Myers/Briggs and VARK with Students and Teachers

A Comparison between Professors and Myself

A personality is a very interesting thing. It can be molded and changed if needed, and no one in the world has exactly the same personality, much like a fingerprint. However, learning styles are not so easily changed. They need to be worked around and found out how they work best for you, somewhat like habits. At J. Sarge this year, I’ve found that not only is my personality a good one to have, that my learning style is also an excellent trait to have.

I only have one professor that I have some difficulty learning from this semester. That professor is Rala Heinen. Although the class is online, I have some difficulty keeping it on my mind. Since the class is, in fact taught on the internet, I’m guessing Rala’s Myers/Briggs personality type is something like an ISTJ, which is good and bad for me. Logic dictates though, that 3 out of 4 letters matched to my ISTP would be a good thing. In thought, it would be, but the online element with no physical face to face meeting is what throws the learning curve off for me. Her teaching style for that class is very much read/write. I missed a test which I know won’t be good for my grade and overall GPA. Since I am a full V.A.R.K, I can learn stuff by reading it, but it’s a question as to weather or not I’ll retain it, which is where studying comes in. I read when the test was due, but it didn’t stick, and I don’t memorize due dates.

Every other professor I have though, I seem to mesh with pretty well. One in particular stands out though, a Dr. Brandon. His teaching style is also read/write, but I get to sit in class, not at a computer screen, and am better able to absorb all the information I need to do well in his class. I’m guessing that his Myers/Briggs personality type is somewhere along the lines of: I, I, T, J. Since I’m an ISTP, we compliment each other nicely. In the areas that I wish I was stronger in such as being able to focus on the big picture, and being able to make decisions easily, he is. In the areas that are not “in” his personality such as perhaps focusing on details, and questioning the need for many rules, I have in mine. It seems to be a nice system of checks and balances that result in my learning being better. Which, in the end is good for everyone.

All people have different methods of learning and teaching styles, different personality types, and different desires and values. It’s a small wonder that people match up as well as I do, even sometimes. There is a huge amount of possible combinations between students and teachers and their Myers/Briggs personalities, and teaching/learning styles. It’s probably very rare to get a teacher, or a student for that matter, that completely matches you in personality and learning style. When it does happen though, you know it, because everything just flows and seems so much easier than what everyone else is trying to do.