Explore learning styles and receive tips for making your classroom more inclusive to all learner.

1. Appealing to Diverse Learners
Tom McDermott Troy Anderson
Pittsburgh Technical Institute Cengage Learning
Cengage TeamUP Faculty Advisor Market Development Manager

2. Snowflakes, not Cookie Cut-Outs
• Our students are different in many ways:
– Likes – Levels of intelligence
– Interests – Cultures
– Goals – Want different learning environments
– Problems – Levels of emotional/
– Skills psychological stability
– Learning preferences
– Vocabulary
– Fears – Personalities
• Your input? How are our students unique?
Please add to this list…

3. Your Experience?
Poll
Time!
• How much experience do you
have with the learning styles
(Auditory, Visual, and Kinesthetic)?

4. What Style is Yours?
Poll
Time!
• Yes, there can be blends of styles, but
which is your most prominent style?
– If you feel you need much more
information, you may be a reflective.

5. Three Basic Learning Styles
• Visual
• Auditory
• Kinesthetic
• How do you appeal to each?
Please give your input…

6. Personality Classification Systems
• Myers Briggs
• DiSC
• Four Personality Styles

7. The Four Personality Styles
Low DOMINANCE CONTINUUM High
High
Supportive Emotive
Nice, low key, good listener, avoids use of Entertaining, talkative, unfocused, loud,
power, good follower, loyal, steady, seeks abrasive, spontaneous, uninhibited,
reassurance, too laid back, waffles, extroverted, persuasive, exaggerates,
SOCIABILITY CONTINUUM
agreeable, friendly, avoids seeking enthusiastic, likes attention,
attention, apologizes, fears sudden wears red, fears rejection, animated
change, like people
Reflective Director
Disciplined, deliberate, aloof, deep thinker, Serious, goal-oriented, likes to lead and win,
searches for proof, perceptive, monotone, strong opinions, cold,
analytical, quiet, orderly, avoids decisions, prefers driver’s seat, direct, independent,
formal with others, complains, fears won’t admit when wrong, go-getter,
criticism, reads manuals, systematic controlling, business-like, sensitive to being
Low
hustled

8. We’re in Good Company
Low DOMINANCE CONTINUUM High
High
Supportive Emotive
Meryl Streep, Kevin Costner, Rachael Ray, Jay Leno,
Mary Tyler Moore, Paula Abdul, George Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton,
H. W. Bush, Abe Lincoln, Drew Jim Carrey, Oprah Winfrey,
SOCIABILITY CONTINUUM
Carey, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Ryan Seacrest, Dane Cook,
Winnie the Pooh, The Situation, Rosie O’Donnell, Terrell
Julia Roberts, Magic Johnson Owens, Tigger
Reflective Director
Albert Einstein, Alan Greenspan, Jimmy Bill Parcels, Barbara Walters, Jesse
Carter, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Linus Van Ventura, Peyton Manning, Donald
Pelt, Eeyore, Joe Friday, Mr. Trump, General Patton, Dick Cheney,
Rogers, Clark Kent, MacGyver, Bill Gates, Simon Cowell,
Bill Belichick, Ben Stein Lucy Van Pelt, Martha Stewart,
Low
Mr. Krabbs, Indiana Jones

9. Personality Styles in Your Classroom
Low DOMINANCE CONTINUUM High
High
Supportive Emotive
Whispers to neighbors, goes along with Talkative, participates, unites
instructor, rarely starts trouble or argues people, points out the humor in
SOCIABILITY CONTINUUM
grade, empathizes w/ instructor, likes things, fun, complains openly,
group work, lacks determination, hands used to conflict, leaves in a huff, lacks
in work late, friendly discipline, unorganized, unfocused, gets
bored easily
Reflective Director
Quiet, finds the errors, analyzes, needs On task, blunt, takes leadership
time and details, task-oriented, role, good at testing, responds to
may not want group work, doesn’t like challenge, focused, knows the goal and
debating/arguing, few facial expressions, works toward it, fights for grades, tries
rarely volunteers answers, approaches to control class, lacks humility, can
instructor after class, reads during class intimidate other students
Low

10. What Style is Yours?
Poll
Time!
• Yes, there can be blends of
styles, but which is your most
prominent style?
• If you feel you need much more
information, you may be a reflective.

11. Teaching Strengths & Personality Connection
• Task-Focused
– Directors: Plan well, knowledgeable, cover a lot of
material, hold students accountable
– Reflectives: Organized, accurate with information,
logical sequence
• People-Focused
– Supportives: Patient, build rapport, set students at ease
– Emotives: Humorous, fun/interesting, relate to students

12. Appealing to SUPPORTIVES in the Classroom
• Create a harmonious environment
• Build the relationship
• Chat with them outside of class
• Smile and stay loose
• Use group activities
• Assist them with
directions and work

13. Appealing to REFLECTIVES in the Classroom
• Use a sequential, organized structure
• Don’t put them on the spot in class
• Don’t spring anything on them or rush them
• Give them details and additional info
• Give them the manual
• When possible, give them the
option of writing assignment
instead of a speech

14. Appealing to EMOTIVES in the Classroom
• Spice it up! Do something interesting or spontaneous;
don’t bore them
• Maintain a fast pace, few details
• Use skits, Socratic Seminars, presentations
• Let them participate
in the discussion
• Praise them
• Ask their opinion

15. Appealing to DIRECTORS in the Classroom
• Be prepared
• Let them lead or direct something
• If possible, give them some control
• Give them a test; challenge them
• Give them space to do
their work
• Project an image of
strength and confidence

16. For More Info on Personalities…
• Effective Human Relations
by Reece, Brandt and Howie.
– Contact your Cengage
Learning representative.
• Email Tom
mcdhouse25@comcast.net

17. Conclusion
• Vary our approaches
• Vary our assessments
• Anticipate differences
• Adapt to the students as much as possible

18. is designed
to
adapt to you
&
your students

19. The Four Personality Styles within
Low DOMINANCE CONTINUUM High
High
Supportive Emotive
ReadSpeaker, ConnectYard, Kaltura, Kaltura, YouTube, Evernote,
Google Docs, YouTube, ConnectYard, ReadSpeaker, Assessment
Learning Path organization
SOCIABILITY CONTINUUM
Learning Path
Reflective Director
Charts/Graphs, MindTap Assignments, Quizes, Exams, Homework,
Reader, Flashcards, Notes/Highlighting, Dic MindTap Reader, Google Docs,
tionary, ReadSpeaker for multi-tasking, ConnectYard
Assesments
Low

26. mindtap@cengage.com