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Learning Styles or Multiple Intelligences by Roger Lewis Fischel
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Learning Styles or Multiple Intelligences |
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Education
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In 1983 Howard Gardner introduced the concept of multiple intelligences in his landmark book, Frames of Mind. Based on his work with stroke victims, child prodigies and autistic people, Gardner identified seven separate intelligences. Later, in his follow-up work, Multiple Intelligences, he identified one more. Today we continue to think of eight distinct learning styles. Awareness of one's personal style is crucial in developing study habits that work. The eight learning styles or multiple intelligences are: 1. Verbal/linguistic; 2. logical/mathematical; 3. visual/spatial; 4. bodily/kinesthetic; 5. musical; 6. interpersonal; 7. intrapersonal; and 8. naturalistic. Lets examine briefly each of these for their strengths, how one best learns, and the tools necessary for learning. Verbal/Linguistic The verbal/linguistic learning style thrives on reading and writing. Those who fall into this category think in words. They tell stories, engage in discourse tend to be social. Learning comes from words, listening and reading. Learning is also influenced by writing and debating with peers and mentors. This learning style requires one have books, access to audio data, and a strong focus on discussion and debates. This learner must have language to survive. Mathematical/Logical This learner thinks in terms of numbers and relationships. They tend to reason well and are often expert puzzle solvers. This is a learning style that functions best when asking questions. They like to experiment, to solve problems and to deal with abstract concepts. Working with the mathematical/logical means posing rational problems, especially ones that suggest relationships. These learners thrive on science and math. On field trips to museums they are in their element. Visual/Spatial The visual/spacial learner thinks by focusing on the big picture. Maps, charts, films, and other forms of visualization are crucial for their thinking. This learning style finds students drawing, designing, apparently daydreaming, and looking at pictures. This learner functions best while manipulating visual imagery. Providing videos, art, books with illustrations, and setting up games of imagination or role-playing is what works best. Bodily/Kinesthetic This learning style focuses on the body as the tool for learning. These are often the athletes, the dancers, and the actors in school. You'll find them on the football field and the stage. This learner can often be a distraction in a classroom. They have a need to move around, to talk and to exhibit extreme body language. For this learner, role-play and drama work well in the classroom. They thrive on sports and physical activity. Musical The musical learning style focuses on non-linguistic sounds and underlying rhythm. You might find such a student humming while doing some other activity such as reading or writing. Providing them with musical tools and the harmonic relationship among several instruments is a way to win their hearts. Often all they care about is playing an instrument or singing or even beating out a rhythm on their desk top. Interpersonal People with a predominantly interpersonal learning style tend to be leaders. They are organized, good communicators, and are ready to resolve conflicts. These are people who tend to be great sales people or politicians. This learner thrives in groups, has many friends, and loves to talk. You'll find this learning style in people who cooperate, tell interesting stories to make a point, and hate being alone. They thrive in group learning situations, tend to be joiners, and they volunteer for community events. They often seem insincere to others not in their mold. Intrapersonal This is the learning style of the loner. They tend to be quite good at recognizing strength and weaknesses. They are introspective. They love setting both long and short-term goals. This learner works best when they are working alone. They appear to pursue interests and reflection to the exclusion of all else. The intrapersonal learner needs space and time. Space to work and time to reflect. When working on self-paced projects they do quite well. Because this learner is not very social, they tend to be loners. They may have secret places to visit removed from the pressure of social interactions. Naturalistic The naturalistic learner tries to understand nature, is often interested in science, especially biology and chemistry. Learning to make distinctions in order to classify the natural world is important. This learner loves nature and tends to thrive on the minutia of distinctions separating one thing from another. This is a learner that compares and contrasts to create order in life. They thrive on science and the physical world. Multiple Intelligence Some Final Thoughts As you look at the eight intelligences I am certain that you find yourself fitting in more than one category. What is important to understand is that learning styles are not fixed in time or space. Each of us has a predominant style and from one to two sub-styles. In most cases the predominant style is at work. Secondary or sub-styles tend to shore up the predominant style rather than replace it. Becoming aware of both your predominant and secondary styles is critical to understanding how to best attack your study-time. If you are a teacher thinking about this idea, what is critical is that you make room in the classroom for all learning styles. If not you are surely leaving some children behind. Dr. Roger Lewis is the owner of Effective Study Tips where he introduces parents and their children to the most effective study habits we know of. Dr. Lewis is a career educator teaching in both middle-school settings and in university departments of education. His specialty is in the teaching of reading methods for k-12 students. He is now retired concentrating on sharing his knowledge with a broader audience.
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learning styles, multiple intelligences, effective study tips,
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