Six types of learners in neotech age

TORONTO - Are you intimidated by new gadgets and technologies at your work place or do you take it in stride and learn the skill of handling them with dexterity? The answer will tell which of the six different types of human reactions to new scientific innovations you have.

A study led by Deborah Compeau of Management Information Systems at the Richard Ivey School of Business in Canadian University of Western Ontario focussed on how people in different organisations embrace and use technology.

The Canadian researchers found that people fall into six categories depending on their attitude towards technologies and learning capabilities.

Leading the list are ‘Purposive planners’. These are people who plan in advance with careful attention to detail while learning about new operations.

Next follow ‘Explorers’ who learn on their own by delving into new areas.

Close on the heels are ‘Visionaries’, who think about what way a new technology can help them and their organisations.

They are followed by ‘Problem solvers’ who possess a task-oriented mindset and learn about a technology merely to master workplace tasks.

Then there are ‘Reluctant learners’ - who don’t see the value of technology and learn only what they need to survive at work.

Rounding off the list are ‘Pinballs’ - who pick up a variety of knowledge often through incidental learning.

According to the research, hitting the wrong computer key may be all it takes for some people to learn new technology skills, while others need intensive training.

Compeau has co-authored the study with Barb Marcolin, a Ph.D graduate at the Ivy School and Alain Ross, assistant professor of E-Commerce at Athabasca University in Alberta.