Learning Styles and Strategies

Overview

• Author: Richard M. Felder
• Affiliation: Hoechst Celanese Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University
• Contact: [email protected]
• Tool: Index of Learning Styles (link)
• Purpose: Assess preferences on four learning style dimensions: active/reflective, sensing/intuitive, visual/verbal, sequential/global.

Key Points

• Index of Learning Styles (ILS):
  • Online questionnaire developed by Richard M. Felder and Barbara A. Soloman.
  • Validated in three independent studies.
  • Consists of 44 a-b questions.
  • Results are immediate but temporary—cannot be stored.
• Cautions and Considerations:
  • Learning preferences are dynamic and may change over time.
  • Profiles indicate possible skills and weaknesses but do not dictate suitability for specific disciplines.

Note for Instructors

• Misconceptions Addressed:
  • Not to teach according to individual students' preferred styles.
  • Aim for balanced instruction to avoid discomfort and overreliance on a single style.

Learning Styles Explained

Active and Reflective Learners

• Active Learners:
  • Retain information best through discussion, application, or explanation.
  • Prefer group work.
  • Struggle with lectures without active engagement.
  • Suggested Strategy: Study in groups; engage in active recall.
• Reflective Learners:
  • Prefer solitary reflection.
  • Suggested Strategy: Write summaries; self-question.

Sensing and Intuitive Learners

• Sensing Learners:
  • Prefer facts and established methods.
  • Comfortable with hands-on work.
  • Suggested Strategy: Relate abstract concepts to real-world examples.
• Intuitive Learners:
  • Prefer innovation and abstract concepts.
  • Suggested Strategy: Discover theories; connect facts independently.

Visual and Verbal Learners

• Visual Learners:
  • Retain information best through images and diagrams.
  • Suggested Strategy: Use concept maps and color-coded notes.
• Verbal Learners:
  • Prefer words, both written and spoken.
  • Suggested Strategy: Summarize in own words; participate in group discussions.

Sequential and Global Learners

• Sequential Learners:
  • Learn in logical steps.
  • Suggested Strategy: Outline material logically; relate new topics to previous knowledge.
• Global Learners:
  • Grasp material in large, often non-linear jumps.
  • Suggested Strategy: Skim entire chapters; relate subjects to known knowledge.

References

1. Felder, R.M., & Silverman, L.K. (1988). Learning and Teaching Styles in Engineering Education. Link
2. Felder, R.M. (2020). Uses, Misuses, and Validity of Learning Styles. Link