Hand drawing itselfUnderstanding Your Learning Style: The Soloman-Felder Index of Learning Styles

Learning style preferences refer to the “characteristic strengths and preferences in the ways [people] take in and process information” (Felder, 1996). The Soloman-Felder Model of Learning Styles incorporates most of the major approaches to understanding learning styles and is designed for use with college and university students to self-test their learning preferences. Each of the four scales of the Soloman-Felder Index of Learning Styles has two opposite preferences. Everyone uses all preferences at different times, but not usually with equal levels of confidence.

The Active/Reflective Scale: How do you prefer to process information?
Active
Reflective
Active learners learn by doing something with information. They prefer to process information by talking about it and trying it out. Reflective learners learn by thinking about information. They prefer to think things through and understand things before acting.

The Sensing/Intuitive Scale: How do you prefer to take in information?
Sensing
Intuitive
Sensing learners prefer to take in information that is concrete and practical. They are oriented towards details, facts, and figures and prefer to use proven procedures. They are realistic and like practical applications. Intuitive learners prefer to take in information that is abstract, original, and oriented towards theory. They look at the big picture and try to grasp overall patterns. They like discovering possibilities and relationships and working with ideas.

The Visual/Verbal Scale: How do you prefer information to be presented?
Visual
Verbal
Visual learners prefer visual presentations of material – diagrams, charts, graphs, pictures. Verbal learners prefer explanations with words – both written and spoken.

The Sequential/Global Scale: How do you prefer to organize information?
Sequential
Global
Sequential learners prefer to organize information in a linear, orderly fashion. They learn in logically sequenced steps and work with information in an organized and systematic way. Global learners prefer to organize information more holistically and in a seemingly random manner without seeing connections. They often appear scattered and disorganised in their thinking yet often arrive at a creative or correct end product.


Adapted from: Felder, R. (1996). Matters of Style. ASEE Prism, December, pp. 18-23. See also : Felder, R. & Soloman, B. (2002) Index of Learning Styles Page.

How can independent learners help themselves?

Active

  • Compensate for lack of discussion by scheduling regular meetings with advising faculty member or seek out other students interested in same or similar topics and organise discussion groups
  • When developing your work to assess, find creative ways to use the material learned
  • Talk about material learned with family and friends

Reflective

  • Schedule time to reflect on material
  • Don’t just read – stop periodically to review the material and think of possible questions or applications
  • Write short summaries of materials read
  • Use reflective writing tasks (i.e., journals)

Sensing

  • Make connections to the real world
  • Seek out specific examples of concepts and procedures
  • Brainstorm about real world connections with your advising faculty member, other students, family, or friends

Intuitive

  • Seek out interpretation and theory to link together facts
  • Try to find theoretical connections to material learned
  • Discuss theories and interpretations with your advising faculty member
  • Take care not to miss the details when producing work to assess

Visual

  • Seek out diagrams, graphs, sketches, schematics, photographs, flow charts, or other visual representations of material
  • Seek out video, CD-ROM, or internet animations of material
  • Organise material into a concept map (or flow chart)
  • Colour code your notes

Verbal

  • Write summaries and outlines of material learned
  • Convert diagrams, graphs, etc., into written descriptions
  • Meet with advising faculty member regularly to discuss material
  • Organise discussion groups with other students
  • Explain material to family and friends

Sequential

  • Learn material in steps
  • Ask advising faculty member to fill in any skipped steps when explaining information
  • Take time to organise material in logical order
  • Try to strengthen global skills by relating new topics to material already learned

Global

  • Generate the big picture before trying to master details
  • Seek out general review articles that summarize literature before reading individual research papers
  • Skim through readings before you read material carefully
  • Instead of spending a little time on a subject daily, try to schedule larger blocks of time less often to immerse yourself in the subject
  • Find connections to material already learned

Resources