Transcript Learning Styles - SOAR Charter Academy

Learning Styles
and
Multiple Intelligences
The Background of the Learning Style
Theory
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It is thought that most people favor some method
of interacting with and processing information.
The idea of individualized "learning styles"
originated in the 1970s, and has gained popularity
in recent years.
Some people believe teachers should assess the
learning styles of their students and adapt their
classroom methods to best fit each student's
learning style. (Differentiated Instruction)
What is a Learning Style?
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A learning style is the way in which a
person acquires knowledge.
It could be through:
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Visual learning
Auditory Learning
Kinesthetic Learning
Tactile Learning
Visual Learning
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The ability to acquire knowledge through
looking at images, mind maps,
demonstrations and body language.
Auditory Learning
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The ability to acquire knowledge through
hearing the spoken word.
Kinesthetic Learning
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The ability to acquire knowledge through
doing and interacting.
Tactile Learning
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The ability to acquire knowledge through
writing notes and drawing diagrams
The Background of the Multiple
Intelligence Theory
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Multiple Intelligence is an educational theory developed by
psychologist Howard Gardner, that describes different kinds of
"intelligences" people may have.
This theory was first mentioned in 1983.
It is suggested that everyone has a unique level of intelligence and
we all have strengths and weaknesses.
Gardner feels school should become more individualized to teach
to students based on their strengths
Gardner originally identified seven core intelligences: linguistic,
logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical,
interpersonal and intrapersonal. In 1999 he added an eighth, the
naturalistic intelligence, and indicated that investigation continues
on whether there is an existential intelligence.
This theory has been criticized because of lack of evidence
Many educators incorporate ideas from Gardner’s Theory in their
curriculum
What is Multiple Intelligence?
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The ways in which people demonstrate their
knowledge or what they know
There are eight categories:
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Visual/Spatial Intelligence
Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence
Logical/Mathematical intelligence
Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence
Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence
Interpersonal Intelligence
Interpersonal Intelligence
Naturalistic Intelligence
Visual/Spatial Intelligence
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These learners have the ability to perceive the visual. They learners
tend to think in pictures and need to create vivid mental images to
retain information. They enjoy looking at maps, charts, pictures, videos,
and movies.
Their skills include:
 puzzle building, reading, writing, understanding charts and graphs, a
good sense of direction, sketching, painting, creating visual metaphors
and analogies (perhaps through the visual arts), manipulating images,
constructing, fixing, designing practical objects, interpreting visual
images.
Possible career interests:
 navigators, sculptors, visual artists, inventors, architects, interior
designers, mechanics, engineers
Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence
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These learners have the ability to use words and language. They
have highly developed auditory skills and are generally great
speakers. They think in words rather than pictures.
Their skills include:
 listening, speaking, writing, story telling, explaining, teaching, using
humor, understanding the language rules and meaning of words,
remembering information, convincing someone of their point of
view, analyzing language usage.
Possible career interests:
 Poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, translator
Logical/Mathematical Intelligence
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These learners have the ability to use reason, logic and numbers. They
think conceptually in logical and numerical patterns making connections
between pieces of information. Always curious about the world around
them, these learner ask lots of questions and like to do experiments.
Their skills include:
 problem solving, classifying and categorizing information, working with
abstract concepts to figure out the relationship of each to the other, doing
controlled experiments, questioning and wondering about natural events,
performing complex mathematical calculations, working with geometric
shapes
Possible career paths:
 Scientists, engineers, computer programmers, researchers, accountants,
mathematicians
Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence
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These learners have the ability to control body movements and handle
objects skillfully. These learners express themselves through
movement. They have a good sense of balance and eye-hand coordination. (e.g. ball play, balancing beams). Through interacting with
the space around them, they are able to remember and process
information.
