About ATLAS
ATLAS is an internationally recognized Learning System grounded in decades of global research with
leading academic institutions and organizations. The ATLAS Instrument © has been translated into
several languages and has been used globally to assess learning strategy preferences within diverse
populations in fields such as government, business, industry, academia, medicine, athletics, armed
forces, and leadership.
ATLAS stands for Assessing The Learning strategies of AdultS, but the name also infers that the
ATLAS Learning System provides leaders and learners with a “book of maps” to successfully
navigate their way around the world of learning The self-scoring, valid, and reliable ATLAS Instrument
is designed to quickly identify one’s learning preferences. ATLAS learners are categorized into three
major learning strategy preference groups, each with a set of common learning characteristics and
well-defined methods to apply when approaching and working through learning tasks. It is important
to note that the descriptions are not to be used to label or to stereotype individuals. Rather they are
meant to heighten awareness of commonalities and patterns each learning preference group uses to
process information and make decisions. Understanding these learning preferences helps leaders to
leverage learning more effectively for themselves and their teams.
The Creators of ATLAS
Dr. Rita McNeil (Kolody) is the co-author of the ATLAS Instrument (along with Dr. Gary J. Conti, 1998)
and is an international leader, author, educational innovator, and workplace learning consultant
specializing in adult learning strategies research. It is this research that forms the basis of the
innovative and impactful ATLAS Instructional Design Framework grounded in emerging neuroscience
and evidence-based learning practices. Rita has also been inspiring academic and industry leaders
for over two decades to hack the learning curve as they:
NAVIGATE through projects, deadlines, and learning events,
PROBLEM SOLVE with critical thinking and creative solutions, and
ENGAGE with passion to achieve meaningful outcomes that make a difference.
The Goal of the ATLAS Learning System
The ATLAS Learning System is based on the self-scoring ATLAS Instrument © and is used to reliably
identify learning strategy preference across cultures. The overarching goal of ATLAS is to increase
the tools in one’s learning toolkit by learning to use those strategies that do not come naturally or that
are not one’s preference. The more sophisticated we become as learners, the more diverse our
learning strategy toolkits become. We learn to identify and apply the appropriate “tools” or learning
strategies to the learning event. When optimum learning strategies do not match an individual’s
learning strategy preference, then learning is compromised. It benefits leaders to equip employees
with this knowledge and to teach them how to increase their use of learning strategies beyond their
natural preferences, so that they may develop the learning sophistication to identify, select, and
employ the most efficient learning strategy for the specific learning objective as this usually results in
greater learning. The skills or techniques selected to accomplish the task also have a great influence
on the success of any learning activity. Adeptness and insight in the use of learning strategies
appears to be a significant part of ones ability to learn how to learn (as well as to teach others
effectively).