Learning style in education and profession. Certain learning activities, courses or professions match a specific learning style. If a learning style preference and activity have the same characteristics, this can result in more effective learning and functioning. It is therefore important to take your learning style into account when choosing your education and profession. In this article you will also find an overview of which learning styles are most represented in certain professions or professional groups.
Learning style – education and profession, learning activity (Kolb)
People have a preference for a certain learning style. Certain learning activities, courses or professions are aimed at or match a specific learning style. If a learning style preference and activity have the same characteristics or key points, this will result in more effective learning and therefore also more effective functioning. This will likely increase the likelihood that a person will feel more comfortable and satisfied with what he/she is doing. If the combination of learning style and learning activity is less appropriate, learning and functioning will be less effective. This will probably give a smaller chance of satisfaction. This means that it may be important to take the preferred learning style into account when choosing education and profession.
Learning style Education – Working style profession
To get an idea of (learning) activities that match a specific learning style, the key points for each learning style are listed below, which can play a role in the choice of a suitable (learning) activity in a training course or in the work situation, profession and workplace.
Doers – Learning style and working method (accommodating style)
Accommodators will act first and then think. They are very good at improvising. They are flexible and can easily respond to unexpected situations. If they stray from an original goal or result, they don’t mind it that much and actually find it interesting.
Accommodator: doer, entrepreneur, entrepreneurial activity.
Key points and questions
Does this learning activity or workplace offer the opportunity to:
- learn something new, something I didn’t know or couldn’t do yet?
- to undertake different activities and not sit and listen for a long time?
- to try something out, make mistakes, like it?
- confronted with complex problems and challenges?
- to hang out with like-minded people?
Thinkers – Learning style and working method (assimilative style)
Assimilators think from concepts. They come up with solutions in their heads by combining and applying theories. Before they get started, they first prepare the working method.
Assimilator: thinker, scientist, theorist.
Key points and questions
Does this learning activity or workplace offer the opportunity to:
- to have time to consider, assimilate, prepare?
- collect relevant information?
- to listen to the opinions of others: a mixed group with diverse visions?
- not to be under pressure and have to improvise?
- to hang out with like-minded people?
Reflectors – Learning style and working method (divergent style)
Divergers are watchers. They look at things and think about them. They let their imagination run wild. They love coming up with new things and applications. They are good at brainstorming. They maintain close contact with their environment and like to work in groups.
Divergent: reflector, dreamer, detective, designer.
Key points and questions
Does this learning activity or workplace offer the opportunity to:
- to ask many and often questions?
- find a clear structure in terms of objectives and structure?
- to deepen and broaden my vision through complex concepts and ideas?
- to further theoretically develop approaches and concepts to be investigated?
- to deal with people at the same level as me?
Decision makers – Learning style and working method (convergent style)
Convergers like ready-made theories and individual assignments that they can start working on right away. They prefer to learn and function by applying the available theory in practice.
Converger: decision maker, problem solver, organizer, pragmatist.
Key points and questions
Does this learning activity or workplace offer the opportunity to:
- to ask many and often questions?
- to experiment and practice fully?
- to work on practical tips, practical matters, assignments and techniques?
- to deal with real, practical problems that result in action or action plans to also tackle some current problems?
- meet experts who know or are able to do things themselves?
Learning style profession – professional group
Although there has been no large-scale or extensive research to date, there is data available on learning style and profession. The Learning Styles Test has been administered to a number of professional groups. The table below shows the average score per learning style for the relevant professional group. For example, there are relatively many doers in the Trainer/Coach profession.
|
Occupational group |
Doener |
Thinker |
Reflector |
Decision maker |
|
Marketing manager |
9.4 |
13.8 |
12.5 |
13.6 |
|
Seller |
13.3 |
11.5 |
11.4 |
14.1 |
|
Financial manager |
7.0 |
14.9 |
14.5 |
15.3 |
|
Trainer/Coach |
11.2 |
12.9 |
11.4 |
12.4 |
|
Engineer/Technician |
8.7 |
14.2 |
12.3 |
12.7 |
|
Production manager |
7.4 |
12.7 |
15.2 |
16.1 |
|
Research development manager |
8.0 |
14.6 |
13.2 |
13.5 |
read more
- Learning styles test according to psychologist David Kolb
- Learning style test by Kolb and Juch (+ Graph and Diagram)
- Learning style and learning (Kolb learning phase cycle)