The high school I taught at in Louisiana was very involved in something called STEP-Emergenetics. Here is the link to their website if you are interested in learning more about it.
This is a diagnostic that helps students and instructors understand their learning style. It has similarities to classic models like Myers-Briggs. You are broken down into 4 learning types: analytical, structural, social and conceptual. This is shown as a pie chart, with different colors representing each of the styles. There are also behavioral attributes represented based on your answers. They are: expressiveness, assertiveness and flexibility. We, as teachers were given a breakdown of all the student's learning styles according to class (period). This information was used accordingly in lesson planning, group assignments and so on. The students take this test as incoming freshman and I believe some were administered it after graduation to see if anything changed. There is a highly interactive seminar when the students received their results, which made them more comfortable and was a lot of fun. The students learned to embrace their learning style and to use it to their best advantage. It was great.
As for me, like with my STEP profile, I don't really fit into any mold. My Step profile was a near-perfect quarter split between the 4 types, and my Myers-Briggs scores are usually no different.
When I read about the different types, I am unsure about where to place myself due to my getting different results every time I take a test like this. I guess if pressed, I would have to say a toss up between a Guardian and an Idealist. The Idealist part surprises me because I can be a bit cynical and pessimistic. Which leads me to think I am a Rational. I'm interested in this test to see!
People think because I teach art that I am very conceptual and visual. This is not true, so don't let yourselves as potential teachers fall into the trap of preconceived learning styles of your students!
Monday, May 31, 2010
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