Student Profiling and Learning Styles

Profiling learners is an essential tool in order to ensure the success of learning activities. It is important when developing learning plans for students that the learning manager is aware of the things that the students already know and understand, the interests of these students, as well as the ways in which they learn best.

There are several tests available which can be used to determine outstanding traits which people have. Some examples of these tests are the Meyer’s Briggs personality test, Richard Felder’s Learning Styles quiz and the Multiple intelligences test which was designed by Howard Gardner in 1975. In terms of use in a school context, I personally feel that although each of these tests give some insight into the minds of our students, the multiple intelligences could be the most useful.

This test can be done online on the Birmingham Grid for Learning website (2009), and the results are displayed on a colourful pie chart. This is the type of test that I feel would be well suited to be completed by students at the beginning of a semester. The easy to read results chart would give the learning manager a great overview of their classes strengths, weaknesses and interests. In turn, this information can be used to design learning experiences which will maximise interest and success for ones students.

Ultimately any one of these tests, when used appropriately, give the opportunity for learning managers to better understand their students and therefore enhance the teaching and learning process.

BGFL. (2009). Multiple Intelligences (Primary). Retrieved July 16, 2009 from http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/ict/multiple_int/what.cfm