Learning Type Measure

According to the LTM assessment, I am a Type One (Imaginative) learner and I learn best by relating new ideas to prior knowledge and personal experiences. I thrive in environments that foster respect for everyone’s ideas and opinions, and I also excel in teamwork settings. This is why I enjoyed Mr. Van Kesteren’s class in high school because he always had group activities and encouraged us to share our thoughts. My secondary preferred quadrants were quadrant two and three; the former is a more traditional approach to learning with the theories and lectures and the latter is application based learning. As a Type Two learner I use my analytical abilities to think through ideas, data, theories and facts. With a further preference in quadrant three, I enjoy problem solving and experimentation.

I concur with the assessment’s findings as I reflect on my ideal learning environment; I see a common thread of respect, open discussions, and group collaborations. Throughout my learning journey I have realized the importance of establishing a personal connection to whatever I am learning and to contextualize it so that it is relevant and motivating. My obsession to connect to previous knowledge comes from the fact that I grew up with my mother who is a historian. My mother would always relate current affairs to history and that taught me the importance of contextualizing anything I read or learned.

Although as an Imaginative Learner I spend my time using my imagination to reflect on my learning, I do need the theory, facts, and application of the knowledge to help me analyze and personalize the learning- this is where quadrant two and three complement my type one preference in learning.

What I found to be surprising as I read the LTM findings is that my least preferred is quadrant four which is action based learning. I was a little bit disappointed in the beginning. However, I realized that my disappointment stemmed from my aspiration to be a Type Four Learner and it represents an area for me to develop and stretch into. This means that I will try to apply my learnings outside the classroom and push myself to towards challenge and growth. I also think that it complements the analytical skills that come with being an Imaginative learner but it will help me take it a step further by converting the analysis into action.

I learnt from the LTM assessment that my preferences as a learner come from my emphasis on human interaction, interactive discussions, and personal growth which aligns with the humanist, social and constructivist learning theories. I think that self-directedness and the ability to motivate myself to learn is one of the strengths that I possess and have utilized throughout my learning journey. For example, I have always taken initiative to learn new things on my own such as learning Portuguese or Adobe Photoshop. Regardless of what the topic is, as long as I am able to relate it to my personal growth, I will passionately commit to it. The focus of personal growth in my learning is where I see myself more of a growth mindset learner because I am always looking for opportunity to grow and improve. For example, I always look for opportunities to improve by asking for feedback from my professors and colleagues and I always embrace constructive criticism.

#LTM #IntellectualIdentity