1.2 C.I.T.E. Framework Assessment
Rachel Cox-Vineiz, MA
Learning Styles
To improve your reading skills, understanding your personal learning style is key. There are several different models for determining your particular learning style, but in this lesson, we’ll be using the C.I.T.E. model as a helpful framework. C.I.T.E. stands for Communication, Information, Thinking, and Expressing. It explores how you best gather information: do you primarily learn from seeing words (Visual-Language) or hearing them spoken (Auditory-Language)? It also highlights if you learn best by experiencing and interacting directly with materials (Auditory-Visual-Kinesthetic), including numerical concepts. Beyond how you take in information, the model considers your preferred work conditions: are you more productive alone (Social-Individual) or do you thrive when you work with a group (Social-Group)? Lastly, it addresses your expressive preference: do you prefer to tell what you know aloud (Expressiveness-Oral) or to write your thoughts down (Expressiveness-Written)?
Understanding your unique learning style, as outlined in the C.I.T.E. model, gives you a real advantage. For example, if you know you’re a Visual-Language learner, you might highlight key passages, create concept maps, or rewrite notes in your own words while reading. If you’re an Auditory-Language learner, reading aloud or discussing chapters with a study partner could boost your understanding. And for Auditory-Visual-Kinesthetic learners, physically tracing words or acting out scenes from a narrative might be the key to truly grasping the material. By aligning your reading and study methods with how your brain naturally learns, you’ll not only comprehend more but also find the process more intuitive and enjoyable. Knowing your learning style enables you to use your strengths as you study for courses.
Instructions
Learning Styles Quiz
Directions: Read each statement carefully and decide how well it describes you on a scale from 1-4. Use the scale below.
-
- Does not describe me (not at all like me)
- Slightly describes me (not very much like me)
- Somewhat describes me (a little like me)
- Perfectly describes (a lot like me)
Table 1.2.1: Learning Style Quiz
| 1. I remember what I’ve learned best when I’m hands-on or making things. | ||
| 2. Writing assignments are easy for me. | ||
| 3. I learn better when someone reads to me, but not when I read to myself. | ||
| 4. I learn best when I study alone. | ||
| 5. I understand directions better when they’re written than when the teacher speaks them. | ||
| 6. Writing assignments are more challenging for me than saying what I know out loud. | ||
| 7. When I do math problems in my head, I say the numbers to myself. | ||
| 8. If I need help on an assignment, I will ask a classmate for help. | ||
| 9. Seeing a math problem written down helps me understand it more easily than a spoken explanation from the teacher. | ||
| 10. I like doing writing assignments. | ||
| 11. I remember things I hear better than things I read. | ||
| 12. I remember more of what I learn if I study on my own. | ||
| 13. I would rather read a story than listen to someone read it. | ||
| 14. I sound smarter when I talk than when I write. | ||
| 15. I can add three numbers together in my head without writing out the problem. | ||
| 16. I like group work because I can learn from others in the group. | ||
| 17. Written math problems are easier for me to do than ones that are said out loud. | ||
| 18. Writing a spelling word several times helps me remember it. | ||
| 19. I remember more information from listening than from reading. | ||
| 20. It is initially fun to learn with classmates, but it can be challenging to study with them. | ||
| 21. I like written directions better than spoken ones. | ||
| 22. I would complete all my homework if I could say the answers to the teacher out loud instead of writing them. | ||
| 23. When I hear a phone number, I can remember it without writing it down. | ||
| 24. I complete more tasks when I work with a partner or group. | ||
| 25. Numbers make more sense to me when I see them than when I hear them. | ||
| 26. I enjoy doing simple repairs or crafts with my hands. | ||
| 27. The things I write sound better than when I say them out loud. | ||
| 28. I study best when no one is around to disturb me. | ||
| 29. I would rather read about things in a book than have the teacher discuss them in class. | ||
| 30. Speaking is more effective than writing for clearer understanding. | ||
| 31. When I have a written math problem, I have to say it out loud to understand it better. | ||
| 32. I learn more about a subject if I am with a small group of students. | ||
| 33. Seeing the price of something written down is easier for me to understand than having someone tell me the price. | ||
| 34. I like to make things with my hands. | ||
| 35. I like fill-in-the-blank or essay questions on tests. | ||
| 36. I understand more from a class discussion than from reading about a subject. | ||
| 37. I remember the spelling of a word better if I see it written down than if someone spells it out loud. | ||
| 38. Spelling and grammar are difficult for me. | ||
| 39. Saying the numbers of a problem to myself as I work it out makes the problem easier to do. | ||
| 40. I enjoy studying with other people. | ||
| 41. When someone says a number, I don’t understand it until I see it written down. | ||
| 42. My learning and understanding improve when I can create or build something. | ||
| 43. Sometimes I speak impulsively, but writing gives me time to organize my thoughts and make corrections. | ||
| 44. I do well on tests if they are about things I have heard in class. | ||
| 45. I think better alone than when I am working with someone else. |
Scoring Worksheet
Directions: Match the numbers from the quiz questions to the numbers on the worksheet below. Write the number you answered (1-4) in the blank provided. Total the numbers under each heading. Multiply the total by two. Look at the scores to decide if each learning style is major, minor, or negligible for you.
