Learning Styles - Left or right brain dominance
August 2016, The link has been corrected.
This site is not intended to provide research and testing on learning styles. Originally constructed as a Reusable Learning Object, it is rather an animation of the characteristics of left brain and right brain learning traits adapted from the work of Malcolm Knowles in his book, "The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species (1990, p 243-248)." It also includes sites of learning style inventories for self reflection. Some of these secondary links may...
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August 2016, The link has been corrected.
This site is not intended to provide research and testing on learning styles. Originally constructed as a Reusable Learning Object, it is rather an animation of the characteristics of left brain and right brain learning traits adapted from the work of Malcolm Knowles in his book, "The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species (1990, p 243-248)." It also includes sites of learning style inventories for self reflection. Some of these secondary links may change over time and we will make an effort to keep up with those changes in a timely manner. Click on the ? button in the upper right hand corner to get the directions on the most effective use of the tool.
The site has been used initially as part of a leadership development course to assess how leaders learn and to help leaders determine how their subordinates learn. With the concept of "inside out leadership" I believe that leaders (no matter what age or position) have to be able to assess their own learning style. Subsequently knowing how others learn (and this may be different from how leaders learn) will affect how a leader gives direction, makes assignments, delegates work, etc.
This RLO has been used in both an on-line graduate leadership development course and an on-ground freshmen orientation course but can be widely adopted for use in other areas such as study skills, psychology, management, and education. The learning goals/objectives, a sample learning
assignment and the ways I have used the brain dominance material are located at http://www.towson.edu/~mcmahon/lead/moduletheory.html .
There is a security system in place for the module (but not the RLO) because of tuition collected in an online course. It changes every semester but is available to those requesting it by contacting the author. The brain dominance RLO is only one part of the collective information required in the Personal Profile proof of learning for this content module on Leadership Theory (see right column of the module). The proofs of learning are considered homework and are collected online and recorded.
Students who have viewed this RLO find it helpful in examining how they think. They can then compare their style to how others think and learn. It adds an interesting visualization to the popular "left-brain, right brain" literature.
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Material Type:
Animation
Technical Format:
Other
Date Added to MERLOT:
July 25, 2003
Date Modified in MERLOT:
September 23, 2016
Author:
Human Resource Development Graduate Program<br/>Towson University, Baltimore MD
Submitter:
Dr. Joan
McMahon
Quality
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Peer review 3.02 ratingPeer Reviews:
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User Rating:
- Discussion (11 Comments)
- Learning Exercises (none)
- Bookmark Collections (64)
- Course ePortfolios (3)
- Accessibility Info (none)
User review 3.11 average rating
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Graduate School,
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Mobile Compatibility:
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Language:
English
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Discussion
Discussion for Learning Styles - Left or right brain dominance
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11 weeks ago
Stacy Springer (Student)
The animatiion learning object is no longer available.
Time spent reviewing site:
0
Used in course
8 weeks ago
Dr. Joan McMahon (Faculty)
In August 2016, this link was updated.
2 years ago
Joddi Harkness (Student)
Although there are a few broken links, I found this material to be rather useful and entertaining.
Time spent reviewing site:
30 mins
Used in course
2 years ago
Morwesi Gumani (Student)
left brain or right brain
5 years ago
Melanie Weinstein-Zeolla (Faculty)
Very informative and interesting for students who are learing about learning styles.
6 years ago
Patrick Davis (Administrator)
There is quite of reading. From a student point-of-view, I doubt you will keep someone's attention. I believe this may be a graduate-level tool for a Psychology class. I would prefer to see more animation and/or more interaction.
Technical Remarks:
Left and Right Brain Inventories link is broken.
Time spent reviewing site:
45 minutes
6 years ago
Arianna Dorschel (Student)
This site offered self-assessment tools that can be used to characterize right and left brain functionality. The learning style sites that were used were useful, interactive and offered different styles of self-reflection. Although the sites did not go into too much scientific research in terms of the different learning styles, they did offer a brief introductory glimpse into the different styles and they were well organized. The learning tools that are offered on this site can be used with a wide range of audiences, varying from undergraduate students to graduate students. The materials offered on this site captured a nice visualization effect to the subject matter at hand. I believe the materials offered on this site would be great introductory tools to learning assessment.
Technical Remarks:
The 'Right and Left Brain Inventories' link did not open.
6 years ago
Dawn Giannoni (Consultant)
It appears the original intentions for usablity of this Web site meets the goals it was designed for and the intended audience. I think, it was designed with an intention to be "over-simplified" so as to lead students to resources like the Brain Dominance test and the Myers-Briggs preliminary quizzes and interpretations and to pique interest. I do not think it was the intention of the creators to make this a scientific resource, but one that can spark an interest for students about themselves, and to allow them to learn more about their learning styles and preferences. Often, this topic is something new college students have never really considered. I, like the author, teach an Academic Strategies course to first time college students, and the information they learn about their learning styles or preferences is often a real key to motivation and results in extending their approach to studiy habits. In this course, as in mine, the intention is not to provide an in-depth treamtment of understanding in detail of neuroscientific research and data. Taken from this viewpoint, and for the audiences intended this Web site is a great tool for new college students.
Technical Remarks:
I found all the links working except for one. It was certainly easy to navigate, and not a busy looking site--defintely desgined for both the right and the left brains out there!
9 years ago
Dawn Garippo (Student)
I would have to agree that this is more pop psychology than a science. The lack of testing procedures was disappointing. The site boosted more than it actually produced. I was intrigued by the title and fascinated by the theories, but disillusioned by the content.
It was fun to review as a one time visit, but for elaborate and informational purposes; I would suggest that the site be updated by some means of testing or questionnaire.
10 years ago
Rick Lamb (Faculty)
Right brain, left brain theory is more pop psychology than science. Indeed, the utility of identifying learning styles is questionable at best.
10 years ago
Deborah W. Proctor, Ph.D. (Administrator)
This resource promises more than it delivers. Two of the links were broken and of the links that worked did not work well and one would require a person to purchase a test.This may have been a good site at one time, but it needs updating.