Howard Gardner's research on the muliltiple intelligences is absolutely fascinating! The following list and describe each of the intelligences. Most of us dominate in two. Read below to find out more about how you learn!
Linguistic: Linguistic learners often like to read and write. They learn best by writing things down, and memorizing acrostic poems or acronyms work well for them. They often do better on essay tests than multiple choice tests. They may also have an advanced vocabulary and may also be wonderful spellers. These students may sign up for spelling bees and writing contests.
Logical-Mathematical: People who are logical-mathematical are very good at math. Multiple choice tests tend to be easy for them as they enjoy problem solving and short and concise answers. Essay tests may be difficult. They enjoy puzzles and games that provide strategy such as chess. Some students with this learning style enjoy solving difficult math problems and will often sign up for math competitions.
Kinesthetic: Many kinesthetic learners are often athletic. They also enjoy being active and learning is easiest if it is hands-on. They do not enjoy doing things that seem to be “a waste of time”. They enjoy reading “short text” such as magazine articles. Often they prefer non-fiction to fiction reading. They prefer projects that have a point instead of traditional paper/pencil activities. To study, it is best if they can create hands-on activities such as games, puzzles, and things that require movement. Fairness is very important to them. They are definitely motivated by meaningful tasks.
Visual-spatial: The visual-spatial learner tends to be very creative. They like to draw or create things. They may also like to build things with Legos or Magnetics. They prefer hands on activities and like to take time to process their thoughts. Being social while learning is important to them. They prefer their mind to stay active. Listening to a teacher lecture is difficult. Sometimes they are accused of daydreaming and not being organized. Drawing concepts can help these students to remember them better. Attaching emotion to what they are learning is also important. These students may also exhibit extreme sensitivity to the world around them. They may also be gifted in their artistic abilities. These children also have a witty sense of humor and can be very analytical in their thinking. They can often take apart and reassemble things or ideas with skill.
Nature: These students really enjoy the outdoors. They expect learning to be practical and make sense in the world that they live in. Making connections and questioning while learning will keep their mind focused. These learners are very analytical as well and will notice a surprising depth of details about their surroundings. They too can often take apart and reassemble things or ideas with skill.
Musical: Musical learners like putting concepts to music and utilizing rhythm and rhyme works well for them. They also like to have time to process their thoughts as they utilize more of the right part of the brain than the left. Attaching emotion to learning is also important. Some children are very gifted musically and can hear and see music at a higher level than their peers.
Interpersonal: These students have a very high “social IQ”. These students understand how to work well with others around them. They know the right and wrong things to say at the correct time.
Intrapersonal: These students have a very strong sense of self. Students who have this intelligence are very intuitive and can often “feel” the emotions of themselves and of those around them. Thus these children have a very high emotional IQ.
Which best describes your learning style? Visit http://literacyworks.org/mi/assessment
