Now growing up in a large family and teaching with my younger brothers and sisters I learned that not everyone learns the same. Some I had no trouble getting to sit still for their lessons and they flew through their lessons with no problem.

But have you noticed that not everyone can absorb information like this?  Let me tell you, for others it took much more creativity; we’d take lessons and see them up as stories that they could listen to.

If you learn like this or know someone who does then when you’re talking to them, don’t jump to the conclusion that their eyes are telling you if they’re listening. This will only frustrate you if you use this as a means to tell if they understand you.

Then some of us need to not only read and see the information but want to reconstruct the information. Now that made for some interesting experiments and reconstruction of perfectly good appliances you know things that parents would rather didn’t happen.

Shhh, I’m not sure they were ever able to fix the mixer, blender or coffee maker, but hey we were learning. That was the most important thing so we were able to get away with a bit more.

So what’s your specialty? I’m glad you asked, grab a pen, I’ve put together a few simple questions for you. As we look at these questions write a Y or N on a piece of paper next to the question number.

Or just print this article off and write Y or N. next to each one.

Don’t worry I won’t be hurt if you write on this post. (smile)

When you process information how do you do it naturally?

Let’s look at a couple of examples write the Y next to the one that is most like you even if there is more than one.

Reading what is your favorite type of book

1. A book with lots of visual words to put a picture in your mind?
2. Do you like a book with lots of conversation so you can understand the story more clearly?
3. Would you rather not read but gain information another way?

When you need to take on a new task, say a new project with a friend.

1. Do you need an instruction manual with diagrams so you can see what’s being said?
2. Do you need to have someone tell you exactly what you need to do?
3. Or do you say scrap all of it and just jump right in positive that you’ll figure it out along the way?

On a computer when you are learning something

1. Do you need to have a detailed picture showing you step by step where to go?
2. Do you like to listen to a podcast or talk to a friend about the information?
3. Or do you need the application to have something specific that you do yourself?

Here is an easy one, meeting people for the first time what do you remember?

1. Name?
2. Face?
3. What you were doing or talking about?

What’s your magic number 1, 2, or 3?

I need to clarify something here, the number has NO bearing on your intelligence; some of my students were a little concerned when we looked at this together wondering if this had any bearing on their intelligence and no it does not!

Don’t Ever think that! This is just the unique you, now we are finding out or rediscovering more that makes you, you. Perfect.

What does all this mean?

If 1 happens to be your number then you are a visual learner, you process everything through visual images or pictures, or vivid descriptions. You can enjoy an evening reading a good story.

Do you feel closer to 2, then you learn by Hearing, or it’s called an Auditory learner, you don’t mind spending time on the phone, phone conference calls work great for you to keep up with work. If you want to learn something you can listen to a pod cast, or an instructional CD while driving.

They say third time is the charm, are you feeling the charm?

If you identify closely with 3 then you’re someone who needs not only to see the information but you need to interact with it. Telling a story you get physically involved, hands a flying. You learn and figure things out as you go along. You can multi-task with ease, in fact if you are not interacting physically and mentally the information doesn’t always stay with you. You were the mixer ‘fixer’ in our home. Ahh good times.

This is helpful when you are looking to further your education.

If you know what your learning style is then you can begin looking for a type of education or a career that matches.

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