Learner Education Profile:

Self-Reflection

Courtney Krueger

County College of Morris

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Courtney Krueger

Reflection Paper

Throughout my education, I have found that the easiest way for me to learn is a

combination of different types of learning strategies. For me to understand a concept, I need a

combination of auditory, visual and kinesthetics. If I just hear something, I will not understand it

unless I can see it or physically do it myself as well. Like for math, I trouble doing mental math

and doing it by just thinking “five x plus two equals …”, but when it is written down like

“5x+2=” I can write down my answers instead of doing it verbally or mentally. I also have

trouble if someone just explains it to me and moves on. I have to try to do an example on my

own and work through it without help to be able to know it. This way, I can physically do the

problem, see the problem and go over it verbally in my head to figure out the answer. Using all

three of these types of learning helps me to fully comprehend what I am trying to learn because

I’m not just using 1 mode of learning, but 3. Because of learning like this, I found that teaching

styles that included all 3 types of learning helped me to understand the material, I also thought

that was effective for others in the class as well because it makes sure that every student’s

learning styles are met.

When I did my Teaching in America observations, I observed a 1st grade math class and

the teacher was very effective in considering different learning types. She had the problems on

the board as well as each student had a printed copy, she read the problems herself and also had

an audio recording of the questions play. She would do an example problem with them, she

would then let them either figure out the problem on their own or discuss with a partner. This

was great because it hit every single type of learning. She instructed, gave examples of how to do
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it, gave it to them verbally in 2 different ways, they could see it in 2 different ways, and they

could do the problem on their own in 2 different ways. On the contrast, I’ve had professors that

strictly lecture and don’t allow the students to discuss, don’t provide examples or allow them to

try to figure out some information on their own and I felt that was not effective. Sometimes I

struggle with lectures because I don’t get a chance to interact with the material on my own so I

feel that giving students a self-discovery aspect can not only help them master the topic, but can

identify what people need extra help with.

The same thing goes for types of learning in regards to Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory of

Intelligence. This theory says that people either think practically, analytically or creatively. I

have found that I think analytically. I do very well in school and have a 3.86 GPA and am

especially good at thinking mathematically. However, when it comes to common sense, social

skills, thinking of ideas and being put into new situations I struggle more. I think it is effective as

a teacher to keep in mind these different types of thinking and incorporate them all into lessons.

Giving students facts, how to apply them to the real world and allow them to experiment

creatively with the material can give everyone a chance to express their knowledge in their own

way. I think this is especially true when it comes to assessments. Some people are just not good

test takers, so things like essays and projects can help those students show they know that

material. One of my professors last semester allowed us to choose if our finals were multiple

choice exams or essays and I thought that was a great way of teaching to the students strengths

and weaknesses. I feel that if a professor only has 1 type of assessment it does not allow

everyone in the class to prove their knowledge. I have also had professors that focus on things
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like definitions and more factual knowledge, which is ineffective for the creative and practical

thinkers that need abstract thinking and application to understand material.

After taking the Multiple Intelligence Quiz I scored the highest on visual, mathematical,

interpersonal and intrapersonal. I have taken the test before and gotten the same results and I feel

that they are accurate with my personality, especially because I was equally strong in all of them

and I have always been the type of person that is pretty good at a couple things rather than

amazing at 1 thing and bad and everything else. The visual one make sense to be because adding

a visual aspect on top of other types of learning makes me remember material a lot better,

especially with having a poor memory. I agree with the mathematical category because I have

always been good at math and once something is explain to me, it flows very easily. Math was

my best subject in high school, there were several marking periods I would end up with over

100%. I also tutor my friends in math often when they are struggling. I agree with being

interpersonal in the sense that I am someone who cares a lot about others, is sympathetic and

enjoys having conversations with other people. However I am not interpersonal when it comes to

big groups, I love talking to one or two people but in a big group I get social anxiety. I also agree

that I have intrapersonal qualities because I spend a lot of time with myself and do not mind

being alone sometimes. I like a lot of solo activities like reading, painting and knitting. I also

think a ton (and a lot of times over think) and focus a lot on my emotions. I often write my

emotions down to sort through them since I have so many and have always been known in my

family as the “sensitive one”.

I think one of my biggest strengths as a teacher will be because I learn auditorily, visually

and kinesthetically, I will make sure to teach to all of those types of learning. I know that a lot of
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times teachers tend to teach in the way that they learn best, but since I learn best with a

combination, that teaching style will benefit everyone in the classroom. Another strength I have

is that because I have an interpersonal personality, I have a lot of empathy and focus a lot of

being kind to others, which I think will help me when I am teaching. I found that some of the

best teachers I ever had were all the ones that truly cared about their students. Because those

were the teachers that went the extra mile to help their students understand. They were also the

ones that made a positive and loving classroom environment which really helped students learn

because they felt respected and cared for. And that is the kind of teacher I strive to be.

I think my love for kids is a big strength for me. There were a lot of teacher I had that

were so nasty and rude to the children and I always thought to myself “if you don’t like kids,

why be a teacher?”. Having a passion for my job and my students is something that I think will

help me to be an effective teacher. Although my communication skills have decreased a little

since high school, I think that they will also benefit me as a teacher. I generally get along with

people very well and don’t like to start issues. I get along with all of my coworkers at my jobs

and I'm especially good at talking to children and also parents. In high school I was very close

with my friend’s parents and siblings friend’s parents. I also get a lot of experience with parents

from babysitting and how to tell them are certain issues and remain civil if there are

disagreements. Another strength I have is that I am 100% a planner. I love planning and

organizing and I think that will help my time management skills and organization as a teacher.

One of my weaknesses when it comes to teaching is that I am not the most confident

person and that I struggle with anxiety. Although caring a lot about the students is a positive,

there is a negative side because I feel like I will be constantly overthinking about if I did the best
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thing for them and if my lesson was good enough. And because I do not have a ton of

confidence, that will make classroom management skills more difficult because the kids might

not listen to me if I am not confident. But I think that just being in the classroom more and

student teaching will prepare me more for that and will give me more confidence as I begin

teaching. Another weakness is because I think more analytically, I feel like in my teaching I

might lean towards that way. But identifying and knowing that is beneficial because I can make

sure that I definitely include activities for other types of thinkers and really make sure I include

differentiation in my lessons.