General Learning Style (ENFP)

Students with this learning style learn best by exchanging ideas, conceptualising and role play.

To them, learning is a way of expanding their horizons and a path towards growth and development. They prefer to learn in an unconstrained, self-directed manner in which they can follow or absorb themselves in their current interests. They enjoy playing with ideas, experimenting with possibilities and thinking around the subject. They take in information globally, seeing first its broad shape and the possibilities inherent in it before looking at the detail, which they sometimes overlook. A participatory, varied and lively learning environment stimulates them mentally, and thus they tend to benefit from workshops, role playing exercises and discussion groups (as long as they are not held back by formality). Exercises, routine, detailed tasks, targets and highly structured programmes de-motivate them.

As learners, they:

• are stimulated by ideas and quick to grasp possibilities
• are motivated to learn in order to further their own and other people's development
• enjoy teamwork and group activities
• benefit from allowing their creativity and inspiration free reign
• are insightful, especially concerning people
• may need to develop discrimination, criticism and objectivity
• may need to think about how they can use what they have learnt
• may need to set themselves targets and learn how to manage their time more effectively

They learn best when:

• there are a wide range of activities to participate in
• given positions of leadership or visibility, for example giving presentations, organising team members etc.
• emotionally engaged by a subject, or can relate it to their personal interests and values
• there is an emphasis on teamwork and co-operation
• there is an open and lively atmosphere
• allowed to give free reign to their creativity and inspiration
• there are plenty of opportunities for co-operative interaction, dialogue and group discussion
• what they learn can be shown to benefit people's lives
• ideas are presented imaginatively or in an inspiring manner, for example using role-play, dramatisation or multi-sensory presentations

They are challenged when:

• the learning is essentially passive, i.e. reading, observing others, listening to how something 'should' be done, taking notes
• the focus is on analysis, detail or facts and figures
• having to collate large amounts of data
• required to work alone, for example reading, writing or reflecting
• being taught by 'rote' (i.e. repetition), or when given specific instructions or rigid guidelines
• accuracy, precision, thoroughness and adherence to rules are valued above enthusiasm, creativity and initiative

College Learning Style

Students with this learning style can inspire and energise any group of people. Their enthusiasm for new ways of doing things is often very contagious. They never tire of coming up with original possibilities, which are usually insightful or even ingenious.

Choosing a Major Subject

• May declare many majors until one captures their imagination
• Tend to be happy in majors or careers where they can initiate new ideas that others will implement
• Found frequently in counselling, teaching, the arts, journalism, advertising, sales

Learning Preferences

• Material must stimulate their imagination
• Impulsive energy may lead them to get involved in one project after another, sometimes not finishing them
• Enjoy complexity and abstractions
• Express themselves well, especially spontaneously
• Like variety in classes, subjects, majors, and tests

Reading, Writing, Studying

• Dislike uninspired routine and may avoid necessary details
• Like to study in groups but sometimes find that nothing gets done
• May read anything; tend to have piles of books and magazines around
• Write quickly when inspired, dashing off a first draft after "talking out" the paper
• Must push themselves to rewrite a second or later draft, and usually benefit from editing the first one for organisation, missing logic and data

Playing

• Usually involved in campus social life
• Like housemates to gather together for impromptu games or discussions, even at exam time
• Report they have no trouble dating once a week or more
• Motto might be "Work must be fun"

Possible Causes of Stress

• May like to test the limits of college rules - and sometimes push too far
• Among college females, tend to be the most assertive of the types
• May "burn out" or develop physical problems because of trying to do it all
• May not finish projects if they don't care enough about the topic
• May say "yes" to anything interesting with little sense of priority

Dealing With Stress

• Naturally good at getting things done at the last minute with a burst of energy
• Natural versatility and openness to change helps reduce stress
• Must find some time to be alone
• Learn to set priorities and say "no" to some requests
• Need to pay attention to physical needs