Transcript Inventories

Inventories
It’s All About You
How do you Learn?
To gain a better understanding of yourself as a
learner, you need to evaluate the way you prefer
to learn or process information.
Benefits
• The main benefit is to get you to think about
yourself and to consider learning alternatives.
• It is NOT meant to rigidly
classify you.
Knowing your learning style will help you develop coping strategies to
compensate for your weaknesses and capitalize on your strengths.
GRADE 10 INVENTORIES
VARK
http://www.varklearn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire
Multiple Intelligences
MI Inventory
http://surfaquarium.com/MI/inventory.htm
Your VARK (Visual, Aural, Read/Write &/or Kinesthetic) preferences can
be used to help you develop additional, effective strategies for learning
and for improving your communication skills.
STUDY PRACTICES KEYED TO VARK
PREFERENCES
Visual Study Strategies
Visual Continued
Visual Continued
You want the whole picture so you are probably holistic rather than
reductionist in your approach.. You are often swayed by the look of
an object. You are interested in color and layout and design and you
know where you are in your environment. You are probably going to
draw something.
Visual Learners
CLUES
Needs to see it to know it.
Strong sense of color.
May have artistic ability.
Difficulty with spoken
directions.
Overreaction to sounds.
Trouble following lectures.
Misinterpretation of words.
TIPS FOR VISUAL LEARNERS
1. Write down anything that you want to
remember, such as a list of things to do,
facts to learn facts for a test, etc.
2. Try to write down information in your
own words. If you don't have to think
about the material and restate it in your
own words, you won't really learn it.
3. Underline or highlight important words
you need to learn as you read.
4. When learning a new vocabulary word,
visualize the word.
5. When you have a list of things to
remember, keep the list in a place where
you will be sure to see it several times a
day. Suggestions: bulletin board by your
desk at home, in your notebook, on the
mirror in the bathroom, etc.
6. Try drawing a picture of any information
you want to learn. Try making a diagram, a
chart, or actually drawing people, things,
etc.
7. Always read any material in the textbook
before going to class so you have a chance
to visually connect with the information
before hearing it.
WAYS TO SHARPEN DOMINANT
LEARNING STYLE
WAYS TO STRENGTHEN A WEAKER ONE
AUDITORY
•Draw pictures, charts and maps to help
you remember and understand things
•Use mind-mapping
•Use planners, organizers or goal-setting
charts
•Highlight important points with colour
(not books you don’t own)
•Try visualizing ideas and facts in your
mind
•Try changing places in the room while
you’re studying, to get a different
perspective
•Use models if available
•When you need to revise, read over
and recopy your notes
•Use study cards
•Use symbols
Circle
•Underline/
•Attend classes
•Discuss topics with others/teachers
•Explain new ideas to other people
•Record notes on disc and listen to them
•Remember the interesting example,
stories, jokes
•Describe the overheads, pictures and
other visuals to somebody who wasn’t
there
•Leave spaces in your notes for later
recall and ‘filling’
•Ask others to ‘hear’ your understanding
of a topic
•Read your summarized notes aloud
•Explain your notes to another person
•On exams speck your answers aloud or
in your head
KINESTHETIC
•Pace/walk as you study
•Physically do task
•Practice with repeated motion
•Role play
•Write things out
•Write notes over and over again
•Stretch/move
•Take breaks when studying
•Write on surfaces with your finger
•Use models/games to remember
Aural Study Strategies
Intake
To take in the information:
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attend classes
attend discussions and tutorials
discuss topics with others
discuss topics with your teachers
explain new ideas to other people
use a tape recorder
remember the interesting examples, stories, jokes...
describe the overheads, pictures and other visuals to
somebody who was not there
• leave spaces in your notes for later recall and 'filling'
Aural Continued
SWOT - Study without tears
To make a learnable package:
Convert your "notes" into a learnable package by reducing
them (3:1)
• Your notes may be poor because you prefer to listen. You
will need to expand your notes by talking with others and
collecting notes from the textbook.
