Reflections of a Visual Learner: How to Evaluate Your Own Learning Styles Using Perceptual Learning Style Preference Questionnaire by Reid (1987)

Estrelita A. Manalang

I was never really conscious of my own learning style until I had children of my own. Being a mother of three, all of which in their school age, I am indulged in assisting my girls in their school work. Whenever their examination days are near, we tend to start reviewing preferably on the same spot we studied last. I would never allow us to start the home-reviewing sessions without a colored highlighter ready to mark names and dates in a lecture-note. When bits of the information of the same topic start to pile up, I ask them to group the ideas in time lines and outlines, unknowingly creating charts in the end.

Sometimes, I ask my girls to “draw circles” around similar ideas or “box” the opposite ones. In trying to memorize details, I ask them to comprehend their notes then tell them to focus by creating an “image” in their mind. This, in my experience, is the most effective way to help my kids study for an exam. Although each of them is unique, I think my daughters have adapted to my own visual strategies.

In answering the Learning Style questionnaire inspired by Reid in 1995, I got a total score of 46 for visual learner, 28 for kinesthetic and 32 for auditory. I gave the highest 5 points to items like: Watching teacher’s face a lot and Using colors when I take down notes. I marked the lowest 1 point to items stating that I can’t picture things in my head very well.

Reflecting on the items on the questionnaire, I think I’m more of a visual learner since I can imagine pictures in my mind very well. While having a fancy dinner for example, I can imagine the ingredients and how the chef cooked them and I try to picture in my head how to do the same.

However, I can make images in my head while doing some physical activities like imagining what to cook while driving or planning the format of this report while in the shower. Getting ideas while on a physical activity is in item 4 which falls under Kinesthethic intelligence. I’ve noted that there is no good or bad learning style, but I conclude that although my dominant traits are on visual intelligence, to some degree I am also a mixture of the three.

Style vs. Strengths

In answering the Multiple Intelligences Survey, I got the score of 6 under the Visual/Spatial category and I got 5 in Musical/Rhythmic intelligences. Although, I’m aware that I’m far from being a singer, I know that I enjoy music a lot. I love listening to songs while on the road. I can work well while music is playing on the background. While I evaluate myself to have a visual learning style, I’m also becoming more aware of my strengths as a person. I am more visual in processing information and at the same time, I’m thankful that I can learn, understand, and appreciate music and sounds around me. These abilities can be both utilized to my advantage. I am confident in incorporating songs as well as pictures to my teaching and I am ready to challenge myself to know and respect the diversity of my learners.

--oOo-

The author is Master Teacher I at Angeles City National Trade School