Figure 3-14.  The importance of recognizing a dominant brain hemisphere gives the instructor a guide for ways to teach and reinforce  learning.  As seen in  Figure 3-14,  right and left brain learners have preferences for how they process information. Based on  information processing theory, left brain learners or serialist ic $_{ }$learners have an analytic approach to learning. Because they gain  understanding in linear steps, with each step logically following the previous one, these learners need well-defined, sequential steps  where the overall picture is developed slowly, thoroughly, and logically. This is a bottom-up strategy.  Right brain or holistic learners favor the holist ic $_{ }$strategy and prefer a big picture or global perspective. This is a top-down strategy  and learners tend to learn in large jumps, absorbing material almost randomly without seeing connections, until suddenly “it” clicks  and they get it. Global learners solve complex problems rapidly once they have grasped the big picture, but they often have  difficulty explaining how they did it. This type of learner seeks overall comprehension; analogies help this individual.  In 1988, Richard Felder and Linda Silverman designed a learning style model with parallel learning styles that classified individuals  as having learning preferences in sensing or intuitive, visual or verbal, active or reflective, sequential or global (discussed under  holistic/serialist ic  learning style). A questionnaire developed by Felder and Solomon that offers learners the opportunity to  assess learning preferences at no cost for noncommercial purposes is available at www.webtools.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/.  [Figure 3-15]  Holistic/Serialist ic  Theory  Index of Learning Styles  3-21 