Learning Styles & Personality Types

Teamwork: Balancing Learning Styles and Personality Types R. Haynes GEN200 October 7, 2010 Abstract Three different learning styles and personality types were assessed to identify a strategy for the three to collaborate and communicate effectively in a team-setting. The use of the Myers-Briggs personality type indicator and Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences determined the different personality types and learning styles to study. Every personality type and learning style offers skills and abilities beneficial to teamwork.Students and employees benefit from knowing their personality type and learning style. It allows them to determine how they will best contribute to a team. Teamwork: Balancing Learning Styles and Personality Types Even though undefined, knowing one's learning style and personality type allows one to determine their skills and abilities to excel. The Myers-Briggs personality type indicator and Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligen ces was used to assess different personality types and learning styles.These assessments are used by schools as well as employers; the results of these assessments bring self-awareness allowing one to determine how one works individually and what one has to offer to a team. Teamwork is a part of everyday life; whether one is a student or an employee. As a student to know one’s learning style or personality type helps one discover the best way to study and retain information. It also allows one to assess how well one can contribute to and collaborate in a group project.As an employee, one works with a team daily therefore knowing the way one learns or one’s personality type allows them to â€Å"pinpoint your own strengths and weaknesses and let your teammates know where you can excel† (Wee ; Morse, 2007, para. 8), which makes delegating tasks and roles easier. In either setting, one can play up their strengths, build weaknesses, and focus their career to their sk ills and abilities. One’s learning style is â€Å"your mind’s particular way of taking in and processing information† (Carter, Bishop, ; Kravits, 2007, p. 38).Verbal-linguistic, interpersonal, and visual-spatial are just three of many learning styles one may fall into. A verbal-linguistic learner uses language to learn and can listen, memorize, and speak well. An interpersonal learner relates to others and considers the perspective of others. They learn best in group discussions or group activities. A visual-spatial learner is capable of perceiving and creating images. They use charts, diagrams, or graphs to learn effectively. For these three learners to work effectively together consider developing study groups in which each learner teaches the information to the group.In the study group include graphs or PowerPoint presentations for visual-spatial learners, group discussion for interpersonal learners, and outlines of the presentation for verbal-linguistic lear ners. Including different techniques will help each learner to perfect strengths and build weaknesses. An individual’s personality characteristics identify how one learns, thinks, reacts to others, and retains information. The three personality types that were assed were an Organizer, Adventurer, and a Giver. An Organizer is responsible, disciplined, and loyal.They work well in structured environments. An Adventurer is courageous, flexible, open-minded, and hands-on. A Giver is adaptable, honest, has open communication with others, and promotes potential in others. For these three personality types to collaborate together, the Organizer should create a schedule of tasks. The Giver and Organizer should request feedback to ensure all tasks are being met and each group member is equally participating. They should develop a game or use music to help memorize material or to present material for the Giver and Adventurer.All three personality types would enjoy working in a group wit h open communication. In a group, they can present new ideas to each other and establish those that work best to achieve their goal. In conclusion, although undefined, knowing one's learning style and personality type allows one to determine their skills and abilities to excel for two main reasons. First, one will be aware of what areas are their strongest and weakest. Most important, one will be aware of how one works individually and what one has to offer to a team.Personality types were assessed using the Myers-Briggs personality indicator and learning styles were assessed using Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences, which is used by schools as well as employers. These assessments prepare one for collaborating and communicating in a team either at school or in a work environment.References Carter, C. , Bishop, J. , & Kravits, S. (2007). Keys to College Studying: Become An Active Thinker (2nd ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc. A Pearson Education Company. Wee, J. , & Morse, O. (2007, Aug). Juggling People-Secrets for Successful Teams. Cost Engineering, 49(8), 38.