Developed by:  Betsy Boyd
Revised: Spring 2002

Level:  6-8

How Do I Learn Best?

Standards Learning Expectations	This activity will help students acquire competencies which relate to the following standards: 1. Acquire skills for academic self-confidence, learning, and success 2. Improve learning and achieve challenging goals The student will: 1.7 Identify attitudes and behaviors that lead to successful learning 2.2 Apply self-directed and independent learning techniques
General Approach	The counselor will introduce the concept of learning styles to the class.  Students will then complete the inventory found at the Web site to identify their own learning style.  The activity will be followed with a large-group discussion about strategies to help oneself learn best.
Activity Steps	Introduce the concept  of learning styles by explaining that each of us has a preference to use our left or right hand, we each have our preferred way of learning new material.  Some people learn best by hearing information, some by writing it, and some by doing things.  These preferences are sometimes called auditory, visual and kinesthetic or tactile.  Emphasize that we all use all of these senses in learning, each of us learns more easily using one or more of these senses.  Explain that the  purpose of this activity is for each student to discover how he or she learns best, and to learn some way to use one's style to learn better. Have the students connect to:  http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm Instruct students to scroll down to "Interactive Learning Styles Test"and complete the inventory.   As students are finishing the inventory, ask them to read the section called "Making Your Learning Style Work for You."  Next, ask students to look at the strategies listed for their strongest style and list three learning strategies that they would like to use in their learning activities.  Use this information for a large-group follow-up discussion.
Time Required	One class period should be devoted to this activity: 15 minutes to introduce the concept of learning styles, 20 minutes for students to complete the learning style inventory, and 15 minutes for follow-up discussion.
Resources Needed	For this activity, each student will need to have access to a computer with Web access. The counselor may wish to review the section called "Learning Styles Explained" for general information about learning styles.
Performance Indicators	Following this activity, the counselor should often refer to learning styles and using strategies that support one's preferred style.  At the beginning of an activity, the counselor can reinforce the students'  thinking about their own style and strategies by saying things like, "If you are an auditory learner, you might want to ___&___ while we are doing this activity," or "Those of you who are visual learners will want to ____&___ while we are listening to this tape."  Reinforcing awareness of individual learning styles and strategies throughout the school year will be helpful to students.