With the return of a new academic year, the rush of note-making and flashcard-testing will soon be upon students all over the country. But after a sun-soaked summer of six weeks, what’s the best way to begin studying? In this article, we’re going to cover the theory of Multiple Intelligences, the main types of learners, and how you can optimise your study time this year to work smarter, not harder.
“I am still learning.” - Michelangelo, aged 87
The eight learning styles originally derive from Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner, who suggested that traditional views of intelligence are too limited. In his 1983 book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, he outlined that people have different kinds of intelligence. However, recent studies have called attention to this as a potential neuromyth. A lack of concrete evidence combined with the attempt to put learners into boxes has taken a toll on its popularity. In fact, most people tend to benefit from multiple teaching techniques, and optimising different methods can improve the adaptability of a good learner. So while it may be true that there are methods learners respond better to individually, there are aspects to each that everyone can take notes from.
Kinesthetic learners like to work through problems with hands-on experience. You learn best by doing, and respond well to interactive opportunities to feel, use computers or create things. Invest your time in role playing, testing yourself with flashcards, and breaking up sitting periods with activities like sport or art.
Visual learners account for up to 65% of people, according to Social Science Research Network - making it the most common learning style. You probably like photography and film, and respond well to colourful images, maps and graphs. Put your detail-orientation to use by drawing diagrams of complex ideas, watching video tutorials when you get stuck, and creating your own notes during presentations.
Auditory learners love sound. You retain knowledge best through hearing information, and are good at picking up language and retaining lectures. You may also be a great storyteller! Record voice-notes of yourself talking through important information, schedule Q&A sessions with your classmates, and incorporate acronyms into your notes.
Verbal learners love language. You can absorb vast amounts of information and condense it into a more digestible form easily. Traditional note-taking will probably work best for you, as well as applying your knowledge to wordy exam questions, and debating complex ideas with others.
Logical learners tend to be problem solvers. You like to work through to-do lists step-by-step, can spot patterns and interconnect ideas with ease, and may have an affinity for maths problems and chess. When learning, utilise tables, graphs and statistics, and incorporate organisational systems within your information.
Naturalist learners prefer to learn outdoors, where they can be curious and investigative. You tend to be a good observer, and love the environment. Bring nature indoors by growing a plant for Biology, creating a model ecosystem for Geography, or collecting flower samples for Art.
Intrapersonal learners like to spend reflective time alone. You are self-motivated, independent, and your learning style can come from any of the above. Perhaps keep a learning journal, and when participating in group projects, divide roles between people so you can work individually.
Interpersonal learners learn much better with other people. You likely have strong communication skills and a high emotional IQ. Include presenting your work to family or friends, group discussion over complex theories and giving/receiving feedback from your peers.
So: do you find each learning method equally engaging, or is there one that stands out to you? Whether you believe in Gardner’s theory or not, incorporating bits of advice from each will help to enrich your learning process. From school, to work, to what you do for fun, to how you communicate with others - it’s a process that you hopefully will keep up for the rest of your life!
References:
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/defining-learning/learning-styles#section-6
https://www.worldclassteachers.co.uk/your-guide-to-understanding-and-adapting-to-different-learning-styles/
https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/four-reasons-avoid-learning-styles-one-alternative
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