Learning Style Questionnaire

DIRECTIONS: Each item present two choices. Select the alternative that best describes you.
Incases in which neither choice suits you, select the one that is closer to you preference. Write
the letter of your choice in the blank to the right of each item.
Part One

2A and 5B
VISUAL

__b__ 1. I would prefer to follow a set of:

a. oral directions
b. written directions
__a__ 2. I would prefer to:
a. attend a lecture given by a famous psychologist
b. read an article written by the psychologist
__b__ 3. When I am introduced to someone, it is easier for me to remember the
persons:
a. name
b. face
__b__ 4. I find it easier to learn new information using:
a. language (words)
b. images (pictures)
__b__ 5. I prefer classes in which the instructor:
a. lectures and answers questions
b. uses films and videos
__a__ 6. To follow current events, I would prefer to:
a. listen to the news on the radio
b. read the paper
__b__ 7. To learn how to operate a fax machine, I would prefer to:
a. listen to a friends explanation
b. watch a demonstration
Part Two
__a__ 8. I would prefer to:
a. work with facts and details
b. construct theories and ideas
__b__ 9. I would prefer a job involving:
a. following specific instructions
b. reading, writing, analyzing
__b__ 10. I prefer to:
a. solve math problems using a formula
b. discover why the formula works
__b__ 11. I would prefer to write a term paper explaining:
a. how a process works
b. a theory

2A and 5B
CONCEPTUAL

__b__ 12. I prefer tasks that require me to:

a. follow careful, detailed instructions
b. use reasoning and critical analysis
__b__ 13. For a criminal justice course, I would prefer to:
a. discover how and when a law can be used
b. learn how and why it became law
__a__ 14. To learn more about the operation of a high-speed computer printer, I
would prefer to:
a. work with several types of printers
b. understand the principles on which they operate
Part Three

2A and 5B

__b__ 15. To solve a math problem, I would prefer to:

VERBAL
a. draw or visualize the problem
b. study a sample problem and use it as a model
__a__ 16. To best remember something, I:
a. create a mental picture
b. write it down
__b__ 17. Assembling a bicycle from a diagram would be:
a. easy
b. challenging
__a__ 18. I prefer classes in which I:
a. handle equipment or work with models
b. participate in a class discussion
__b__ 19. To understand and remember how a machine works, I would:
a. draw a diagram
b. write notes
__b__ 20. I enjoy:
a. drawing or working with my hands
b. speaking, writing, listening
__b__ 21. If I were trying to locate an office on an unfamiliar campus, I would
prefer:
a. a map
b. written directions
Part Four
__a__ 22. For a grade in a biology lab, I would prefer to:
a. work with a partner
b. work alone
__a__ 23. When faced with a difficult personal problem, I prefer to:
a. discuss it with others
b. resolve it myself
__a__ 24. Many instructors could improve their classes by:
a. Including more discussion and group activities
b. Allowing students to work on their own more frequently

7A and 0B
SOCIAL

__a__ 25. When listening to a lecturer or speaker, I respond more to the:

a. person presenting the ideas
b. ideas themselves
__a__ 26. When on a team project, I prefer to:
a. work with several team members
b. divide the tasks and complete those assigned to me
__a__ 27. I prefer to shop and do errands:
a. with friends
b. by myself
__a__ 28. A job in a busy office is:
a. more appealing than working alone
b. less appealing than working alone
Part Five
__a__ 29. To make decisions, I rely on:
a. my experiences and gut feelings
b. facts and objective data
__a__ 30. To complete a task, I:
a. can use whatever is available to get the job done
b. must have everything I need at hand
__b__ 31. I prefer to express my ideas and feelings through:
a. music, songs, or poetry
b. direct, concise language
__a__ 32. I prefer instructors who:
a. allow students to be guided by their own interests
b. make their expectations clear and explicit
__b__33. I tend to:
a. challenge and question what I hear and read
b. accept what I hear and read
__a__ 34. I prefer:
a. essay exams
b. objective exams
__b__ 35. In completing an assignment, I prefer to:
a. figure out my own approach
b. be told exactly what to do

4A and 3B
CREATIVE

For the first section, I found myself to be more of a visional learner rather than an
auditory learner. I understand and follow directions much better when they are written down and
I cab actually see them compared to when someone just tells me what to do. When I see it
visually, I can go back to the directions and double check, but you cant do that if someone tells
you the directions just once. For the second portion, my answers proved that I am a conceptual
learner rather than an applied leaner. I like to think about ideas and why things are done rather
than just having the information right in front of me and manipulating something that is already
done for me. Concepts dont always need to be practical and objective for me to understand it.
The third part I tested out to be verbal rather than spatial. Some people are able to just visually
picture things like questions or equations, but I learn and work much better when I hear someone
talking. Im not the best at representing my thoughts through drawing either which is more of a
spatial way of learning. The fourth section was unanimously social over independent. It is so
much easier and productive when people work together to come up with ideas or answers.
Everyone thinks differently and has different thoughts, and when you collaborate and combine
your thoughts together you can come up with some great results. The last section I found to be
pretty close in results, but it had me at creative rather than pragmatic. I like to use both ways of
thinking and learning, but I rely heavier on my creativity because I can be innovative, and I like
to discover and search for answer a bit more often rather than constantly following directions to
complete a task.
As a teacher or instructor, knowing how any of your students learn best can be very
helpful when it comes to designing your instruction techniques. It can be especially beneficial for
any of your ELL students as well, especially when they are transitioning into a new school and
environment. When they first start to develop language and emerge in speech, the student wont

typically be able to master each type of learning style. If you test the student early with all of the
types of learning styles through varying your instruction, you can view the results and see which
way(s) are the most productive. Each individual will rely on the way they learn best, and for ELL
students they need to be as productive as possible in order to learn the new language.
VISUAL: For a visual ELL student, I would put labels around the room with their proper names
so they can see and learn what they mean rather than just trying to listen to someone describe the
meaning. Provide charts and graphs to use, and write everything down. Dont have your visual
ELL student attempt to complete by just telling them what to do once.
CONCEPTUAL: For a conceptual ELL student, compare what is being taught to prior
knowledge and ideas. Describe why things are done and what makes up something rather than
just giving real life examples. Go more in depth and break ideas or concepts down to show how
it all adds up.
VERBAL: For a verbal ELL student, have them talk things out with you or their peers rather
than asking them to visualize something. If they can talk their way through something and you
get to listen to what they say, you can fix any mistakes in their language skills and you can see
where exactly they went wrong.
SOCIAL: For a social ELL student, have him or her work with partners and teachers rather than
just working on their own. This way they will be able to interact with their peers and learn from
them. If they are purely working independently, they may not realize when they made a mistake,
so as a teacher, pair your ELL student with another social learner in your classroom so they can
work and progress together.
CREATIVE: For a creative ELL student, have him or her use their imaginations and let them use
trial and error. See what works out when they try to figure something out on their own rather
than handing them a worksheet with instructions on it for them to follow. See if they can manage
to discover and experiment with words and shapes and letters to see if they can solve problems
and form ideas.