• Put your summarized notes onto tapes and listen to them.
• Ask others to 'hear' your understanding of a topic.
• Read your summarized notes aloud.
• Explain your notes to another 'aural' person.
Aural Continued
OUTPUT
To perform well in any test,
assignment or examination:
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Imagine talking with the examiner.
Listen to your voices and write them down.
Spend time in quiet places recalling the ideas.
Practice writing answers to old exam questions.
• Speak your answers aloud or inside your head.
You prefer to have these pages explained to you.
The written words are not as valuable as those you hear.
You will probably go and tell somebody about this.
Auditory Learners
Clues
Prefers to get information by
listening, needs to hear it to
know it.
Difficulty following written
directions.
Difficulty with reading.
Problems with writing.
Inability to read body language
and facial expressions
TIPS FOR AUDITORY LEARNERS
1. Use a tape recorder to record notes
when reading instead of writing facts
down. Play it back while you are riding in
the car, doing dishes, washing the car,
jogging etc.
2. Subvocalize that is, talk to yourself
about any information you want to
remember. Try to recite it without looking
at your notes or the book.
3. Discuss with others from your class and
then quiz each other on the material.
Really listen to yourself as you talk.
4. When learning a new vocabulary word,
say it out loud. Then spell it out loud
several times. See if it rhymes with a word
that you know. You could even try singing
the word in a song.
5. To learn facts, say them out loud, put
the facts to music or read them into a tape
recorder. Then listen to what you have
recorded often.
6. When writing, talk to yourself. First tell
yourself what you will write, say it out
loud as you write it, and then read aloud
what you have written or tape record it.
7. Always read material in your textbook
to be learned after hearing the
information first in the class lecture,
(unless the instructor assigns the reading
first before class so you can participate in
class discussions).
WAYS TO SHARPEN DOMINANT
LEARNING STYLE
WAYS TO STRENGTHEN A WEAKER ONE
Visual
•Attend classes
•Discuss topics with others/teachers
•Explain new ideas to other people
•Record notes on disc and listen to them
•Remember the interesting example,
stories, jokes
•Describe the overheads, pictures and
other visuals to somebody who wasn’t
there
•Leave spaces in your notes for later
recall and ‘filling’
•Ask others to ‘hear’ your understanding
of a topic
•Read your summarized notes aloud
•Explain your notes to another person
•On exams speck your answers aloud or
in your head
Draw pictures, charts and maps to help you
remember and understand things
•Use mind-mapping
•Use planners, organizers or goal-setting charts
•Highlight important points with colour (not
books you don’t own)
•Try visualizing ideas and facts in your mind
•Try changing places in the room while you’re
studying, to get a different perspective
•Use models if available
•When you need to revise, read over and
recopy your notes
•Use study cards
•Use symbols
Circle
•Underline/
KINESTHETIC
•Pace/walk as you study
•Physically do task
•Practice with repeated motion
•Role play
•Write things out
•Write notes over and over again
•Stretch/move
•Take breaks when studying
•Write on surfaces with your finger
•Use models/games to remember
Read/Write Study Strategies
INTAKE
To take in the information:
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lists
headings
dictionaries
glossaries
definitions
handouts
textbooks
readings - library
notes (often verbatim)
teachers who use words well and have lots of information in sentences
and notes
• essays
• manuals (computing and laboratory)
Read/Write Study Strategies Continued
SWOT - Study without tears
To make a learnable package:
Convert your "notes" into a learnable package by reducing them (3:1)
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Write out the words again and again.
Read your notes (silently) again and again.
Rewrite the ideas and principles into other words.
Organize any diagrams, graphs ... into statements, e.g. "The trend
is..."
• Turn reactions, actions, diagrams, charts and flows into words.
• Imagine your lists arranged in multiple choice questions and
distinguish each from each.
