The learning styles game
Unit 1: Introduction to Sustainability
[This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence. This information pack is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence. A copy of this licence is available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/au/ or by writing to info@creativecommons.org.au. However logos are protected by copyright.] [This project was funded by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.]
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• Question 1 – When assembling a pushbike would you prefer to: P – be shown & given instructions D – turn box upside down & assemble it so you can use it W – take time to read manual & get everything together T – read instructions, arrange all the parts in order to ensure all are there before starting
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• Question 2 – When have a month to complete something would your prefer to: P – follow an existing timetable to complete one step at a time D – work in bursts when you feel inspired W – work on it with others when you feel like it T – carefully plan how to complete it and do a little each day
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• Question 3 – When someone gives you something new you prefer to: P – try it out and look for ways to make it simpler or better D – check it briefly for main instructions then improvise and experiment W – compare it to others you have tried and consider which is best before going ahead T – check it out several times and follow instructions as closely as possible
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• Question 4 – When having a holiday you prefer to: P – find out information from friends then quickly decide on what is most practical & useful D – pack quickly and at the last minute W – explore all options, leaving plenty of time to make decisions after carefully thinking about it T – study all guides, maps & books then use a checklist to help with planning & packing
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• Question 5 – You relate best to information that is: P – Practical & useful D – Interesting & inventive W – Personally relevant T – Factual & logical
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• Question 6 – When getting home with a new video game box you would prefer to: P – unpack it & plug it in, read parts of the manual and experiment D – unpack it and quickly call someone to help you W – read the instructions and get a technical person to install while you watch T – read whole manual before trying to install
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• Question 7 – When faced with a decision you prefer to: P – consider all options one by one D – make quick decision and see what happens, you can change it if it’s not right W – discuss it with others then make the decision that feels best T – look at all options, rank the options best to worst before thinking about best decision
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• Question 8 – You are more comfortable with people who: P – provide practical advise and offer alternatives D – are people of action, who get out and do things W – share your values about the world & reflect on things T – are good intellectually
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• Question 9 – you feel you learn more when: P – teachers provide practical & useful information D – teachers allow more creativity & initiative W – teachers spend more time dealing with feelings & ensuring information is relevant T – teachers are more organised and provided accurate, detailed & factual information
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• Question 10 – When people are distressed, you find it most frustrating when: P – they keep putting the problem off D – they don’t act on what they must know by instinct is the best course of action W – they don’t express their emotions T – they just don’t think logically through their options
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Add up you scores
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So what is you preference?
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Practical • Keen to put things into practice
• Like making practical decisions & problem solving
• Like new ideas and try to use them as soon as possible
• Respond to problems & opportunities as a challenge
• Like to get on with things
• Believe that “there is always a better way”
• Tend to be impatient
• Believe that “if it works it is good”
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Doing • Involve themselves in new experiences
• Tend to act first and consider the consequences afterwards
• Are open minded • Enthusiastic about anything new • Like to be in the middle of things
• Fill their days with activities • Believe they can try anything once
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Watching • Like to stand back and ponder experiences
• Prefer to watch others in action and take the back seat
• Like to collect information and analyse it before making decisions
• Actions take into account the whole situation
• Like to consider all possible • Believe in being cautious angles
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Thinking • Change what they see into theories
• Tend to be detached, analytical & objective
• Think problems through step by step
• Prefer certainty
• Tend to be perfectionists
• Uncomfortable with subjective judgement & lateral thinking
• Like principles, theories, models & systems
• Like rationality & logic
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practical doing
watching thinking
Remember this is only our preferred style. It does not mean that we cannot use other styles, only we that we have to work harder to use a different style! And remember, no one style is better than the others.
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