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LEARNING STYLES INVENTORY©
This past year the school counselor has been researching available inventories that assess learning styles, multiple intelligences, learning preferences, personality, and career/vocational issues. The search has focused on well-tested instruments that provide the student, parent, and teacher with a written report explaining the results, build insight and awareness, and provide an avenue for improved learning.
During November 2009 the school counselor was able to obtain a free trial of a learning styles inventory. The Learning Styles Inventory (LSI) is a self-report computerized questionnaire that students may answer either in an individual or whole class session. When completed, the LSI provides a listing of the following learning styles and preferences:
- sound
- lighting
- temperature
- mobility
- design
- structure
- time of day
- responsibility
- motivation
- persistence
- individual v. group activity
- authority
- input (eating/drinking)
- visual learning
- auditory learning
- tactile learning
- kinesthetic learning
- influence of teachers
- influence of parents
Several classrooms choose to complete the inventory (Miss Shepard's third grade, Mrs. Knapp's fourth grade, both Ms. Noether and Mrs. William's fifth grades, and Ms. Loeffler's sixth grade). Beyond this, most of Ms. Albright's sixth grade class wanted to complete the inventory individually. Once the LSI was completed, a copy of each report was given to the teacher so that s/he might assess the percentage of children with each preference and adjust their teaching style, if need be, to reach all children. Ms. Albright's students had their LSI interpreted for them one-on-one by the school counselor who provided each child with a copy for themselves and for their parents.
The school counselor interpreted the LSI in classrooms, providing each participating student with a copy of the report to bring home and discuss with their parents. All involved have been reminded that as with most assessments of this nature, learning preferences are not stagnant. It is common for preferences to change over time. Hence, the LSI is simply a snap shot of the moment that is a tool for the student, parent, and teacher to utilize to strengthen academics.
As you review your child's LSI, please note that there are no right or wrong answers. The results simply reflect your child's score by an arrow within one of three columns. The arrow indicates their degree of preference. The center column reflects a flexible learning ability. This is usually most desirable. If your child has a preference to the right or left of center it simply means that this might potentially impact their learning ability. For instance
A child who prefers dim light who is seated under bright fluorescent lights facing a window with snow glare will likely be distracted from their lessons. Or,
A child who has a high visual and low auditory preference will not be adequately served by a teacher who primarily lectures. This child would benefit from the teacher writing things on the board, using visual tools (power point, posters, graphs, etc.), or providing advance outlines for the student to follow visually.
Following the columns that summarize all the preferences, the LSI provides an interpretation of each individual preference and suggestions for the student to manage strong preferences. This helps to create insight, awareness, and promote self-advocacy.
Please review your child's LSI with them and contact the school counselor should you have any questions.
It is our hope that the LSI will be available again this year for students. As information becomes available, it will be posted here. Stay tuned!
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