REFLECTION ON HOW PEOPLE LEARN?

DEFINING LEARNING AND LOOKING AT HOW PEOPLE LEARN IN DIFFERENT WAYS

WHAT IS LEARNING?In my opinion learning can be described as: • Acquiring a new skill• Taking in information and Knowledge• Storing information in our memory

LEARNING STYLES

• The concept of learning styles became apparent as psychologists examined how children used their strengths and skills to comprehend and study new materials (Walkup, 2011)

Image Source: http://kindredgrace.com/learning-styles/

BUT HOW DO WE LEARN?

• A theory I have found particularly interesting is Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory

Image Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-gardner/

HIS BELIEF

• Howard Gardner believes every individual has eight different types of intelligences

• He believes they are mutually exclusive • And that they carry equal weight

(Walsh, 2011)

Image Source: http://www.amazon.com/Multiple-Intelligences-Theory-Practice-Reader/dp/046501822X

THE 8 DIFFERENT INTELLIGENCES

Image Source: http://www.connectionsacademy.com/blog/posts/2013-01-18/Understanding-Your-Student-s-Learning-Style-The-Theory-of-Multiple-Intelligences.aspx

1. BODILY KINESTHETIC

• The ability to think using movements and your body (Walkup, 2011). • Learners with this intelligence tend to learn through

• Role play• Forming physical examples• Visiting museums• Exercising while going over work

Image Source: http://www.slideshare.net/JudithBorrsAndrs/kinesthetic-power-point-9673485

2. INTERPERSONAL

• Interpersonal intelligence focuses on a person’s potential to understand other people (Walkup, 2011)

• It involves communicating with others• They excel while:

• studying in groups• comparing and contrasting ideas• relating things to personal experiences

Image Source: http://infed.org/mobi/facilitating-learning-and-change-in-groups-and-group-sessions/

3. INTRAPERSONAL

• Intrapersonal intelligence is being self smart, understanding yourself and being capable to reflect on their feelings, fears, thoughts and actions (Walkup, 2011)

• It involves self discovery and analysis • It can enable an individual to control their own life • These learners are great at:

• avoiding distractions• making goals• working alone

Image Source: http://newsroom.xprep.co/2016/02/studying-alone-vs-group-study/

4. VERBAL/LINGUISTIC

• Reading, writing, speaking, listening and debating are all characteristics of a learner with this intelligence

• These individuals have an ability to learn languages easily• These learners would make up rhymes, memorise and read as a way of

learning • Can use language to express themselves effectively(Walkup, 2011)

Image Source: https://gradeslam.org/blog/4-reasons-to-learn-new-languages-early

5. LOGICAL/MATHEMATICAL

• The capability to solve problems (Walkup, 2011)• Learn best by:

• Recording information• Analysing data• Conducting experiments

Image Source: http://mathgeekmama.com/about-math-geek-mama/

6. MUSICAL

• the understanding of how music is composed and performed (Walkup, 2011)

• A learner would learn by:• making up songs• talking out loud• changing tempo

Image Source: https://voiceleading.wordpress.com/2011/03/13/the-art-of-intuition/

7. VISUAL/SPATIAL

• Involves the use of pictures and patterns to learn (Walkup, 2011)• Ability to visualise patterns of wide space and confined areas• These learners can learn by:

• watching videos• using visual aids such as pictures

Image Source: http://www.bettefetter.com/home

8. NATURALIST

• These learners are great at reflecting, learning and understanding the natural world (Walkup, 2011)

• They can recognise and categorise certain features of the environment• To study they use:

• the environment around them• their senses

Image Source: http://www.uvlt.org/2013/04/what-inspires-the-naturalist-within-us/

CRITICS

• Critics have challenged Gardner’s theory and questioned the ability to use all eight intelligences in each lesson

• Gardner has acknowledged this and believes that only two or three should be included into each lesson

(McCown and Snowman, 2012)

PERSONAL REFLECTION

• I am quite interested in Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences• From my experience in school and from observing people I believe individuals do have

different types and levels of intelligences. While one student may excel in verbal and linguistic abilities, another may excel in musical abilities.

• Schools in Ireland mainly focus on linguistic and mathematical intelligences and tend not to do well with musical and spatial intelligences as they treat them as extracurricular activities

• Interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences are not even part of the curriculum in schools.• I believe that if we nurture all the different kinds of intelligences than a lot more students

will succeed in school and in learning

Image Source: http://robertscooke.com/taking-time-personal-reflection/

• Personally I like Gardner’s MI theory as it caters for many different learning styles allowing for all students to excel in school.

• On reflection my learning styles would be musical and visual • In turn I think this theory will motivate all the students to work to their

best ability as it caters to their abilities and interests• I hope to be able to employ this theory of Multiple Intelligences into my

classroom in the future

REFERENCES

• McCown, Rick and Snowman, Jack. (2012) Psychology Applied to Teaching, 13th edition, USA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

• Walkup, Vivienne. (2011) Exploring Education Studies, 1st Edition. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.

• Walsh, Brendan. (2011) Education Studies in Ireland, 1st edition. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan LTD.