by Stacey Terry

Created on: May 09, 2009   Last Updated: May 10, 2009

Multiple intelligences and learning styles are simply the different ways in which people think and learn. This information can be very important to teachers or to those people who are having trouble in school, college, or workplace training.

Learning Styles

Learning styles are classified into three categories: visual learners, auditory learners, and tactile/kinesthetic learners. Visual learners learn by seeing and think in pictures. They need to see body language and facial expressions and prefer to sit in the front of the room or close to the lecturer. They prefer visual displays while they are learning like charts, diagrams, or pictures. Visual learners tend to take detailed notes and may include drawings to help them understand the content.

Auditory learners interpret the underlying meanings of speech and learn best through listening. They take meaning from a speaker's pitch, volume, speed, and intonation and learn best in discussions and verbal lectures. They benefit from talking things through, reading text aloud and using a tape recorder.

Tactile/Kinesthetic learners are active and may have trouble sitting still. These learners learn best by touching, moving, or doing something while learning. They enjoy actively exploring the world around them and may become bored or distracted without activity to engage them.

Multiple Intelligences

The concept of multiple intelligences was developed by Dr. Howard Gardner in 1983. Dr. Gardner explains that traditional I.Q. testing is too limited and that each person has the potential for seven different types of intelligences.

Visual/Spatial Intelligence is described as picture smart. People who have high visual/spatial intelligence think in pictures and are in interested in movies, maps, videos, and pictures. They are normally proficient at puzzle building, writing, understanding charts and graphs, sketching, and painting.

People with Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence think in words rather than pictures, and are skilled in word usage and language. They are talented speakers, have keen auditory skills, and excel in writing, story telling, teaching, and persuasive arguments.

Logical/Mathematical Intelligence is the ability to use reason, logic and numbers. People with Logical/Mathematical Intelligence are curious, ask many questions and like to make connections between numerical patterns and the world around them. They think logically and are good at problem solving, complex calculations, geometry,

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