The 4-MAT Process is a teaching model developed by Dr. Bernice McCarthy in 1980 that takes into consideration individual learning styles and focuses on left and right brain teaching strategies. The purpose is to raise teacher awareness of why some teaching methods work for some learners and not others. The model identifies four types of learners - Innovative, Analytic, Common Sense, and Dynamic - each with different needs for investing in learning. Teaching methods are tailored to each learner type, such as cooperative learning and brainstorming for Innovative learners, lectures and research for Analytic learners, hands-on tasks and manipulatives for Common Sense learners, and independent study and simulations for Dynamic learners

1. 4-MAT Process4-MAT Process
Dr. Bernice McCarthyDr. Bernice McCarthy

2. About Dr. Bernice McCarthy:About Dr. Bernice McCarthy:
1980-developed an open-ended, holistic1980-developed an open-ended, holistic
teaching modelteaching model
Model takes into consideration individualModel takes into consideration individual
learning styleslearning styles
Focus on left and right brain teachingFocus on left and right brain teaching
strategiesstrategies

3. The purpose of the model was toThe purpose of the model was to
“raise teacher awareness as to why“raise teacher awareness as to why
some things work with some learnerssome things work with some learners
and other things do not.”and other things do not.”

5. McCarthy’s model identified fourMcCarthy’s model identified four
types of learners. Each type oftypes of learners. Each type of
learner has a different need in orderlearner has a different need in order
to “invest” in the learning process.to “invest” in the learning process.

7. Innovative LearnersInnovative Learners
 Interested in personalInterested in personal
meaningmeaning
 Need to have reasonsNeed to have reasons
for learningfor learning
 ““WHY?”WHY?”
 Connect newConnect new
information withinformation with
personal experiencepersonal experience
and convince ofand convince of
usefulness in daily lifeusefulness in daily life
 Cooperative learningCooperative learning
 BrainstormingBrainstorming
 DiscussionDiscussion

8. Why?Why?

9. Analytic LearnersAnalytic Learners
 Interested in acquiringInterested in acquiring
facts in order tofacts in order to
deepen theirdeepen their
understanding ofunderstanding of
concepts andconcepts and
processesprocesses
 LecturesLectures
 Independent researchIndependent research
 Analysis of dataAnalysis of data
 Hearing what ”theHearing what ”the
experts” have to sayexperts” have to say

10. FactsFacts

11. Common Sense LearnersCommon Sense Learners
 Interested in howInterested in how
things workthings work
 Want to “get in and tryWant to “get in and try
it”it”
 Concrete, experientialConcrete, experiential
learning activitieslearning activities
 ManipulativesManipulatives
 Hands-on tasksHands-on tasks
 Activity-basedActivity-based
application activitiesapplication activities

12. How things workHow things work

13. Dynamic LearnersDynamic Learners
 Interested in self-Interested in self-
directed discoverydirected discovery
 Rely heavily on theirRely heavily on their
own intuitionown intuition
 Seek to teach bothSeek to teach both
themselves andthemselves and
othersothers
 Independent studyIndependent study
 SimulationsSimulations
 Role playRole play
 gamesgames

14. Discovery-Teach selves and othersDiscovery-Teach selves and others

16. Effects of 4-MAT Process:Effects of 4-MAT Process:
Improved retentionImproved retention
Higher achievementHigher achievement
Increased motivationIncreased motivation
Improved thinking skillsImproved thinking skills
Lower remediation (success rates with at-Lower remediation (success rates with at-
risk and special education students)risk and special education students)