VARK

I did a slightly different VARk questionaire. I used the one that was on the VARK website as this also tells you what type of learner you are.

The results were:

Visual: 9
Aural: 6
Read/Write: 11
Kinesthetic: 8

This shows that I have a multimodal (VARK) learning preference. Having read VARK: A REVIEW OF THOSE WHO ARE MULTIMODAL - by Neil D Fleming, I like the idea of:

"act like those people with a single preference except that they have two three or four single preferences. They look at the information that has to be learned or conveyed to another person and choose the mode that they believe is the best one for that situation. In a sense they are context specific choosing the mode that best fits the need. For example, if they are signing a legal document they "switch on" their Read/write preference. If they have to learn a physical skill they will use their kinesthetic preference to work with it, to try it and to become practical. This group switches from mode to mode and they have the flexibility to adapt to a number of different modes both incoming and outgoing." and feel that this best describes my learning style

SWOT

STRENGTHS:
Mature Student
Committed
Motivated
Currently work in IT

WEAKNESSES:
Presentations
Concentration
Confidence

OPPORTUNITIES:
Career progression
New skills
Meet new people

THREATS:
Work committments
Family

Significant 'other' / mentor

For my mentor I have chosen my wife, Angela. As she will be supporting me through my course and having a degree herself, I thought that she would be a good choice.

Learning Line

This is my learning line. Like most people I went to Primary and Secondary school. After gaining better than expected A-level results, I went off to University, however I didn't enjoy my course and left after 6 months. I then spent the next 6 months at Essex Cricket Club as a member of the ground staff. It was then off to University again. This time I last 2 years before leaving. I'm not sure if Iwas mature enough for University, I think I found the freedom too much and could not keep myself motivated to do the work.

After University I went to work for Info' Products/Compel, it was here that I signed up for an evening course in Computer Studies. This course helped get me a job at Anglia Ruskin University. I have now been working at ARU for nearly 8 years, and feel that the time is now right to get a degree. I think that with the evening courses I have done over the last few years that I have matured as a student and have become better with my self motivation and time management.