Read/Write Study Strategies Continued
OUTPUT
To perform well in any test, assignment or examination:
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Write exam answers.
Practice with multiple choice questions.
Write paragraphs, beginnings and endings.
Write your lists (a,b,c,d,1,2,3,4).
Arrange your words into hierarchies and points.
You like this page because the emphasis is on words and lists.
You believe the meanings are within the words, so any talk is OK
but this handout is better.
You are heading for the library.
TIPS FOR READ/WRITE LEARNERS
Read/Write Learners
WAYS TO SHARPEN DOMINANT
LEARNING STYLE
Use text to explain things
CLUES
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Prefers text-based learning
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Prefers reading & writing in all
forms
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Uses PowerPoint, Internet,
dictionaries, thesauri,
quotations and words, words,
words...
Creates list of definitions that
can be added to throughout
the semester
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Creates lists of important
details to each topic
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Organizes materials into
binders
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Takes notes from classes and
puts them in bullet format
Highlight important information on
handouts
Come to class with reading done
If given the choice, choose to write
your responses rather than give
orally
Visual
Since textbook chapter
summaries provide a "big picture"
of the chapter, it is often useful
for a student to read the chapter
summary first
Summarizing while reading and
put in own words
Organize any diagrams, graphs ... into
statements, e.g. "The trend is..."
Reread material that can’t be
remembered
Turn reactions, actions, diagrams,
charts and flows into words
Write out the words again and again
Read your notes (silently) again and
again
Put words in some order using
priorities, categories....
Lists of points in vertical and leftaligned columns
WAYS TO STRENGTHEN A WEAKER ONE
Read the material (or engage in
the learning) with the intent of
writing a summary
Collapse examples and details
into categories
Should remember that a good
summary isn't a string of facts; it
is a miniature version of the
original text
Integrate the information into a
coherent piece of writing
Polish the summary. Rethinking
and revising a summary helps
students get a firmer grasp the
main points of the material
•Use planners, organizers or goal-setting charts
•Try visualizing ideas and facts in your mind
•Try changing places in the room while you’re
studying, to get a different perspective
• Draw pictures, to help you remember and
understand things
•Use study cards
•Use symbols
Circle
•Underline
KINESTHETIC
•Pace/walk as you study
•Physically do task
•Practice with repeated motion
•Role play
•Stretch/move
•Take breaks when studying
•Write on surfaces with your finger
•Use models/games to remember
AUDITORY
-Attend classes
-Discuss topics with others/teachers
-Explain new ideas to other people
-Record notes on disc and listen to
them
-Remember the interesting example, stories,
jokes
-Describe the overheads, pictures and other
visuals to somebody who wasn't there
-Leave spaces in your notes for later recall
and 'filling'
-Ask others to 'hear' your understanding of a
topic
-Read your summarized notes aloud
-Explain your notes to another person
-On exams speak your answers aloud or in
your head
Kinesthetic Study Strategies
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all your senses - sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing ...
laboratories
field trips /field tours
examples of principles
lecturers who give real-life examples
applications
hands-on approaches (computing)
trial and error
collections of rock types, plants, shells, grasses...
exhibits, samples, photographs...
recipes - solutions to problems, previous exam papers
Kinesthetic Study Strategies
SWOT - Study without tears
To make a learnable package:
Convert your "notes" into a learnable package by reducing them (3:1)
• Your lecture notes may be poor because the topics were not
'concrete' or 'relevant'.
• You will remember the "real" things that happened.
• Put plenty of examples into your summary. Use case studies and
applications to help with principles and abstract concepts.
• Talk about your notes with another "K" person.
• Use pictures and photographs that illustrate an idea.
• Go back to the laboratory or your lab manual.
• Recall the experiments, field trip...
Kinesthetic Study Strategies
• Write practice answers, paragraphs...
• Role play the exam situation in your
own room.
Kinesthetic
Learners
CLUES
Prefers hands on learning.
