Different people learn in different ways, whether it’s through hands-on experience, observation, or thoughtful analysis. There’s no one size fit all approach.
Back in the ‘80s, Peter Honey and Alan Mumford introduced the Honey and Mumford model, echoing the idea that everybody has a unique way of soaking up knowledge.
To unlock our full potential, it’s about understanding how each one of us learns best. Their model was based on four distinct learning styles: Activist, Reflector, Theorist and Pragmatist.
Let’s jump in and find out which one you are!
Activist
If you’re someone who loves to get hands on and dive into new experiences, chances are you have an activist learning style.
Activist learners thrive on action and excitement, and they learn best when they’re actively involved in the learning process.
Whether it’s through trial and error, experimentation, or just jumping right in, they are the explorers of the Honey and Mumford learning styles, and love to immerse themselves in new situations.
An activist learner acts first and thinks later. They prefer to go with the flow, keeping preparation to a minimum.
Reflector
If you tend to read the room and listen to other perspectives before actively participating, then you’re a textbook reflector.
Reflectors are all about reviewing the data and considering all possibilities before jumping to conclusions.
Reflectors learn best when given the time and space to mull over information until, bam! That light bulb moment hits them.
While they may not be the quickest decision makers, their deep thought process and ability to recognise patterns and connections others may miss often brings unique insights to discussions.
Theorist
Do you find yourself drawn to frameworks, models, statistics, and the logic that underpins it all? Are you someone who hates doing something without a clear set of instructions? If you answered yes, congratulations, you’re probably a theorist learner!
Theorists learn best by analysing an experience and following tried and tested systems. They tend to be perfectionists by nature and prefer to work alone to ensure that it is done to their exacting standards.
A theorist is unlikely to stay in the background when it comes to group discussions. They’re keen to get involved, throwing themselves to the forefront of the conversation to passionately share their knowledge and rationale with the rest of the group.
Pragmatist
If you’re the type to get straight to the point, cut the riff raff, and focus on quick practical solutions that work in the real world, you likely embody the pragmatist learner.
Pragmatists prefer to see the evidence first hand by putting theories to the test for themselves, opting for tangible results over theoretical analysis.
They thrive off experimentation, hands-on experience, and real-world application. Pragmatists often grow impatient with lengthy discussions, unclear instructions and objectives, or abstract concepts that can’t be applied to the problem at hand. They learn most effectively by absorbing practical knowledge and skills that they can apply in the future.
Still unsure what your learning style is?
Picture this: a gleaming kitchen, an array of ingredients, and the challenge to cook something entirely new — how would you approach this?
- Activists in action: an activist will ignore the recipe and dive head-first into making the meal. The joy lies in the cooking process, and the final result becomes a secondary consideration.
- Theorists put their mind to it: a theorist will be fully prepared before they start cooking. They’ll read and re-read the recipe, counting every grain of salt and every shred of cheese, to ensure the recipe is followed to the letter.
- Pragmatists do their own thing: pragmatists could be a bit of a wild card in the kitchen. They’re likely to ignore certain ingredients, maybe ditch the okra, throw in a bit of chilli powder and treat the kitchen as their culinary playground.
- Reflectors take a step back: more likely to be the sous chef initially, reflectors prefer to take a supporting role in the kitchen, observing how the meal should be prepared before unleashing their inner Gordon Ramsey.
Conclusion
As you reflect on the different learning styles – the activist’s get up and go attitude, the theorist’s meticulous approach, the pragmatist’s daring experimentation, and the reflector’s careful considerations – which one resonates with you the most?
Understanding your learning style is the key to unlocking your full potential. Ultimately, what works for you, won’t work for others.
That’s why some people turn to online learning to find a way of studying that feels right for them. An online course offers a more flexible way of learning that can be adapted to suit your specific learning style.
If you’re desperate to ditch the classroom and take control of your studies, our range of over 700 online courses could be just what the doctor ordered.