In a traditional setting, teachers educate their students by going through lectures, and students are required to pay close attention and take down notes. Through this process, coupled with occasional homework and some classroom exercises and tests, students are expected to master their lessons. While this has been a tried and tested method that has shown good results over the decades, there are other alternatives to make learning easier for children.
Enter the Multiple Intelligence Theory. The Multiply Intelligence Theory was first developed by Howard Gardner, and it states that there are various types of intelligences that can be used to understand concepts. Some students may learn through the traditional lecture, while there are some that are more apt for a hands-on experience. This theory may actually help teachers to better understand their students and how they learn, thus, it is advisable that this theory be explored to consider diverse learning modalities.
Style of learning can be adapted from the eight generally accepted modalities brought about the Multiple Intelligence Theory. Most teachers or professors try to use all eight modalities to some extent, only one or two styles work best. Observe what type of learner the student is to better see what sticks the most.
Some people are better off learning by processing written or spoken words. This is type of intelligence is called Verbal-Linguistic and students who have this kind of intelligence learn better through the traditional way of teaching: listening to lectures, taking down notes, reading, and writing.
For those who like using logical reasoning in understanding concepts, they are most likely to possess Logical-Mathematic intelligence. Students are more comfortable with this modality find mathematical and abstract concepts easy to solve, and they like to apply logic in solving all types of problems.
Other than technique, intelligence can also vary through how information is processed. Visual-spatial is when students use visual aids to help them learn, and these aids come in the form of pictures, movies, etc. On the other hand, Musical-auditory intelligence focuses on listening: students are more sensitive to sounds and rhythms and are most likely to be involved with a musical hobby like singing or playing an instrument. Students who are more adept to hands-on learning would probably have Bodily-kinetics intelligence. Children who like the hands-on experience are more likely to have good motor skills and are more active in doing physical work.
Intelligence can also be categorized according to how a person interacts with other people. Those who are more extroverted, enjoy a good classroom discussion, and learn more through tossing ideas back and forth with colleagues hold Interpersonal intelligence. Intrapersonal intelligence is quite the opposite–people with this type of intelligence like to keep to themselves, usually read and write on their own time.
The eight type of intelligence is called Naturalistic. True to its name, Naturalistic intelligence drives a person to learn through feeling their surroundings, observing it, and deducing from these observations.
While it is a bit of a challenge to use different types of teaching techniques to cater to all the pupils’ kinds of intelligences, teachers don’t have to use them all at once. They can mix it up to make things interesting from time to time.
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