Can assemble parts without
reading directions.
Difficulty sitting still.
Learns better when physical
activity is involved.
May be very well coordinated and
have athletic ability.
TIPS FOR KINESTHETIC LEARNERS
1. Try to study through practical
experiences, such as making
models,
doing lab work, or roleplaying.
2. Take frequent breaks in study
periods
only 5-10 minutes in length.
3. Trace words and letters to
learn
spelling and to remember facts.
4. Use the computer to reinforce
learning through the sense of
touch.
5. Memorize or drill while
walking,
jogging or exercising.
6. Try expressing your abilities
through
dance, drama, or sports.
7. Try standing up when you are
reading
or writing.
8. Write facts to be learned on 3"
x 5“ cards, with a question on
one side and the answer on the
other. Layout the cards, quiz
yourself, shuffle them, lay
them out again and quiz yourself
again.
9. When working with a study
group, think of TV quiz games
(Jeopardy, etc.) as ways to review
information
-When you need to revise, read
over and recopy your notes
-Use study cards./_''
-Use symbols ‘
-Circle
WAYS TO SHARPEN DOMINANT
LEARNING STYLE
-Pace/walk as you study
-Physically do task
-Practice with repeated motion
-Role play
-Write things out
-Write notes over and over again
-Stretch/move
-Take breaks when studying
-Write on surfaces with your
finger
WAYS TO STRENGTHEN A WEAKER ONES
AUDITORY
-Attend classes
-Discuss topics with others/teachers
-Explain new ideas to other people
-Record notes on disc and listen to them
-Remember the interesting example, stories,
jokes
-Describe the overheads, pictures and other
visuals to somebody who wasn't there
-Leave spaces in your notes for later recall and
'filling'
-Ask others to 'hear' your understanding of a
topic
-Read your summarized notes aloud
-Explain your notes to another person
-On exams speck your answers aloud or in
your head
Visual
- Draw pictures, charts and maps to help you
remember and understand things
-Use mind-mapping
-Use planners, organizers or goal-setting
charts
-Highlight important points with colour (not
books you don'town)
-Try visualizing ideas and facts in your mind
-Try changing places in the room while you're
studying, to get a different perspective
-Use models if available
-Use models/games to remember
Multimodal Study Strategies
• If you have multiple preferences you are in the
majority, as approximately 60% of any population
fits that category.
• Multiple preferences are interesting and varied.
For example you may have two strong
preferences Visual and Aural (VA) or
Read/write and Kinesthetic (RK), or you may
have three strong preferences such as VAR or
ARK.
Some people have no standout scores. Their scores
are almost even for all four modes.
Multimodal Study Strategies Continued
• So multiple preferences give you choices of two
or three or four modes to use for your learning
and for your interaction with others.
• Positive reactions mean that those with
multimodal preferences choose to match or
align their mode to the significant others
around them.
• See Study Strategies for V &/or A &/or R &/or K
“Intelligence is the capacity to do something useful in the society in
which we live. Intelligence is the ability to respond successfully to new
situations and the capacity to learn from one’s past experiences.”
