results of the Sensory Learning Style Inventory you just took?
http://www.slideshare.net/mwinfield1/an-overview-of-visual-auditory-and-kinesthetic-learners
How Do You Best Learn? (Slide 2 of 3)
Other assessments to identify learning preferences:Kolb Learning Style Inventory (Phases of Learning) How do you find out?• Take other assessments that relate as well: (also reveal
learning style preferences)• Myers Briggs Personality Assessment (MBTI) • Strong Interest Inventory (SII)• StrengthsFinder (StrengthsQuest)
• If you wish to take any of these optional fee-based assessments, please call the Career Planning Center to schedule an appointment with a career counselor (714) 484-7015
How Do You Best Learn? (Slide 3 of 3)
How do you find out?• Ask:
What styles do you enjoy using?
• Identify Prior Learning Successes
What helped you learn?• Identify Prior Learning Challenges
What interfered with your prior learning?
How Can You Improve Your Learning Efforts?
Identify: • Your learning style
preferences•What you want to learn•Why you want to learn it• How you will learn it• How you will determine if
you learned it
How Can You Improve Your Learning Efforts? (Continued)
• Find alternative learning options if the situation isn’t working for you• Adapt to the situation to develop
your learning skills• Consider joining a
learning community:• Puente• Legacy• Honors
How Do You Adapt to Different Teaching Styles? (Slide 1 of 5)
How Do I Adapt to Different Teaching Styles? (Slide 2 of 5)
• Use your own preferences for your study and review time• Review additional resources suggested by
instructors and/or textbooks• Some resources may
appeal to your preferences
• Ask the teacher if they know of additionalresources for your preferred style
How Do I Adapt to Different Teaching Styles? (Slide 3 of 5)
Be sure to go through the three other Online Learning Style Workshops to fully understand and use these styles.
• Taking In Information (Part 2)• Information Gathering & Processing
• Thinking About Information (Part 3)• Mental Processing
• Working Together (Part 4)• Collaborative Work
How Do I Adapt to Different Teaching Styles? (Slide 4 of 5)
• Review additional resources suggested by instructors and/or textbooks. Check the following for options:• Assignment Rubric (List of guidelines for
grading criteria)• Class syllabus• Teacher’s website• Textbook chapters • Works Cited List
How Do I Adapt to Different Teaching Styles? (Slide 5 of 5)
• Review additional resources suggested by instructors and/or textbooks. Check the following for options:• Examples/Samples from prior students’ work• Assignment/Instructions sheets• Additional Readings List• Academic Major’s Website
Are Assignment Instructions Confusing? (Slide 1 of 4)
Sometimes instructors get impatient when they think the student doesn’t understand because they weren’t paying attention in class, reading instructions, or doing homework.
Are Assignment Instructions Confusing? (Slide 2 of 4)
• It is YOUR responsibility to know what you are expected to do!• Be sure you have done your part to read
instructions and pay attention in class.
Are Assignment Instructions Confusing? (Slide 3 of 4)
• These situations are usually a result of ‘communication disconnect’ and not a personal failure on yours or your instructor’s part.• Take time to clarify what is expected of you:
• Respectfully ask: “I’m not sure what you are asking me to do. Can you please clarify this (be as specific if possible)?”
Are Assignment Instructions Confusing? (Slide 4 of 4)
• If you are still confused, then respectfully, but assertively persist.
• Ask a different question. Ask for examples.• Paraphrase (put into your
own words) what you think he/she is saying• Also go back and review the
additional resources mentioned on previous slides for helpful tips
Still Want More Help?
• Take Counseling Classes• Visit the Career Planning Center• See a Career Counselor
Counseling classes to help you learn to succeedCounseling classes:• COUN 150: Academic & Life Success• A great class to help students get to know
themselves and what they want from college. Includes study strategies.
• COUN 140: Educational Planning• If you know what you want to major in, this
class will help you identify and lay out the classes you need to reach that goal. Includes study strategies.
Counseling classes help you learn to succeed (Continued)
• Counseling classes:• COUN 141: Career Exploration• Quickly (in 8 weeks) get to know yourself
and identify potential career options • COUN 151: Career & Life Planning• Get to know yourself and identify potential
career options and how to prepare for that potential career
Visit the Career Planning CenterTalk to a Career Counselor for help Identifying: • Your preferred learning styles• Your personality type • Why you may be struggling with the classes in
your major• A major/career goal that is compatible with your
learning style• Why you don’t like you current major
Visit the Career Planning Center• Talk to a Career Counselor for help
Identifying: (Continued) • Personality, Interests, Values, Preferred Skills,• Preferred Learning Styles
• How to develop your learning strategies and styles• How these traits can translate into major /
career options• Class requirements for specific career options
you are considering
Visit the Career Planning Center
Talk to a career counselor: (Continued)
• To take the additional assessments mentioned earlier• Get a deeper understanding how to use personality
to help with learning• Identify other barriers to success, and get referrals
to appropriate resources
Visit the Career Planning Center
• Talk to our friendly and helpful Career Center staff for help with:• Using the Career Planning Center’s resources• Identifying resources to help with study skills• Identifying resources that reveal preferred
training styles of different industries• Identifying additional campus support offices that
address other concerns you have
Visit the Career Planning Center• Use our resources:• Books or print resources:• Effective study methods• Learning Style preferences• Personality-based learning styles
Visit the Career Planning Center• Use our resources:• Online resources:• Identify industry- or career-based learning
preferences• Career-related minimum education
requirements and options• Career Cruising database offers a sensory
learning styles assessment
Almost done . . . As a result of participating in the Online Workshop, you have:
• Learned why it is important to know your learning styles• Identified many different teaching/learning styles• Acquired a wealth of Tips & Tricks to use when your
style doesn’t match your teacher’s style
Now it is time to learn about a few additional resources and finish this Online Workshop.
Almost done . . . As a result of participating in the Online Workshop, you have: (Continued)
• Identified how personality affects learning preferences• Received tips for improving their learning efforts• Developed adaptive skills for dealing with different
teaching styles• Identified helpful resources for adapting to different
teaching styles
Now it is time to learn about a few additional resources and finish this Online Workshop.
ReferencesLearning Theories:Learning Styles Overview
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_styles
Personality: Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)https://www.cpp.com/products/mbti/index.aspx
CareerCruising• http://public.careercruising.com/en/• User Name: cypress• Password: 90630
Sources:
California Career Café http://www.cacareercafe.com/experience/
www.Dictionary.com
Doing What Matters for Jobs and the Economyhttp://doingwhatmatters.cccco.edu/
Dunning, D. (2008). Introduction to type and learning. Mountain View, CA (CPP, Inc.)
Sources:Dunning, D. (2003). Quick Guide to the Four Temperaments and Learning. Huntington Beach, CA: Telos Publishing.
Ellis, D. (2013). Becoming a Master Student (14th Ed.), Boston: Cengage.
Feldman, R. (2014). POWER learning (6th Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Google Imageshttps://images.google.com/
Sources:
Lawrence, G. (1997). Looking at type and learning styles: Using psychological Type to Make learning personally effective. Gainsville, GA: CAPT.
Olson, K. (2009). Wounded by School. New York: Teacher's College Press.
Zachary, L. J. (2000). The Mentor’s Guide: Facilitating effective learning relationships. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass