Index of Learning Styles

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For each of the 44 questions below select either "a" or "b" to indicate your answer. Please choose only one answer for each question. If both "a" and "b" seem to apply to you, choose the one that applies more frequently. When you are finished selecting answers to each question please select the submit button at the end of the form.

I understand something better after I
(a) try it out.
(b) think it through.
I would rather be considered
(a) realistic.
(b) innovative.
When I think about what I did yesterday, I am most likely to get
(a) a picture.
(b) words.
I tend to
(a) understand details of a subject but may be fuzzy about its overall structure.
(b) understand the overall structure but may be fuzzy about details.
When I am learning something new, it helps me to
(a) talk about it.
(b) think about it.
If I were a teacher, I would rather teach a course
(a) that deals with facts and real life situations.
(b) that deals with ideas and theories.
I prefer to get new information in
(a) pictures, diagrams, graphs, or maps.
(b) written directions or verbal information.
Once I understand
(a) all the parts, I understand the whole thing.
(b) the whole thing, I see how the parts fit.
In a study group working on difficult material, I am more likely to
(a) jump in and contribute ideas.
(b) sit back and listen.
I find it easier
(a) to learn facts.
(b) to learn concepts.
In a book with lots of pictures and charts, I am likely to
(a) look over the pictures and charts carefully.
(b) focus on the written text.
When I solve maths problems
(a) I usually work my way to the answers one step at a time.
(b) I often just see the answers but then struggle to figure out the steps.
In classes I have taken
(a) I usually get to know many of the students.
(b) I rarely get to know many of the students.
To understand facts and events, I prefer
(a) something that teaches me new facts or tells me how to do something.
(b) something that gives me new ideas to think about.
I like teachers
(a) who put a lot of diagrams on the board.
(b) who spend a lot of time explaining.
When I'm separating out the elementsof a written story or a novel
(a) I think of the different events and try to put them together to figure out the themes.
(b) I atuomatically know the themes when I finish reading and then go back to find the different events.
When I start a homework problem, I am more likely to
(a) start working on the answer immediately.
(b) try to fully understand the problem first.
I prefer the idea of
(a) certainty.
(b) theory.
I remember best
(a) what I see.
(b) what I hear.
It is more important to me that an instructor
(a) lay out the material in clear sequential steps.
(b) give me an overall picture and relate the material to other subjects.
I prefer to study
(a) in a study group.
(b) alone.
Other people say I am
(a) careful about the details of my work.
(b) creative about how I do my work.
When I need directions to a new place, I prefer
(a) a map.
(b) written instructions.
I learn
(a) at a fairly regular pace. If I study hard, I'll "get it."
(b) in fits and starts. I'll be totally confused and then suddenly it all "clicks."
I would rather first
(a) try things out.
(b) think about how I'm going to do it.
When I am reading for enjoyment, I like writers to
(a) clearly say what they mean.
(b) say things in creative, interesting ways.
When I see a diagram or sketch in class, I am most likely to remember
(a) the picture.
(b) what the instructor said about it.
When reading a long article, I am more likely to
(a) focus on details and miss the big picture.
(b) try to understand the big picture before getting into the details.
I more easily remember
(a) something I have done.
(b) something I have thought a lot about.
When I have to perform a task, I prefer to
(a) master one way of doing it.
(b) come up with new ways of doing it.
When someone is showing me data, I prefer
(a) charts or graphs.
(b) text summarising the results.
When writing a paper, I am more likely to
(a) work on (think about or write) the beginning of the paper and progress forward.
(b) work on (think about or write) different parts of the paper and then order them.
When I have to work on a group project, I first want to
(a) have "group brainstorming" where everyone contributes ideas.
(b) brainstorm individually and then come together as a group to compare ideas.
I consider it a better compliment to call someone
(a) sensible.
(b) imaginative.
When I meet people at a party, I am more likely to remember
(a) what they looked like.
(b) what they said about themselves.
When I am learning a new subject, I prefer to
(a) stay focused on that subject, learning as much about it as I can.
(b) try to make connections between that subject and related subjects.
I am more likely to be considered
(a) outgoing.
(b) reserved.
I prefer courses that emphasize
(a) concrete material (facts, data, exact details).
(b) abstract material (concepts, theories, ideas).
For entertainment, I would rather
(a) watch television.
(b) read a book.
Some teachers start their lectures with an outline of what they will cover. This is
(a) somewhat helpful to me.
(b) very helpful to me.
The idea of doing assessments in groups, with the same result for everyone in the group,
(a) appeals to me.
(b) does not appeal to me.
When I am doing long calculations,
(a) I tend to repeat all my steps and check my work carefully.
(b) I find checking my work tiresome and have to force myself to do it.
I tend to picture places I have been
(a) easily and fairly accurately.
(b) with difficulty and without much detail.
When solving problems in a group, I would be more likely to
(a) think of the steps we need to take in order to create a solution.
(b) think of possible consequences or applications of the solution in a wide range of areas.

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