Learning styles and Spiral Dynamics
Spiral dynamics has been called a living strata in our psycho-cultural
archaeology. Spiral dynamics looks at what is important to a person within
their culture within society. The table below lists the different learning
styles within a particular cultural social focus. As a teacher or facilitator it is important to be aware of what is important to a particular group and then to teach / facilitate according to their preferred method.
| Popular
name /focus |
Learning
Style |
| Whole
view / 'we' harmony with living |
- As below but with Holistic understanding and awareness of interconnectedness
- Intuitional.
- Systemic thinking.
- Time frame: linear & parallel
|
| Flex
Flow /Knowledge of natural flow |
- Learning style self-directed and flexible- access to knowledge and
materials.
- Outcomes often non-specific.
- Teachers become 'gofers'. Ecological Thinking.
- Four times problem solving capacity of green.
- Time frame; In the moment.
|
| Human
Bond / Equality &Community |
- Learn by Watching.
- Explore feelings.
- Share experiences.
- Teacher is facilitator.
- Consensus thinking.
- Time frame; past-present-future.
|
| Strive Drive/Autonomy & achievement |
- Learning - trial and error
- Anticipated gains/rewards.
- Competition/prizes.
- Use of technology. Strategic Thinking
- Time frame; Present to future.
|
| Truth
Force/Meaning & purpose |
- Learning style - spare the rod & spoil the child. Absorb &
regurgitate the truth.
- Right / wrong testing - punish mistakes. Directed learning.
- Time frame; Present to future, but using the past to see what might
go wrong.
|
| Power
Gods, Raw dominance & control. |
- Learning style - immediate rewards for learning tasks. On the job
learning -action.
- Punishment results in loss of face- counter productive. Competition.
Egocentric thinking.
- Students need a positive experience for self - esteem.
- Time frame; Now.
|
| Kin,
groups. Spirits. Safety & well being of 'clan'. |
- Learning style reflexive. Copying observed behaviour. Step by step
instruction.
- Repetitive & routine. Use of symbols & drawings.
- (Primary school type learning).
- Criticism only accepted from within own 'tribe'.
- Time; frame Past.
|
| Survival
Sense |
- Learning is by genetic programming / instinctive.
- Observation of others.
- No conceptual learning.
- Instinctive
- Time frame; Now.
|
(From the work of K.Wilbur & D.Beck . Acknowledgements
to K.E.Rice.)
