Learners and Learning: Learning Styles/Teaching Styles/Multiple Intelligences

Students learn in a variety of ways and instructors have specific ways of teaching. Instructors who understand and draw on knowledge of student learning styles and understand their own teaching style can greatly enhance their teaching. The links below provide information and inventories on learning styles, teaching styles, and multiple intelligences. The last two links deal more specifically with teaching styles.

"Student Learning Styles and Their Implications for Teaching," Susan M. Montgomery and Linda N. Groat. (CRLT Occasional Paper #10, 1998, University of Michigan, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching). PDF/Adobe Acrobat.
This article includes a rationale for understanding student learning styles, covers several learning style models, and discusses the ways in which this knowledge can be used to enhance teaching and learning.
Link: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/publinks/CRLT_no10.pdf

Learning Styles.
Links to articles on the Felder-Silverman Learning Style model, other models, and an Index of Learning Styles to assess learning preferences.
Link: http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Learning_Styles.html

Learning Styles take your free test (LdPride.net).
Learning styles and multiple intelligences explained; includes a free learning styles self-assessment.
Link: http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm

Learning Styles, Multiple Intelligences (support4learning.org.uk).
Contains links to many online resources for learners and teachers.
Link: http://www.support4learning.org.uk/sites/support4learning/education/learning_styles.cfm

VARK (visual, aural, read/write, kinesthetic): a guide to learning styles.
Complete guide to using and scoring the VARK learning styles survey, including a PDF version of the questionnaire for use online or as a printout.
Link: http://www.vark-learn.com/english/index.asp

Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire, Barbara A. Solomon and Richard M. Felder (North Carolina State University).
A 44-item learning styles online questionnaire with results provided.
Link: http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html

MBTI (Meyer Briggs Type Indicator) Personality Test: Understanding Your MBTI.
Describes the Meyer Briggs test and offers an informal online Cognitive Style Inventory. Includes links to resources for learning more about the MBTI.
Link: http://www.personalitypathways.com/type_inventory.html

David Kolb's Learning Styles Model and Experiential Learning Theory (businessballs.com).
Explains Kolb's theory of learning styles, including a visual model of his theory.
Link: http://www.businessballs.com/kolblearningstyles.htm

Learning Styles.
An overview of various instruments used to determine a student's learning style followed by a discussion of putting the styles together.
Link: http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/learning/styles.html

Teaching With Style by Anthony F. Grasha and Laurie Richlin. Alliance Publishers, 1996. PDF/Adobe Acrobat.
A complete copy of Grasha's book on teaching and learning styles at the college level.
Link: http://homepages.ius.edu/kwigley/teaching_with_style.pdf