WHAT THE MI LEARNING
PREFERENCES RESULTS MEAN
If you are a Linguistic Learner,
you:
• value books and like to talk about what you've read
• "hear" words in your head before speaking or reading
them
• have a good memory for names, places, dates and/or
trivia
• enjoy word games, puns and tongue twisters
• are a good speller
• have a good vocabulary
• write well
• communicate with others in a highly verbal way
If you are a Logical-mathematical
Learner, you:
• are curious about how things work
• mentally compute measurements and formulas
• enjoy logic puzzles, brainteasers and games of strategy, like
chess
• look for rational explanations, think logically and seek
logical answers
• feel more comfortable when something has been
measured, categorized, analyzed, or quantified in some way
• like to experiment in a way that uses higher order cognitive
thinking processes
• have a good sense of cause and effect
If you are a Spatial Learner,
you:
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draw or doodle
read charts, maps, and diagrams more easily than text
enjoy artistic pursuits
see clear visual images
have a strong sense for colors
often have vivid dreams at night
enjoy taking (and looking at) photographs or movies
can get around easily in unfamiliar territory
can comfortably imagine how objects appear from different
angles
• prefer reading material that is heavily illustrated
• enjoy doing puzzles, mazes and similar visual activities
If you are a Bodily-Kinesthetic
Learner, you:
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are physically active and enjoy the outdoors
excel at one or more sports/athletic pursuits
find it difficult to sit still for long periods
like working with your hands
enjoy taking things apart and putting them back
together
• have a need to touch things when learning about them
• are well coordinated
• need to practice skills by doing them rather than
simply reading/hearing about them
If you are a Musical Learner,
you:
• sometimes hum, sing, or make tapping sounds
while working
• enjoy listening to music on radio, cassette, or CD
• can tell if a musical note is off key
• may play a musical instrument or sing well
• find music enriching
• know the tunes to many different songs
• have a good singing voice
• have a rhythmic way of speaking or moving
If you are an Interpersonal
Learner, you:
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enjoy socializing with others
are sought out by others for advice and counsel
enjoy group games and sports
prefer to talk over problems with another person, rather
than solving them alone
have at least three close friends
seek the company of coworkers both during and after hours
voluntarily tutor coworkers in new skills
show leadership ability
are an active member of one or more clubs, committees or
other organizations
If you are an Intrapersonal
Learner, you:
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are strong willed and independent
are self-directed and prefer working alone
are interested in learning more about yourself
at times may say or do things that others have
difficulty understanding
may be a loner
have strong opinions about things
have a rich inner life
have high self-esteem
If you are an Naturalist Learner,
you:
The Naturalist intelligence has to do with how we relate to our
surroundings and where we fit into it.
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Bothered by pollution
Enjoy having pets
Like to learn about nature
Enjoy gardening
Appreciate scenic places
Feel alive when in contact with nature
Like to camp, hike, walk and climb
Notice nature above all other things
Conscious of changes in weather
“Learning without reflection is a waste, reflection without learning is
dangerous.” – Confucius
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What type(s) of Learner are you? ______________________
________________
What are your 3 top Multiple Intelligences? _____________
_______________ ______________
1. To what extent do the results describe you? (Were the results
an accurate portrait of you?) Provide evidence using
information from your learning experiences. Were there any
surprises? Give details.
2. Do your two inventory results support one another? If there
was a difference, what could explain this? If they were
compatible, do you agree?
3. List your three top categories from Multiple Intelligences AND
at least five careers that would interest you and suit the
results.
4. Where do your Learner traits show themselves in your
schooling? How can you use this information to assist
you in your learning.
5. Do you know people with 3 different intelligences to
you? Do your friends have similar intelligences to you?
6. What was the most significant thing you learned about
yourself from completing these inventories?
Who are you?
If I had to answer Who am I?
If I were a colour, I would be Red because I am passionate, bold and definitely not wishy-washy:)).
If I were a song I would be ‘Volare’ sang by Dean Martin because it is romantic and joyous.
If I were a city, I would be Barcelona because I am a little bit olde-worlde and a little bit modern, a little
bit arty and a little bit sporty, a little bit classy and a little bit messy.
If I were an object, I would be a PC because I like to connect people, and I am pretty helpful and
resourceful.
If I were a season, I would be Summer because I am warm, friendly and open to new experiences.
If I were a maxim, I would be ‘It’s never too late.’ as I am a true believer that it is never ever too late.
What about you???
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
HELPING STUDENTS DISCOVER AND
CONNECT WHO THEY ARE WITH
WHAT THEY DO IN LIFE AND WORK
Prepared for Mentorship Program at Dr. E.P. Scarlett
June 2011
By Pamela Singletary, LL of Mentorship