7 Learning Styles, and How to Incorporate in Your Teaching
Ahmed Abdallah 28 December 2022
7 Learning Styles, and How to Incorporate in Your Teaching
In learning and teaching there’s no one size fits all. Each student is different in their learning capabilities, and each requires a different type of attention. There isn’t one way to learn something. Teachers as well as parents should learn how their students, and children learn, what interests them, what intelligence they have, all this will give them a clue on the best way for their children to learn.
Some children have a visual learning style while others may have auditory or verbal learning preferences, each one has their own style of learning, by which they can pick topics easily.
In this article, we are going to talk about the theory of multiple intelligences and its correlation with the different types of learning, and why you should diversify your teaching style to accommodate different learning styles.
The Theory of Multiple Intelligences
Howard Gardner, a Harvard psychologist proposed a theory of multiple intelligences. He’s best known for his thesis on multiple intelligence, he’s now a Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard School of Education, Harvard University.
Itelligence can be defined as the ability to think creatively and solve problems, given some parameters and information to get an output of a value. Scientists used to believe in single intelligence, but since Dr. Gardner tackled this issue in his book “Frames of Mind”, the perception of intelligence has changed, he pointed out that each and every person has different types of intelligences, but we single out one. A person might be particularly strong in a specific area, such as musical intelligence, he or she most likely possesses a range of abilities.
MI theory states that there are seven types of intelligences which work together while learning a subject: musical-rhythmic, verbal-linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, physical, spatial, interpersonal and intrapersonal.
In our schools, we mostly depend on one thing, the verbal intelligence, although there might be so many students who process information with a very different type of intelligence, but we impose one way on them to learn. Gardner believes that the purpose of schools should be to help students develop their intelligences, and they teach them in a way that’s best fit for their style. should be to develop intelligences and to help people reach
Gardner advises teachers on understanding and using these learning styles in classrooms, especially for young ages, primary to high school. Regardless of the subject being taught— arts, humanitarians, the sciences, history, or math— it should be presented in multiple ways to students, this way everyone can pick the topic with their own preferred style.
Although there might be an overlap between multiple intelligences and the learning styles, they are not exactly the same,
Multiple Intelligences vs Learning styles: Related But Not The Same
Although both terms can be used interchangeably, they aren’t entirely exactly the same.
According to Teaching Expertise, they define learning styles as “The way humans prefer to concentrate on, store, and remember new and difficult information.”
As for Multiple Intelligence (MI), it’s rather a theoretical framework for understanding, assessing different types of intelligence.
MI helped us understand the science behind different types of learning styles. The notion of multiple intelligences gave us the ability to understand the psychology of each learning style, and why some students learn better this way than another. It also changed parameters on which teachers used to assess their students.
What Are 7 Styles of Learning?
There are7 learning styles based on different types of intelligences. Most students use a combination of them, but they learn faster with one or two.
Visual Learning (Imagery-based learning)
Visual learners mostly learn by imagery, students of this kind of learning style prefer when information is presented to them in a visual format, rather than written or spoken.
This type of learning is suitable for students with visual memory. Visual learners can utilize elements, and consume knowledge in different formats; graphs, charts, maps, diagrams, or other forms of visual stimulation.
Elements to include in your teaching
- Graphs, mind maps, charts and tables.
- Picture and illustrations.
- Video material.
- Color-based distinctions and categorization.
Aural Learning (Audio-based learning)
Students of this learning style respond more favorably to audio material, and sound in general, they are able to understand and recall information when they listen to it.
Elements to include in your teaching:
- Audio book, and study material
- Rhythmic spoken pattern of information
- Music
Verbal Learning (Language-based learning)
This type of student is more into discussion groups, and communication plays a big part in this.
They enjoy making discussions and using language itself.
Elements to include in your teaching:
- Group discussion.
- Presentations.
- Stories and scenarios for them.
- Characters to role play.
Physical Learning (Kinesthetic)
For some students, the key is physical interaction with things, and objects around them. They learn by doing, by doing something, by experiencing physical things rather than just sitting and listening to a lecture.
Elements to include in your teaching:
- Include puzzles
- Off-campus or off-class activities activities
Logical or Mathematical Learning
Students with logical learning capabilities prefer to connect things together, find patterns, and solve problems in a systematic and logical way. They are more interested in why things happen, and how they change.
Elements to include in your teaching:
- Puzzles
- Propose open-ended questions
- Demonstration for area of intersection between two or more subjects
Social Learning (Interpersonal)
These students prefer learning based on human interaction. Group discussions, and sharing stories and experiences.
Elements to include in your teaching:
- Group discussion
- Role-play between teachers and students
Solitary Learning (Solo Learners)
This style of learning, in contrast to the previous one, students learn more on themselves. Students of this learning style are often introverted and don’t like human interaction.
Elements to include in your teaching:
- Student journals
- Individual one-player activities
Takeaway
Students have different learning styles, each one aligned with their own type of intelligence. They may consume knowledge in more than one style, but they learn faster with one major style. As a teacher, and a parent, you should understand your student or child type of intelligence and coordinate this to your teaching style.