Tables 1.2.2: Scoring Worksheets
| Visual – Language | Social – Individual | |||
| Question 5 | Question 4 | |||
| Question 13 | Question 12 | |||
| Question 21 | Question 20 | |||
| Question 29 | Question 28 | |||
| Question 37 | Question 45 | |||
| Total= x 2= | Total= x 2= |
| Visual – Numerical | Social – Group | |||
| Question 9 | Question 8 | |||
| Question 17 | Question 16 | |||
| Question 25 | Question 24 | |||
| Question 33 | Question 32 | |||
| Question 41 | Question 40 | |||
| Total= x 2= | Total= x 2= |
| Auditory – Language | Expressiveness – Oral | |||
| Question 3 | Question 6 | |||
| Question 11 | Question 14 | |||
| Question 19 | Question 22 | |||
| Question 36 | Question 30 | |||
| Question 44 | Question 38 | |||
| Total= x 2= | Total= x 2= |
| Auditory – Numerical | Expressiveness – Written | |||
| Question 7 | Question 2 | |||
| Question 15 | Question 10 | |||
| Question 23 | Question 27 | |||
| Question 31 | Question 35 | |||
| Question 39 | Question 43 | |||
| Total= x 2= | Total= x 2= |
Table 1.2.3: Final Scoring Worksheet
| Auditory – Visual – Kinesthetic | What do the scores mean? | ||||
| Question 1 | 10 – 18 | Negligible: You prefer not to use this if other choices are available. You do not feel comfortable with this style. | |||
| Question 18 | |||||
| Question 26 | 20 – 32 | Minor: You use this mode but usually as a second choice or with other learning styles. | |||
| Question 34 | |||||
| Question 42 | 34 – 40 | Major: You prefer this mode of learning, feel comfortable with it, and use it for important learning. | |||
| Total= x 2= | |||||
Table 1.2.4: Learning Style Descriptors
| Learning Style | Your Score |
What do your answers say about you? |
| Visual- Language | You learn well from SEEING words in books, on the chalkboard, charts or workbooks. You may write words down that are said out loud to you in order to learn by seeing them on paper. You remember and use information better if you read it. | |
| Auditory- Language | You learn from HEARING words spoken. You might whisper or move your lips as you read, especially if you’re trying to understand new material. You understand and remember words or facts better when you hear them instead of reading them yourself. | |
| Visual- Numerical | You need to SEE numbers on the board, in a book, or on paper in order to work with them. You are more likely to remember and understand math facts if you see them. You do not need as much verbal explanation. | |
| Auditory- Numerical | You learn from HEARING numbers and verbal explanations. You may easily remember phone numbers and locker combinations and be successful with verbal numbers, games and puzzles. You can probably work out math problems in your head and don’t need to see them written down. You may say the numbers out loud or move your lips as you’re reading the problem. | |
| Auditory-Visual-Kinesthetic | You learn best by EXPERIENCE and self-involvement. Being able to see, hear, and/or touch the materials will make a big difference in your learning. You may not be able to understand, or keep your mind on your work unless you are totally involved. You need to handle, touch and work with what is being learned. | |
| Social-Individiual | You get more work done ALONE. You think best, and remembers more when you have learned by yourself. You care more for your own opinions than for the ideas of others. You don’t have trouble talking with your friends too much in class. | |
| Social- Group | You get more work done if you WORK TOGETHER than if you work alone. You value others’ ideas and preferences. Working with a group helps you learn and recall information better. Socializing is important to you. | |
| Expressiveness- Oral | You prefer to TELL what you know. You talk fluently, comfortably, and clearly. Your teachers may find that you do better if you can tell them your answers instead of writing them. You are probably less shy than others about giving reports or talking to the teacher or classmates. Organizing and writing down all your thoughts may be too slow and boring for you. | |
| Expressiveness- Written | You prefer to WRITE essays and answers on tests to show what you know. You aren’t comfortable saying your answers out loud. Your thoughts are better organized when you write them than when you say them. |
Practical Learning Plan
Knowing your learning style empowers you to create a personalized plan for effective reading and studying. The table below gives study tips for each of the learning styles.
