QuiverX Newsletter - It's All in the Details

Parenting

This is the next installment in our series talking about learning styles. Today I want to talk about two general ways that people process information. They are the global style and the analytic style. Of course, nobody is purely one or the other - we all have a combination of both. But we also tend to be dominant in one or the other, to a greater or lesser degree. Let's look at them both so you can see some of the patterns associated with each style.

People who process information in a global style tend to look at the big picture. They don't usually focus on the details, at least not at first. Because of this, they have trouble with the finer details of information, are often easily distracted, and will sometimes not do as well on tests at school. They often understand the general principle of the school material, but may not be able to answer the specific questions on the test that relate to the details.

People who process information in an analytic style tend to focus on details. They are less interested in the big picture. Because of this, they need more detail given to them when outlining an assignment or project. They tend to be more organized, since this relates to paying attention to details, and grow frustrated in a cluttered environment.

Now, how does this work out in daily life? Jim has many analytic traits, including the need for a clear work surface. If you looked at his desk at work or at home, you would find no papers laying around. Even his current projects are filed away in a drawer. I, on the other hand, am more global. My desk is full of piles of papers. They are organized in a way that makes sense to me, but they are in broad categories. In fact, my inbox is more than just an inbox. It has levels of organization to it, though they are not clearly identified except in my mind. As you look deeper into the bottom of my inbox, you'll find things that are much older, that I'm keeping for future use, or waiting on something. That system would drive Jim crazy because he needs more clarity in his files. Jim's system would drive me crazy because I could never keep up with it - I get distracted by the next project too easily and I'm not always good at finishing one before I start the next.

Here is another example. Our oldest daughter is also very global. Her bedroom reflects her lack of obvious organization, though she can usually find what she needs eventually. She has all the intentions of cleaning it, and she works on it regularly, but she struggles. She tells me that she has trouble breaking such a big job down into smaller projects that can be finished in a few hours. This is typical of a global approach. She can see the big picture, a messy room, but has trouble with the details, such as a step by step plan to clean it. Also, typical of the global style, she works better with a partner. When I work on her room with her, even if I'm just there with her to keep her on track, she accomplishes a lot more in less time.

These aspects of personality/learning styles affect many areas of our lives. They affect the way a teacher teaches. (I once had a teacher who was very analytic. He put all the notes on the board for us to copy. They were color coded and in outline form. Those of us who could adapt to his style and copy everything EXACTLY and memorize it word for word did exceptionally well in his class.) These styles effect the way we interact with people. When you give instructions to your children, you will get better results if you adjust your approach for the globals and analytics. The analytics need all the details and step by step instructions. The globals need the overview first, then they can process the details that go along with it. If you homeschool, these styles will effect how you approach teaching your children.

As a parent, I am working to help my children build up their weaknesses. So, in my global children, I am working to teach them organizational skills and the ability to process details in a way that works for them. Not that I expect them to be as detail oriented as an analytic type would be, but that they would be able to function effectively. For my analytic children, I am hoping to show them the bigger picture and how those details work together in the larger world. And I'm hoping to teach them to have patience with us messy, disorganized globals.


Homeschooling

As I mentioned above, teaching children who have a different way of processing information can be challenging. For parents who are very analytic, a global child who mixes all their papers in one folder can be very frustrating. And for parents who are very global, an analytic child who requires their notebook to be categorized by subject can seem very stuffy. For me, the key is to focus on results rather than methods. For instance, when it comes to finding an assignment, if the child can produce the paper in a reasonable amount of time, it really doesn't matter if it was filed in the proper folder or if it was in the middle of a stack that was folded up in back of the book.

As a homeschooling mom, I also adjust my teaching methods to my children. For my more global children, I know they will get the gist of the lesson, so I need to help them learn the details and why they are important. And I also need to admit that some of the details may not be that important. For example, if my child can tell me that Christopher Columbus sailed in 1492, do I really need to expect him to remember the names of his three ships? Probably not. I do need to keep on top of their organization, though, and help them to learn better methods if they begin to get too disorganized. For my analytic children, I need to try to play to their strengths and keep their paperwork and books organized. Also, analytics tend to need quiet and neatness to study well, so I try to organize their day so their most challenging subjects can be done at the quietest time.

So if you have a child or children who are having trouble in school, consider if an information processing style difference might be part of the problem. It's good for globals to be exposed to analytic teachers and vice versa. We just have to be aware of the situation so we can "translate" between the two styles if necessary.


Quick Tip

This isn't a K.I.S.S. tip, but a more general one. Sometimes we parents will get cranky over something small and not even realize it. Usually for me it's a small thing, but one that I have to deal with regularly, so it makes me cranky in a very subconscious way. A few weeks ago I finally got tired of dealing with one of these and I did something about the situation. It was a quick fix - took me about 30 min and about $20, but the results were wonderful. I was amazed at how much better I felt, even though it was a small thing.

So, if you have something that's nagging at you, especially if it's a little thing, almost too little to bother with, don't ignore it! Just do something about it! Ignoring it is like ignoring a pebble in your shoe. All it does it bug you and interrupt your day. Take a minute and solve the problem, then you can go about your day in peace. It probably won't take as much time as you thought!


Bible Verse

Proverbs 12:24 (NKJV) "The hand of the diligent will rule, But the lazy [man] will be put to forced labor."