What type of learner are you? We’re all familiar with the classifications of visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners and many of us know about the Multiple Intelligences, but I think understanding oneself in terms of archetypes provides a deeper and more meaningful connection.
What is an archetype? An archetype is a personification of a collection of traits. It’s a commonly understood symbol that transcends cultures and time, although it can have a specific cultural expression. Carl Jung, one of the founders of modern psychology, defined the concept of the archetype. It can be useful to represent certain archetypes using the Olympian gods of Greek mythology since they are foundational to Western culture, but there are figures in all cultures that can symbolize archetypal energies. With which archetype or type of learner do you most identify?
The Technician, Hephaestus Learner
The Archetype: This character is a maker, the symbol of arts and crafts. Hephaestus is a mechanic, a blacksmith, a technician. The Homeric “Hymn to Hephaistos” describes Hephaestus as a civilizing force who taught humans how to do noble work and evolve from their animalistic, cave-dwelling lifestyle to a higher level.
Strengths of this type of learner: analysis, breaking it down and putting it back together, understanding the underlying structure of things (grammar, chemistry, cellular biology, coding, etc.).
You have an understanding of the parts and the whole. You appreciate conceptual approaches. You want to see how it all fits together.
The Strategist, Athena Learner
The Archetype: Athena is a wise, strong warrior who employs crafty strategy in order to accomplish goals.
Strengths of this type of learner: quickly grasps the goals and requirements of the assignment, wisely chooses which information to pay attention to and what to discard as unnecessary, good at skimming and selecting, researching, studying efficiently with effective strategies, may be an overachiever or even a bit of a teacher’s pet (Athena was Zeus’ favorite)
You have skills uniquely suited to succeeding as a student. Your wisdom and strategic thinking will serve you well in future work.
The Adventurer, Frontier-Pusher, Edge-Dweller
The Archetype: The need to explore and discover drives this type of learner. Their curiosity is insatiable and their questions endless.
Strengths of this type of learner: asks questions way beyond teacher’s lecture, pushes boundaries with independent projects (science research, takes independent studies, writes articles for school newspaper, pursues own interests outside of school and possibly brings those interests back to school to share), internally motivated
You have the gift of internal motivation and abundant energy for learning. Your curiosity makes you innovative and inspired.
The Artist, The Muse
The Archetype: The artist seeks and notices the beauty of ideas, structures, theories, and forms of art. Elegance and wonder drive this archetype.
Strengths of this type of learner: attracted to the beauty of the subject—the dance of atoms, the turns of phrase and paradoxes in a poem, the musical or theatrical ensemble’s shared performance; connects to material emotionally and aesthetically; delights in creating beautiful products to turn in.
Your vision and intuition about ideas and content allow you to have a unique take on the material. Your approach is usually intriguing and refreshing. You inspire others.
