What's My Learning Preference?

1. Other than price, what would most influence your decision to buy a new non-fiction book?

The way it looks is appealing

Quickly reading parts of it

A friend talks about it and recommends it

It has real-life stories, experiences and examples

2. You are using a book, CD or website to learn how to take photos with your new digital camera. You would like to have:

A chance to ask questions and talk about the camera and its features

Clear written instructions with lists and bullet points about what to do

Diagrams showing the camera and what each part does

Many examples of good and poor photos and how to improve them

3. Do you prefer a trainer who uses:

Demonstrations, models or practical sessions

Questions and answers, talk, group discussion

Handouts, books or readings

Diagrams, charts or graphs

4. You are going to cook something as a special treat. You would:

Cook something you know without the need for instructions

Look on the Internet or in some cookbooks for ideas from the pictures.

Ask a friend for suggestions

Use a good recipe

5. You have finished a competition or test and would like some feedback. You would like to have feedback:

Using examples of what you have done

Using a written description of your results

From somebody who talks it through with you

Using graphs showing what you had achieved

6. You are going to choose food at a restaurant or cafe. You would:

Choose something that you have eaten there before

Listen to the waiter or ask friends to recommend choices

Choose from descriptions on the menu

Look at what others are eating or look at pictures of each dish

7. A group of tourists want to learn about the parks or wildlife reserves in your area. You would:

Talk about, or arrange a talk for them about parks or wildlife reserves

Show them maps and internet pictures

Take them to a park or wildlife reserve and walk with them

Give them a book or pamphlets about the parks or wildlife reserves

8. You are about to purchase a digital camera or mobile phone. Other than price, what would most influence your decision?

Trying or testing it

Reading the details or checking its features online

It is a modern design and looks good

The salesperson telling me about its features

9. A website has a video showing how to make a special graph. There is a person speaking, some lists and words describing what to do and some diagrams. You would learn most from:

Seeing the diagrams

Listening

Reading the words

Watching the actions

10. You have to make an important speech at a conference or special occasion. You would:

Take diagrams or get graphs to help explain things

Write a few key words and practice saying your speech over and over

Write out your speech and learn from reading it over several times

Gather many examples and stories to make the talk real and practical

11. Remember a time when you learnt how to do something new. Avoid choosing a physical skill, eg. riding a bike. You learned best by:

Watching a demonstration

Listening to somebody explaining it and asking questions

Diagrams, maps, and charts - visual clues

Written instructions – e.g. a manual or book

12. You have a problem with your knee. You would prefer that the doctor:

Gave you something to read to explain what was wrong

Used a plastic model to show you what was wrong

Describe what was wrong

Showed you a diagram of what was wrong

13. You are planning a holiday for a group. You want some feedback from them about the plan. You would:

Describe some of the highlights they will experience

Use a map to show them the places

Give them a copy of the printed itinerary

Phone, text or email them

14. You want to learn a new program, skill or game on a computer. You would:

Talk to people who know about it

Read the written instructions that came with it

Use the controls or keyboard

Follow the diagrams in the book that came with it

15. I like websites that have:

Things I can click on, move or try

Interesting design and visual features

Interesting written descriptions, lists and explanations

Audio channels where I can hear music, radio programmes or interviews

16. You are helping your friend who wants to go to the airport, a restaurant or the train station. You would:

Go with them

Tell them the directions

Write down the directions

Draw, or show them a map, or give them a map.