Brief Theoretical Background
- Intelligence is not fixed -- we all have the ability to learn and we all learn in different ways.
- Howard Gardner, an American professor of Cognition and Education, has developed a Theory of Multiple Intelligences, which is based on his belief that learners should be encouraged to construct their own knowledge base through their own experiences.
- He has identified 8 kinds of "Smart" as follows:
Multiple Intelligences Profile Wheel
Click here for a link to a website which lets you respond to a questionnaire and then create your own Learning Styles wheel. (Opens in a new window)
Work Tips
Having checked out your Profile Wheel, you can then determine which "work tips" or learning methods might be more suitable for you, as follows:--
Body Smart -- Kinaesthetic
You may like to fidget or doodle when listening. You like to be able to move about when learning.
- Take frequent study breaks.
- Move around to learn new things (e.g. read while on an exercise bike, make things to learn a new concept).
- Record notes and listen to them on the move.
- Work at a standing position.
- Use bright colours to highlight reading material
- If you wish, listen to music while you study.
- Skim through reading material to get a rough idea what it is about before settling down to read it in detail.
Music Smart -- Musical
You will enjoy music and can recognise sounds and the quality of a tone.
- Participate in class discussions/debates.
- Make speeches and presentations.
- Use a tape recorder during lectures instead of taking notes.
- Read text out aloud.
- Create musical jingles to aid memorization.
- Create mnemonics to aid memorization.
- If you wish, listen to music while you study
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Myself Smart -- Intrapersonal
You will tend to be reflective and analytical. You enjoy working on your own. You do not always like to share your ideas with others.
- Make crosswords, puzzles, quizzes and word searches.
- Use empathy and imagination to write stories, poems, speeches and diary entries.
- Personal research e.g. books, newspapers, magazines, friends and family, and internet.
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Nature Smart -- Naturalistic
You will like the world of plants and animals and enjoy learning about them. You may be a day-dreamer. You are creative. You see the world in pictures and images.
- Read illustrated books.
- Visualize information as a picture to aid memorization.
- Use bright colours to highlight reading material.
- Study in a quiet place away from verbal disturbances.
- Read illustrated books.
- Use verbal analogies, and story telling to demonstrate your point.
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Number Smart -- Logical
You may be good at mathematics and other number activities You are also good at solving problems.
- Skim through reading material before settling down to read it in detail.
- Create mnemonics to aid memorization
- Use pictures, charts, maps, graphs, etc.
- Illustrate your ideas as a picture or brainstorm before writing them down.
- Use multi-media
- Use flow diagrams and bullet point lists.
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People Smart -- Interpersonal
You like team games and are good at sharing. You are able to empathise with others. You are good at working out what other people are thinking
- Discuss your ideas with other people smart workers.
- Dictate to someone while they write down your thoughts.
- Make quizzes and test your friends.
- Work together to make revision presentations.
- Swap revision notes and ideas with each other.
- Look over each other’s work.
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Picture Smart -- Visual / Spatial
You may be good at art and also good at other activities where you look at pictures like map reading and graphs. When listening to a teacher you will look at the board or book rather than the teacher.
- Use pictures, charts, maps, graphs, etc.
- Use colour to highlight important points in text.
- Illustrate your ideas as a picture or brainstorm before writing them down.
- Use multi-media (e.g. computers, videos, and filmstrips).
- Read illustrated books.
- Visualize information as a picture to aid memorization.
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Word Smart -- Linguistic
You will enjoy reading, writing and talking about things.
- Use your teacher’s notes and handouts.
- Make your own notes.
- Use lists, bullet points and write as you study.
- Write a story.
- Make mnemonics.
- Discuss ideas, notes and concepts with other word smart learners.
- Study in a quiet place away from verbal disturbances.
