Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Learning/Thinking Styles and Multiple Intelligences

Learning/Thinking Styles

Learning/Thinking Styles refer to the preferred way an individual processes information. They describe a person's typical mode of thinking, remembering or problem solving.There are several perspectives about learning-thinking styles, two of these are sensory preferences and global analytic continuum.

Sensory Preferences. Individuals tend to gravitate toward one or two types of sensory input and maintain a dominace in one of the following types:

  • Visual Learners. These learners must see their teacher's actions and facial expressions to fully understand the content of the lesson. Ri Charde further breaks down visul learners into: a) Visual Iconic refers to those who are more interested in visual imagery such as film, graphic displays inorder to solidify learning; b) Visual Symbolic refers to those who feel comfortable with abstract symbolism such as mathematical formulae or the written word.
  • Auditory Learners. They learn best through verbal lectures, discussion, talking things through and listening to what others have to say. They can attend aurally to details, tramslate the spoken word easily into written words and are not easily distracted in their listening ability. Auditory learners also fall into two categories: a) The listeners are those who prefer to listen; b) The Talkers are those who prefer talking.
  • Tactile/kinesthetic Learners benefit much from a hands-on approach, actively exploring the world around them.

Glaobal - Analytic Continuum
  • Analytic. Analytic thinkers tend toward the linear, step-by-step process of learning.
  • Global. Glabal thinkers lean towards non-linear thoughts and tend to see the whole patter rather than particle elements.


LEFT BRAIN (Analytic)
RIGHT BRAIN (Global)
Successive Hemispheric Style
Simultaneous Hemispheric Style
1. Verbal
1. Visual
2. Responds to word meaning
2. Responds to tone of voice
3. Sequential
3. Random
4. Processes information linearly
4. Processes information in varied order
5. Responds to logic
5. Responds to emotion
6. Recalls people’s names
6. Recalls people’s faces
7. Plans ahead
7. Impulsive
8. Speaks with few gestures
8. Gestures when speaking
9. Punctual
9. Less Punctual
10. Prefers formal study design
10. Prefers sound/music background while studying
11. Prefers bright lights while studying
11. Prefers frequent mobility while studying

Multiple Intelligences

 The theory of multiple inteeligences (MI) was first described by Howard Gardner in Frames of Mind (1983). Gardner defines intelligences as "an ability or set of abilities tha allows a person to solve a problem or fashion a product that is valued in or more cultures". His most current research inndicates that there are nine distinct forms of intelligences, they are :

  • Visual/Spatial Intelligence (Picture Smart). Learns visually and organizing ideas spatially, must see concepts in actions to fully understand them.
  • Verbal/Linguistic (Word Smart). Learns through the spoken words.
  • Mathematical/Logical (Number Smart/logic Smart). Learns through reasoning and problem solving.
  • Bodily/Kinesthetic (Body Smart). Learns through interaction with one's environment.
  • Musical (Music Smart). Learns through patterns, rhythms, and music.
  • Intrapersonal (Self Smart). Learning through feelings, values and attitudes.
  • Interpersonal (People Smart). Learning through interaction with others.
  • Naturalist (Nature Smart). Learns through classification, categories and hierarchies.
  • Existential (Spirit Smart). learns through seeing the "big picture"  and asks "why are we here?", "what is my role in this world?" and the like.

1 comment:

  1. this page really helps students, but I hope that you must check on your spelling, most of it are wrong it may lead to confusion. :)

    ReplyDelete