1. Learning Styles & Career Success: Part 1: Why Learning Styles Matter
Kathleen E. High, M.Ed., GCDFI
Education & Career Consultant
Dream Chasers & Goal Setters

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. Let’s Begin . . .

6. 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 . . .

7. 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.

8. Mastering Learning Styles Leads to Academic Success
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

9. Mastering Learning Styles Leads to Academic Success (Continued)
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

10. 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 learn
Clear Career Goal Identifies the “Why”
Career goal determines education required

11. 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 job
Continuing Education Units
Many professions require ‘Continuing Education Units’ (CEUs) to maintain licensing/certification

12. 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.

13. 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

14. What learning options are you considering at this point?
Reflection
What learning options are you considering at this point?

15. Why Do People Learn Differently? (Slide 1 of 5)
Genetics
Personality
Experience
How they have been taught

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. People are Different (Slide 2 of 4)
Personality affects learning styles
Based on personality, 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

22. People are Different (Slide 3 of 4)
Some people prefer:
Learning with others
Learning alone
Focusing on specific facts with practical application
Focusing on theories, ideas and models

23. People are Different (Slide 4 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

24. Reflection
What life experiences have had the biggest impact on your prior learning opportunities? How did those experiences affect your learning style preferences?

25. 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:
Taking Information In: 
Information Gathering & Processing
Thinking About Information: 
Mental Processing
Processing Information Together: 
Collaborative Learning

26. So, What are Those Theories About 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

27. How Do You Best Learn? (Slide 2 of 3)
Some assessments can 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)
*Must be taken from a qualified administrator

28. 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?

29. 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
Do you need validation? (i.e. diploma, credential, license, etc.)

30. 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
(formal or informal)

31. Reflection
Based on the information provided, what can you do to improve your learning efforts?

32. How Do You Adapt to Different Teaching Styles? (Slide 1 of 5)

33. 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 additional resources for your preferred style

34. How Do I Adapt to Different Teaching Styles? (Slide 3 of 5)
Be sure to go through the three other 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. 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 …. (be as specific if possible)?”

40. 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

41. Still Want More Help? Take Study Classes Take Counseling Classes
See a Counselor

42. OC One-Stop Learning Resources
Job Search Workshops
Computer Training
Computer Lab
Apprenticeships
On-the-Job Training Programs
Job Skills Training
Approved Education Programs
Case Managers (Help Determine Appropriate Options)

43. Formal Education: Are You Going to College?
Most colleges and universities have many resources to help students succeed:
Academic Counselors/Advisors/Success Coaches, etc.
Learning assistance centers, learning resources, etc. (tutoring and other help)
Check your academic department for help offered
Study skills and/or ‘college success skills’ classes
Career exploration classes

44. Talk to a Career Counselor
Talk to a Counselor for help Identifying:
Personality, Interests, Values, Preferred Skills,
How these traits can translate into major / career options
Class requirements for specific career options you are considering

45. References Learning Theories: Learning Styles Overview
Personality: Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
CareerCruising
User Name: cypress
Password:

46. Sources: www.Dictionary.com
Doing What Matters for Jobs and the Economy
Dunning, D. (2008). Introduction to type and learning. Mountain View, CA (CPP, Inc.)
Dunning, D. (2003). Quick Guide to the Four Temperaments and Learning. Huntington Beach, CA: Telos Publishing.

47. Sources:
Ellis, D. (2013). Becoming a Master Student (14th Ed.), Boston: Cengage.
Feldman, R. (2014). POWER learning (6th Edition). New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Google Images

48. 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