How do you best learn?
From a book? A good lecture? A conversation with your peers? Or from a demonstration? Maybe you're more comfortable learning from an audio cassette or CD, perhaps interactively at a computer.

Have you ever noticed how some students find learning to be a difficult and uncomfortable activity while others seem to excel and soar in learning? The truth is that your success in higher education depends greatly on how comfortable you become with learning. The difference between the two groups is not so much a factor of "intelligence" as it is in discovering how best you learn as an individual and then orchestrating your learning environment to enhance your educational growth and development.

The fact of the matter is we can learn from many different modes or types of exposure. What is different with each of us, however, is how we prefer to learn. In fact, throughout our cognitive (thinking) development, we develop learning pattern dominances that become reinforced with every learning act. (For more information you may want to read some of the notes on the brain and brain theory on which cognitive style mapping is based.)

What is Cognitive Style Mapping?
Cognitive Style Mapping is not a test of intelligence.  Rather, it is an instrument--made up of a set of questions and your honest response to each--that will generate a profile of your learning style, that is, a printout of how you prefer to learn. For most people who complete it, the Cognitive Style Map only confirms what they already sense about themselves. Seeing that information in the profile reinforces their own self concept of themselves as learners. Others are surprised by what they discover, recognizing for the first time, perhaps, why some kinds of learning situations worked so well in the past and while others were less successful.

Do I get graded?
No! What is neat about your profile is that there is nothing "right" or "wrong" about it. It is what it is--a "mapping" of your responses to questions about learning preferences. Furthermore, if there are attributes of your learning profile that you don't like, with practice and commitment, you can change them.

What do I do with my Cognitive Style Map profile?
First, identify your dominant learning preferences (strong ones) and then the subordinate (weak) ones. Then, compare your dominant preferences with the learning situations you are likely to experience in your classes. Before signing up for classes, determine through "the grapevine" how teachers facilitate learning; that is, don't hesitate to ask other students about teacahers. For that matter, don't shy away from going to meet the professor him/herself. You can learn a lot from a brief office visit and a glance at a syllabus. Most college professors are happy to meet students and give them a brief overview of a course.

How do I use the information on my profile?
Just as there are many modes of learning, so are there just as many methods of delivery. Your task is to match the "delivery system" with your own "learning style." When you are able to do that, learning will become more comfortable, exciting, and engaging to you.

Some college professors are straight lecturers (you know, the "sage on the stage" thing), and many of them are very good at "delivering the message." Others see themselves primarily as "facilitators" in a course, teachers who guide students through various types of learning options such as collaboration with other students, tutoring, peer evaluation, or independent study and consultation. Still other instructors see themselves as demonstrators, building models as they go, requiring students to "strap on the tools" and to build along beside them. Your job is to find the teaching style that best fits you!

How do I take the Cognitive Style Mapping Exercise?
It's easy! Just click on the button below to go to the exercise. Follow the on-screen instructions. 

How long does it take?
It will take you about 5 minutes to answer the 32 questions.

How will I get the results?
Just complete the instrument. You will receive an immediate response on-screen!  Copy that and paste it into an e-mail message to me.  IMPORTANT! Be sure to follow instructions in the syllabus for sending me an e-mail message and an assignment!

For a more detailed commentary on your results and for an explanation of the complete instrument, click the "Interpretation" page.

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