Learning Styles (Task 15) Fari, Stacy, John and Natalija

Activist
The Activist is one of the learning preferences according to the theory developed by Honey and
Mumford based on the work of Kolb.
They use a learning styles questionnaire to assess the dominant learning preference(s) of an
individual.
Description:
As the name suggests, an Activist is a person who learns by doing. They are open-minded and enjoy
new experiences. They throw themselves into new experiences with enthusiasm and without bias.
As people they are outgoing and dynamic, but they do prefer to be the centre of attention.
Behaviours:
They live in the present which means that whilst things are going well they respond positively, but
they tend to be reactive, spontaneous and to consider the consequences after acting. Activists are the
kind of people who are always busy rushing from one activity to the next, but once they master a
challenge they become bored and are ready to move on to the next thing. They do not like
repetition. As a result they are less interested in the fine detail of a project or developing it after the
excitement of creating it.
Relevance to e learning:
Peter Honey has speculated that as Activists are open minded to learning they would want their elearning to be fast paced and may not be as motivated to finish tasks as other learners. In an elearning environment this means that they would enjoy interactive learning as long as it was new
and dynamic, they enjoy working in a group, especially if they can be the centre of attention and
they may enjoy chat as they like to brainstorm solutions to problems.

Pragmatist
Description:
The pragmatist likes trying out new ideas, theories and techniques to see if they work in practice.
This kind of person needs to be able to see how these things work in the real world. They like to
experiment, so they actively seek out opportunities to apply these ideas, theories and techniques.
Problems are not hurdles, but simply challenges for this type. This person thrives on feedback and
coaching, so as to be able to make obvious the task on which they are working and the problem they
are trying to fix. Their philosophy according to Honey and Mumford is: There is always a better
way and if it works its good.
Behaviours:
According to a description of the pragmatist on brainboxx.co.uk, this person is very business-like in
nature and tends to get straight to the point. With a "get up and get it done" kind of attitude, they
have little patience for ruminating and open-ended discussions say Honey and Mumford. This
person is a solutionist, that is, they look for solutions as opposed to problems, so they tend to see
even the positives in the negative things on the road to finding a solution. This person will tend to
be very down-to earth and practical in their outlook as they attempt to find workable solutions.
They are the sort who return from courses and workshops ready to implement the appealing things
they have learned.
Relevance to online learning:
This type of learner, it is assumed, will find useful, activities which give them time to think about
how to apply learning in reality, such as case studies. Because, they are solutionists, they might
enjoy problem-solving activities and discussions on the DB. Also because they like to move
quickly on finding solutions, they might take well to real- time conversations. This person would
therefore prefer to be exposed to interactive learning activities and problem-based learning as
opposed to abstract games or concepts on the VLE.

Learning Styles (Task 15) Fari, Stacy, John and Natalija

Theorist
Description:
The theorist breaks down new learning into logical steps and require a deep understanding of the
theory behind their learning. According to the Mumford and Honey definition of this type of learner
they think things through in sequential order. They form a logical system to gain a better
understanding of situations. They analyse and synthesize new learning into a logical system to
follow.
Behaviours:
Theorists tend to be perfectionist they won't be happy until they can break down their new
information and fit it into their system. They do not tolerate uncertainty, ambiguous situations and
disorder. So they tend to be very rational and objective.
Their learning needs structure and order and they do not like subjectivity and lateral thinking.
Relevance to e-learning:
When it comes to e-learning a theorist may benefit most from concepts and theories which they can
assimilate themselves. Creating discussion groups for them to debate and evaluate their theories
may provide the best results from them.
The asynchronous environment may be an advantage to them as they would have time to evaluate
comments and their responses.

Reflector
Description:
This person likes to think things through and to assimilate information before they make any
decisions or conclusions. They observe first, collecting data not only on their own e.g. through
research and reading (books, articles, case studies) but also from others experiences and reading.
The Reflector then likes to consider all the various options/angles/ideas first before reaching a final
conclusion. As they like to have the time to review what they have learnt they would prefer to reach
their decision without the added pressure of deadlines.
Behaviour:
Honey and Mumford describe this person as keeping a low profile, taking a back seat and
remaining cautious while they observe and think. This may lead to procrastination and at times
makes them seem a bit aloof, and distant from others. The Reflector may enjoy working closely, and
quietly, with someone more experienced, such as a mentor. The Reflector prefers a more structured
mode of learning and may feel uncomfortable if asked to think on their feet or reach a decision on
the spot.
Relevance to e-learning:
Some of the types of tasks the Reflector would prefer:
- Pair work / one-on-one discussions with someone they perceive as more experienced such as a
tutor.
- Opportunities for asynchronous discussions (replying to email or posting to DBs) so that they have
time to plan and think what theyre going to say.
- Tasks which they can complete on their own and at their own pace so they have time to assimilate
information such as reading and listening tasks, completing research tasks, producing
analyses/reports.
- Observing others at work for example by watching a video of how something is done so that they
can learn from others experience.
Completing questionnaires which allows for reflection.

Learning Styles (Task 15) Fari, Stacy, John and Natalija

Sources
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Honey and Mumford Learning Styles (1986)
http://www.pd-how2.org/doing/learning-styles/index.cfm
Embedding learning technologies
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Understanding your learning styles Academic Skills
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Learning Styles Which one are you?
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pdf