Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Left Brained/Right Brained and Learning Styles

I had never thought much about the way that I learn best, because I've always tried to adapt to the ways in which I'm being taught.  I tend to read and re-read something until I feel like I've achieved an understanding or at least a repeatable knowledge of the subject.  I never considered that this was perhaps not the best personal method for learning.

I have recently discovered after taking two different online tests (one for learning styles and one for left-brain/right-brain) that I am a type 4 learner and I am moderately right-brained.  This means that I am very in touch with my creative side, I enjoy using my imagination with everything I do, and I do not like too much structure in the way I approach a problem.  I am intuitive and like to express my feelings.  As I have learned in class, this learning type is least addressed in a traditional classroom.  It entails lack of structure and freedom of choice, which is often has difficult and messy outcomes.  Or at least that is how it is perceived.

As a teacher, I must keep in mind the various learning types and what is the best environment for them all.  I will strive to include an area of each of my units that is geared to the learning styles of each quadrant, while hopefully exposing other learning styles to my students.