Personality Types And how they effect your tutoring style PLUS : Defending the SI Model and considering the appropriateness of a teacher centered model By: Alex Lamon Adapted from: Dr. Mark Pearcy © 2012 James Duplass, Ph.D. University of South Florida

Myers-Briggs Personality Test Where do you fall?

What is your tutoring style? For fun : pick up a pen, and write your name with the opposite hand you usually write with How does it feel? The point: your tutoring style is connected to your personality and learning style. It is difficult to change. How you’ve been learning to tutor has greatly effected your tutoring style

You’ve had a few weeks of tutoring now…how would you describe your tutoring style? Do you think, with practice, you could fluently write with your opposite hand? If you were not at all a collaborative SI Leader, could you change with training and practice?

Personality Types 1.Does your tutoring style benefit certain students’ personality types? 2.Does the SI Model (student-centered) benefit certain types of personality types that teacher centered (lecture) style does not? 3.Is a lecture model more effective for some personality types? 4.If the answer to number three is yes, should we always use collaborative techniques?

Introverted/Extroverted EXTRAVERTED (66% of the population) Introverted type has a more inward-looking, reflective orientation. They prefer explanation followed by time to reflect Introverted students want to develop frameworks that integrate or connect the subject matter Explanation, reflection, and then action Working privately with time to polish their work Listening while privately processing what others are saying Studying alone Extraverted type is more expressive and more sensitive to the external environment. Prefer an interactive approach to learning. The majority of undergraduate students are extraverts Extraverted students learn by explaining to others Extraverted students enjoy working in groups Their motto is: Ready, Fire, Aim Learning by talking or “thinking out loud” to form their ideas Making multiple attempts interspersed with reflection and feedback Group leaning, discussions, and studying with friends INTROVERTED (33% of population)

Sensing/Intuitive SENSING TYPE (66% of population) INTUITIVE TYPE (33% of population) Tends to grasp the literal meaning of communications and prefers to begin learning with details and facts in a step-by-step fashion. The majority of undergraduates are sensing students. Sensing people are detail oriented, want facts, and trust them Sensing students prefer organized, linear, and structured lectures. Like being detailed and specific Looks for patterns and big ideas, relies more on imagination, and likes to learn new skills. Almost 83% of national merit scholarship finalists and 92% of Rhodes Scholars were intuitive students Intuitive people seek out patterns and relationships among the facts they have gathered. The discovery method, or the why method, will appeal to intuitive students Rely on insight and inspiration, rather than careful observation Freedom to learn on their own and find novel solutions Grow tired of topics, want to move on

Thinking/Feeling THINKING TYPE(66% of population) FEELING TYPE (33% of population) Thinking type prefers learning that requires logic in decision making, is motivated by ideas, and has a clear preference for the lecture method. Like analyzing and examining ideas, search for the perfect solution or truth Enjoy well-organized teachers with clear direction and subjects that have logic. Thinking students choose to decide things impersonally on analysis, logic, and principle. Thinking students value fairness. Thinking students like clear course and topic objectives Feeling type prefers learning environments that are social, is motivated by interaction with peers and teachers, and avoids learning situations that may reduce harmony. Are motivated by a personal connection with the teacher Learning by helping others, studying with a friend, working in a group Feedback that shows empathy Feeling students value harmony. They focus on human needs as they make decisions or arrive at judgments.

Judging/Perceiving JUDGING TYPE (55% OF POPULATION) PERCEIVING TYPE (45% OF POPULATION) Judging type tends to prefer analyzing, decision making, and closure. Likes to work in an orderly, formalized way with predicable routines Needs to know exactly what they are accountable for The majority of undergraduate students are judging students Judging people are decisive and self- regimented. They focus on completing the task, only want to know the essentials, and take action quickly (perhaps too quickly). Perceiving type is more spontaneous, prefers to keep options open, and is generally more flexible in how he or she learns. Likes open, unscripted exploration Flexibility in assignments Work that feels more like play Perceiving people are curious, adaptable, and spontaneous. They start many tasks, want to know everything about each task, and often find it difficult to complete a task.

Which types of students does our student centered SI model serve?

Implications for your sessions Collaborative learning strategies are specifically intended to accommodate the Extraverts Because classrooms focus on ideas and progress in an orderly sequence primarily using spoken word and reading material, they are inherently geared to Introverts. REMEMBER: PERSONALITY ASSESSMENTS ARE NOT CONCRETE NOR DEFINITIVE…THEY ARE MEANT TO BE OVERALL PORTRAITS THAT INFORM YOUR TUTORING STYLE, NOT DEFINE IT

SI v. Lecturing Student Centered (SI) Teacher Centered (Lecture) Keeping in mind our personality assessment, what is the benefit of the SI model? Is there ever an appropriate time for you to lecture? If not all personality types are suited for a collaborative approach, what can be done to accommodate those students?

Thank you! Alex Lamon Mentee training developed for the benefit of awesome SI Leaders. September 25, December 3, 2013.