General Learning Style (INTP)

Students with this learning style learn best by reading, reflecting and conceptualising.

To them, learning is an ongoing process throughout life, and a way of understanding the universe. They enjoy playing with ideas, experimenting with possibilities and thinking around their subject, and are often absorbed in thought.

They learn particularly well on their own or in small groups and prefer unstructured teaching in which they are free to explore ideas and experiment for themselves. They ask many questions and tend not to accept a teacher's or a system's authority at face value. Memorisation of facts, sequential exercises and hands-on training are less useful to them than discussion, reflection, analysis and brainstorming.

They prefer an intellectually stimulating atmosphere in which open debate or enquiry is encouraged, though they may need encouragement to communicate and explain their ideas in terms that other people can understand. They enjoy amassing knowledge and demonstrating their expertise or competence in their own field, but may need to learn to utilise their knowledge in practical ways.

As learners, they:

• ask searching questions
• enjoy systems, theories, concepts and abstract patterns
• are good at analysing, conceptualising and theorising
• dislike structure, targets and routine
• are stimulated by ideas and quick to grasp possibilities
• may need to think about how they can use what they have learnt
• may need to integrate their ideas into a whole, rather than go from subject to subject
• are motivated to improve themselves and their understanding
• may not be thorough and overlook facts and details

They learn best when:

• encountering new problems or opportunities from which to learn
• encouraged to read, research and reflect on a subject
• listening and observing, e.g. watching how other people do things, listening to a lecture or presentation, taking notes
• allowed to give free reign to their creativity and inspiration
• allowed to absorb ideas at their own pace and to digest them thoroughly before acting on them or making decisions
• encouraged to excel and praised for a good job
• given the opportunity to explore or question assumptions, presuppositions or methodologies
• being presented with logical, coherent arguments

They are challenged when:

• having to take centre stage or being put 'under the spotlight'
• asked to repeat essentially the same activity over and over again
• there is more focus on facts and figures than intellectual exploration
• being taught by 'rote' (i.e. repetition), or when given specific instructions or rigid guidelines
• involved in situations which require spur-of-the-moment action and decision-making
• presented with too many distractions or alternatives

College Learning Style

Students with this learning style are quiet but undying sceptics. They are mainly interested in new ideas and have little concern for parties or small talk. They can, however, become quite talkative about a topic they've recently studied. Their logic cuts directly to the core issue of any problem.

Choosing a Major Subject

• Need to understand everything; may be difficult to focus on one major
• See ideal job as allowing freedom to use special abilities
• Found frequently in pure sciences, mathematics, research, engineering, college teaching, computer analysis, or any field involving theory, such as philosophy or psychology

Learning Preferences

• Intensely curious
• Global and abstract learners
• Understand theories and underlying principles quickly
• Can get so absorbed in reading or research that they forget time and people
• Report 3 to 9 hours per week of non-required serious reading

Reading, Writing, Studying

• May find it impossible to study without quiet for concentration
• Enjoy mastering complex theories
• May not have studied much in school; college may come as a shock
• Write first drafts loosely, including all possible ideas related to the topic
• Need to revise final drafts by reducing complexity and by including human examples

Playing

• Extracurricular activities usually include lectures, drama, and music
• May frustrate roommates who need casual conversation or appreciation
• Report that they do not date much in college; abhor small talk
• Because they follow their curiosity, work is play

Possible Causes of Stress

• May lack social supports
• May not pay attention to details and follow through
• May get consumed by favourite courses and ignore all the others
• May be so involved with work that they ignore extracurricular activities
• May put off writing until they read everything available on the topic

Dealing With Stress

• Naturally adapt well to outside pressures
• Need to look beyond logic to see what others, and they themselves, really care about
• May need to work at making social contacts
• Need to learn to take breaks for physical activity
• Need to restrain their urge to read everything that's ever been written on a topic