File: color.html, Jay E. Aronson, January 4, 1999.
Learning Styles
An individual's learning style affects how he or she learns, interacts with the class, relates to other group members, and feels about the educational process. It is important to determine one's styles, so that one can latch onto methods that work well, and determine how to cope with a less than perfect match (in terms of their style), required in a course. Individuals have different cognitive styles, perceptions, and learning styles. Much research has been done on the topic of learning styles, and, it turns out that there is a fairly simple, and interesting method to determine the best ways an individual can learn and master certain kinds of material, based on their perception style. Also, these styles fall into very few and easy to define categories. I hope that once you determine your learning style and some of your personality characteristics, needs, and ways of acting and reacting to stress and normal situations, you can use it to help in developing an 'individual learning method'. Once everyone in the class has determined his/her style, we can adjust some of our methods and assignments to reflect our needs as a group and make the course run more smoothly. The results generally help in forming workgroups (not everyone should be the same in a group or very little gets done well). Finally, you can even use the results to help you in job selection and environment types that bests suits your needs, and how to best interact with people on the job and at home. (Caution: Some issues uncovered may require professional counseling that the instructor is not authorized to dispense. However, he can and will direct you to appropriate resources to help you.)
We shall use the following simple, validated (from a statistical point of view over many cultures to eliminate bias) perception test for determining personality styles / learning styles, and I do want the results (keep a copy for yourself). After you take the 'test' in class, we'll score it, and I'll explain what the results mean. This test and the theory was developed by Dr. Roger Birkman
Birkman & Associates, Inc.
3040 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 1425
Houston, TX 77056
713/623-2760
Fax: 713/963-9142
The test is on pages 42-43 of Birkman, Roger, True Colors, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN, 1995. The book is out of print, but the UGA Main Library does have a copy.
The in-class assignment for today is to take the test. We'll turn it in (for credit, but your answers are neither right nor wrong) and then discuss what it means and how it affects the class on the first day. Finally, you may uncover some interesting things about how you live and that they may not be in alignment. Also, you might want to have your significant other (or parents or siblings or children) take the test and compare notes. If you are 'out of alignment', it may point out some things you can do to improve your lives. In either case, we can briefly talk about these ideas / issues after class about some things you might do to improve your life - professionally and personally. Enjoy and thank you.
INFORMATION ABOUT "THE TRUE COLOR GRID"
Birkman describes people based on the 'colors' Red, Green, Yellow and Blue. These form a grid:
|
Red |
Green |
|
Yellow |
Blue |
A person in each color has certain characteristics and differences
in how he or she relates to people in the other color quadrants.
The TEST:
How Do You See Yourself
(Copyright 1994, Birkman & Associates, Inc. Houston, TX)
Here are some statements about yourself. Read each statement carefully. Please mark every statement, even when you are in doubt. (Turn in the attached answer sheet.)
If you feel a statement is True or Mostly True,
circle the T. If you feel a statement is False or Mostly
False, circle the F.
GROUP 1
T F 1. Argue when contradicted.
T F 2. Openly express differences of opinion with groups and individuals.
T F 3. Argue a point when I know I am right.
T F 4. Tell a person what I think of him when annoyed.
T F 5. Bluff to get what I want.
T F 6. Put annoying people in their places.
T F 7. Help friends by pointing out their faults
T F 8. Keep others guessing.
GROUP 2
T F 9. Like firm and strict supervision
T F 10. Orderly and systematic.
T F 11. Seldom leave things until the last minute.
T F 12. Want to be early for appointments.
T F 13. Work for accuracy rather than speed.
T F 14. Like to finish a job I've started even though others lose patience with me.
T F 15. Can schedule my time for a week or longer and stick with it.
T F 16. Prefer to take care of the details rather than take things as they come.
Total Group 1 True's: ______________ Total Group 2 True's: ______________
Color: __________________________
True Answers Only
|
Group 1 |
Group 2 |
COLOR |
JOB CATEGORY |
|
5 or more and |
5 or more |
Red |
Production-Centered |
|
4 or less and |
5 or more |
Yellow |
Procedure-Centered |
|
5 or more and |
4 or less |
Green |
People-Centered |
|
4 or less and |
4 or less |
Blue |
Idea-Centered |
If your numeric score was close to a number that might have placed you in another quadrant, you may have characteristics from that quadrant as well.
To see if you agree with the results, check the following grid, which shows the usual styles of each color quadrant.
Assertive
|
Usual styles (Red quadrant): |
Usual styles (Green quadrant): |
|
Usual styles (Yellow quadrant): |
Usual styles (Blue quadrant): |
Low Key
There is another famous and validated, more detailed personality profile by Myers and Briggs. For a short version of this other test and details on how to interpret the results, see the book: Please Understand Me by Keirsy and Bates.
True Colors Answer Sheet
Name:________________________
Course:_______________________
Semester/Year:_________________
Date:_________________________
GROUP 1:
1. T F
2. T F
3. T F
4. T F
5. T F
6. T F
7. T F
8. T F
GROUP 2:
9. T F
10. T F
11. T F
12. T F
13. T F
14. T F
15. T F
16. T F
Total Group 1 True's: ______________ Total Group 2 True's:
______________
Color: __________________________