Their skills include:
 dancing, physical co-ordination, sports, hands on experimentation,
using body language, crafts, acting, miming, using their hands to
create or build, expressing emotions through the body
Possible career paths:
 Athletes, physical education teachers, dancers, actors, firefighters,
artisans, soldiers
Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence
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These learners have the ability to produce and appreciate
music. They are musically inclined and think in sounds,
rhythms and patterns. They immediately respond to music
either appreciating or criticizing what they hear. Many of
these learners are extremely sensitive to environmental
sounds (e.g. crickets, bells, dripping taps).
Their skills include:
 singing, whistling, playing musical instruments, recognizing
tonal patterns, composing music, remembering melodies,
understanding the structure and rhythm of music
Possible career paths:
 musician, disc jockey, singer, composer
Interpersonal Intelligence
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These learners have the ability to relate and understand others. They try to see
things from other people's point of view in order to understand how they think and
feel. They often have an uncanny ability to sense feelings, intentions and
motivations. They are great organizers, although they sometimes resort to
manipulation. Generally they try to maintain peace in group settings and encourage
co-operation. They use both verbal (e.g. speaking) and non-verbal language (e.g.
eye contact, body language) to open communication channels with others.
Their skills include:
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seeing things from other perspectives, listening, using empathy, understanding
other people's moods and feelings, counseling, co-operating with groups, noticing
people's moods, motivations and intentions, communicating both verbally and nonverbally, building trust, peaceful conflict resolution, establishing positive relations
with other people.
Possible Career Paths:
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Counselor, salesperson, politician, business person
Intrapersonal Intelligence
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These learners have the ability to self-reflect and be aware
of one's inner state of being. They try to understand their
inner feelings, dreams, relationships with others, and
strengths and weaknesses.
Their skills include:
 Recognizing their own strengths and weaknesses, reflecting
and analyzing themselves, awareness of their inner feelings,
desires and dreams, evaluating their thinking patterns,
reasoning with themselves, understanding their role in
relationship to others
Possible Career Paths:
 Researchers, theorists, philosophers
Naturalistic Intelligence
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These learners feel connected with nature. They have a nurturing attitude and are
good at relating information to one's natural surroundings. This is the eighth and
newest of the intelligences, added to the theory in 1996, and is not as widely
accepted as the original seven. The theory behind this intelligence is often criticized,
because it is seen by many as an interest rather than an intelligence
Their skills include:
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Those with it are said to have sensitivity to nature and their place within it, the ability
to nurture and grow things, and greater ease in caring for, taming and interacting
with animals. They may also be able to notice changes in weather or in their natural
surroundings. They are good at recognizing and classifying different species. They
learn best when the subject involves collecting and analyzing, they don't enjoy
learning unfamiliar or seemingly useless subjects with little or no connections to
nature. It is suggested that naturalistic learners would learn more through being
outside or in a kinesthetic way.
Possible Career Paths:
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scientists, naturalists, conservationists, gardeners and farmers.
Tips for Teachers:
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Teachers need to be aware students learn in a variety of ways. Pay
attention to these differences and use a variety of presentation,
activity and assignment designs. Some possibilities include:
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enhance lectures and presentations with visuals
have students research and present material in small groups
introduce content through discussion or problem-solving activities
invite students to explore issues through role-play
assign practical hands-on activities, where possible
take students on field trips to experience things first-hand
create assignment that can be done a variety of ways-choices/options.
Be Creative! Energetic and wide-ranging lessons engage students
and promote learning.
Tips for Students:
To be a successful student you need to be aware of your learning
style.
In the classroom:
If you have trouble keeping up with a teacher's lesson on new
material, ask if it can be presented in a way that is closer to your
learning style. Take notes in ways that appeal to you-draw
pictures, make web diagrams, etc…
At home:
When working by yourself to study for tests or complete
assignments, you will find that you are more productive more if you
use the strategies recommended for your style.
Bibliography:
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http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.html
http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/ILSpage.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_styles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_Intelligences
http://adulted.about.com/cs/learningstyles/a/lrng_style.htm