Table 1.2.4: Learning Strategies
Learning Style |
Strategies |
| Visual – Language | 1. Use color-coded highlighters when reading. 2. Create mind maps and diagrams of concepts. 3. Watch videos or illustrated lectures. 4. Make flashcards with images and keywords. 5. Annotate texts with symbols and drawings. |
| Auditory – Language | 1. Record yourself reading notes aloud and replay them. 2. Join discussion groups or book clubs. 3. Listen to podcasts or audiobooks on the subject. 4. Use rhymes or songs to memorize information. 5. Explain concepts out loud to someone else. |
| Visual – Numerical | 1. Use charts and graphs to represent data. 2. Highlight patterns and trends in problems. 3. Color-code different steps in problem-solving. 4. Watch video demonstrations of numerical problems. 5. Draw step-by-step problem diagrams. |
| Auditory – Numerical | 1. Talk through problem-solving steps aloud. 2. Attend study sessions where problems are explained verbally. 3. Use songs or mnemonic devices for formulas. 4. Listen to lectures or recordings on problem techniques. 5. Pair up to quiz each other orally on solutions. |
| Auditory-Visual- Kinesthetic | 1. Watch instructional videos and imitate actions. 2. Practice explaining concepts aloud while writing or drawing. 3. Use physical objects (like blocks or models) to represent ideas. 4. Act out processes or steps in a sequence. 5. Engage in hands-on experiments while narrating your observations. |
| Social – Individual | 1. Keep a reflective learning journal. 2. Set personal goals and track your progress. 3. Create personal presentations for yourself. 4. Practice self-quizzing with flashcards. 5. Record video or voice reflections after study sessions. |
| Social – Group | 1. Participate in group study sessions. 2. Create a collaborative concept map or chart. 3. Teach group members a topic. 4. Do peer reviews on each other’s work. 5. Host mini-seminars or group presentations. |
| Expressiveness – Oral | 1. Deliver mini-lectures to a friend or mirror. 2. Participate in debates or discussions. 3. Record practice speeches. 4. Join a speaking or improv club. 5. Use voice memos to practice explaining ideas clearly. |
| Expressiveness – Written | 1. Write summaries of each learning session. 2. Create blog posts or reflective essays. 3. Write practice exam answers. 4. Draft letters explaining concepts to a “future you.” 5. Maintain a study notebook with organized sections and visuals. |
Instructions
- Take the Table 1.2.1 Learning Style Quiz.
- Tally your results in the Tables 1.2.2 Scoring Worksheets and Table 1.2.3 Final Scoring Worksheet.
- Read the learning style descriptions that align with your learning style in Table 1.2.4 Learning Style Descriptors to determine if your test results align with your learning preferences or current habits.
- Read Table 1.2.4 Learning Strategies to identify some strategies that might work for you.
- Then develop your action plan for learning.
- Consider the following questions:
- What were the results of the questionnaire? Do you think they were accurate?
- What have you noticed in the past about the way you learn and what strategies work for you?
- Based on Table 1.2.4 Learning Strategies, what are at least 5 things you are going to adopt into your strategies?
