What is Your Gregorc Learning Style?

There are many theories on how people learn. I relate to Dr. Anthony Gregorc’s model of learning styles.  In "The Way They Learn", Cynthia Tobias explains that according the Gregorc, the way in which we view the world is our perception, either concrete or abstract, and the way we use the information that we perceive is our ordering, either sequential or random (18). When you put everything together, the four combinations are:

• Concrete Sequential (CS)
• Abstract Sequential (AS)
• Concrete Random (CR)
• Abstract Random (AR)

Everyone will have a dominant learning style with a few common traits of any of the other learning styles. So which are you? Visit "Check Your Personal Thinking Style" and take the test to determine your dominant learning style.

Students who “are” dominant CS are typically well-organized, dependable, and detail-oriented, though, they are perfectionists and impatient as well. They expect others to be consistent, to follow the rules, to give specific directions, and to take responsibility for their actions (Tobias 30).

Students who “are” dominant AS are able to conceptualize ideas and must analyze a situation before making a decision, however, they may show a lack of friendliness or interest in others and are highly opinionated. They expect others to use logic and reason, be deliberate, and to keep issues factual (Tobias 38).

Students who “are” dominant AR are spontaneous and they understand how others feel, nevertheless, they are unpredictable and overly sensitive to criticism. They expect people to let them know where they stand through feedback, to not put them in the middle of conflict, and to show appreciation (Tobias 44-45).

Students who “are” dominant CR are independent, intuitive, and creative, yet, they are also impulsive and stubborn. They expect others to be flexible, tell them what they did right instead of wrong, and to point them in the right direction then leave them alone (Tobias 54).

What is your dominant learning style?  I am a dominant concrete sequential learner and I do not do well with vague instructions. I need to know exactly what I need to do. I understand this may be similar to hand-holding; however, I do what I can to try to read between the lines when necessary. Be very aware of the negative perceptions of your dominant learning style as they are your weaknesses. Figure out a way or get help to overcome these shortcomings if they are damaging to your education. Did you learn anything about yourself?

Should Technology Force Teachers to Change Their Teaching Style?

Technology has impacted many things such as how people communicate, travel, practice medicine, learn, and teach. Many innovations give professionals a way to do things more efficiently; therefore, new training is required. In order to learn, a person must be taught. In order to teach, teachers have to understand how people learn in this day and age and that may include technology or social media. If technology is changing the way students learn, then it stands to reason that the way students are taught changes or should change as well.

Take a look at how a couple of theorists perceive learning and how a teacher could implement the principles.

Seymour Papert, an educational technologist, believes that “technology should help children experience knowledge and construct meanings” (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 30), and created constructivist software using this ideal.  A teacher would offer opportunities for children to develop ideas through experience while using technology to support those experiences. In this particular case, the use of any source of media is advantageous. However, many teachers are resistant to change and may not want to use technology in their classrooms. Methods that were effective when the teacher was growing up may not be as effective today.

“If they can't learn the way we teach, we teach the way they learn” -O. Ivar Lovaas

Jean Piaget, a developmental theorist, identified the key developmental stages that may affect learning. Teachers should “be aware of the students’ developmental stage when presenting content” (Lever-Duffy & McDonald, 30). Just as coursework is based on the class and developmental stage of the students, the content presented with technology should be reciprocal. The use of technology should coincide with the physical development of the child when necessary. A child’s hand-eye coordination and dexterity should be considered as it may affect how a student uses the source of technology.

As technology advances, so should teaching methods. The world is changing and who can create the future leaders of today while using outdated methods of the past? Some teachers need to step up to the plate or out of the box and learn how to implement the simplest use of technology or media in their classroom. There is only one way to find out how effective it can be by adding technology to the classroom.

“Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is most important.”  -Bill Gates

What is Instructional Technology

What is instructional technology? Many people may think that instructional designers create instruction booklets or manuals and this is not true. Currently, the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) defines instructional technology as “the theory and practice of design, development, utilization, management and evaluation of processes and resources for learning". Many of the resources used are different types of media such as videos or computer programs. Instructional designers must understand how people learn and what technology can do in a given situation in order to help teach a lesson or support a learner. Although technology plays an important part in instructional technology, one must remember that technology is only a tool and you must learn how to use it effectively.


 “Any teacher that can be replaced with a computer, deserves to be.” - David Thornburg