(ST)Sensing-Thinking or Mastery Learners Overview: Realistic, practical, and matter-of-fact. Sensing Thinkers are efficient and results-oriented, preferring action to words and involvement to theory. They have a high energy level for doing things which are pragmatic, logical, and useful. Approach to Learning: Sensing-Thinking learners like to complete their work in an organized and efficient manner. They tend to be neat, well-organized, and precise in their work. They have an appetite for work, need to be kept busy, and require immediate feedback. They would rather do almost anything than remain in their seat listening to someone speak. They need to be active, to be doing, to see tangible results from their efforts, and to be in control of the task. Sensing-Thinking learners prefer step-by-step directions when assigned a task and become impatient if the instructions become long and involved. More than any other learner, they want to know exactly what is expected of them. They need to know what they have to do, how they are to do it, and when it is to be done. Sensing-Thinking learners will often lose interest in an activity if it moves too slowly, or if they can see no practical use for it. Sensing-Thinking learners need clearly-structured environments focusing on factual mastery of skills and an opportunity to apply them to something practical or to demonstrate proficiency in the skill. They prefer assignments which have right or wrong responses rather than open-ended or interpretive ones. They are highly motivated by competition, learning games, grades, gold stars, etc. (NT)Intuitive-Thinking or Understanding Learners Overview: Theoretical, intellectual, and knowledge-oriented. Intuitive Thinkers prefer to be challenged intellectually and to think things through for themselves. They are curious about ideas, have a tolerance for theory, a taste for complex problems, and a concern for long-range consequences. Approach to Learning: Intuitive-Thinking learners approach learning in a logical, organized, systematic fashion, bringing organization and structure to people and things. They take time to plan, organize ideas, and determine necessary resources before beginning work on an assignment. Intuitive Thinkers prefer to work independently or with other thinking types and require little feedback until their work is completed. They do not like to be pressed for time. When working on something of interest, time is meaningless. They display a great deal of patience and persistence in completing difficult assignments if the assignment has captured their interest. Intuitive Thinkers attack problems by breaking them down into their component parts. They like to reason things out and to look for logical relationships. Their thought processes follow a cause-and-effect line of reasoning. They are constantly asking, "Why?" and their questions tend to be provocative. Their concern is for relevance and meaning. Intuitive Thinkers are avid readers. Their learning is vicarious, and therefore, abstract symbols, formulae, the written word, and technical illustrations are preferred sources for collecting data. Intuitive Thinkers usually display a facility for language and express their ideas in detail. Everything they touch turns into words, spoken or written. They enjoy arguing a point based on logical analysis. In discussion, they often play the role of "devil's advocate" or purposefully argue an opposite point of view. Intuitive Thinkers are also concerned about being correct. They strive towards perfection, are self-critical, and are upset by mistakes--their own or other people's. (NF)Intuitive-Feeling or Self-Expressive Learners Overview: Curious, insightful, and imaginative. Intuitive Feelers are the ones who dare to dream, are commited to their values, are open to alternatives, and are constantly searching for new and unusual ways to express themselves. Approach to Learning: Intuitive-Feeling students approach learning eager to explore ideas, generate new solutions to problems, and discuss moral dilemmas. Their interests are varied and unpredictable, but they prefer activities which allow them to use their imaginations and do things in unique ways. They are turned off by routine or rote assignments and prefer questions which are open ended, such as "What would happen if...?" Intuitive Feelers are highly motivated by their own interests. Things of interest will be done inventively well. Things which they do not like may be done poorly or forgotten altogether. When engaged in a project which intrigues them, time is meaningless. Intuitive Feelers operate by an "internal clock" and, therefore, often feel constrained or frustrated by external rules or schedules. Intuitive Feelers are independent and nonconformist. They do not fear being different and are usually aware of their own and others' impulses. They are open to the irrational and not confined by convention. They are sensitive to beauty and symmetry and will comment on the aesthetic characteristics of things. Intuitive Feelers prefer not to follow step-by-step procedures but rather to move where their intuition takes them. They prefer to find their own solutions rather than being told what to do or how to do it. They are able to take intuitive leaps, and they trust their own insights. Intuitive Feelers often take circuitous routes to solving problems and may not be able to explain how they arrived at the answer. Highly adaptable to new solutions, Intuitive Feelers are flexible in thought and action. They prefer dynamic environments with many resources and materials. Intuitive Feelers, more than any other type, are less likely to be disturbed by changes in routine. They are comfortable working with a minimum of directions. Their work is sometimes scattered and may look chaotic to thinking types. Intuitive-Feeling learners are often engaged in a number of activities at the same time and move from one to the other according to where their interests take them. Often, they start more proejcts than they can finish. (SF)Sensing-Feeling or Interpersonal Learners Overview: Sociable, friendly, and interpersonally-oriented.Sensing-Feeling learners are sensitive to people's feelings--their own and others'. They prefer to learn about things that directly affect people's lives rather than impersonal facts or theories. Approach to Learning: Sensing Feelers take a personal approach to learning. They work best when emotionally invovled in what they are being asked to learn.Sensing-Feeling learners tend to be spontaneous and often act on impulse, i.e. in terms of what "feels right." They are interested in people and like to listen to and talk about people and their feelings. They like to be helpful to others and need to be recognized for their efforts. Sensing-Feeling learners, more than any other type, enjoy personal attention. They need to feel relaxed, comfortable, and to enjoy themselves while they learn. They like to think out loud, to work with other students, to share their ideas, and to get the reactions of their friends. They much prefer cooperation to competition, and they need assurance or praise that lets them know they are doing well. They are greatly influenced by the likes and dislikes of others. On occasion, they may complete a task as a means of pleasing someone rather than because they are interested in the task itself. Back