Howard Gardner(1943-Present) is an American developmental psychologist from Harvard University. In 1983, Gardner developed the "Theory of Multiple Intelligences" in an attempt to analyze and describe the concept of intelligence much better than the traditional IQ tests that were handed out around this time. In his theory, Gardner argues that the concept of intelligence as traditionally defined in IQ tests do not sufficiently describe the wide variety of cognitive abilities humans display. The determining factors of multiple intelligence include: the potential for brain isolation by brain damage, its place in evolutionary history, the presence of core operations, susceptibility to encoding (symbolic expression), a distinct developmental progression, the existence of idiot-savants, prodigies and other exceptional people, and support from experimental psychology and psychometric findings. These make up 7 intelligences including: linguistic (words and language), logical-mathematical (logic and numbers), musical (music, sound, rhythm) bodily-kinesthetic (body movement control), spatial-visual (images and space), interpersonal (other person's feelings), and interpersonal (self feelings).
To learn my learning style I went to http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.htm. Their results contain 4 scales of learning styles(active/reflective, sensing/intuitive, visual/verbal, and sequential/global). In taking their 44 question test I discovered that I am fairly balanced on the Active and Reflective learning scale with a lean on reflective learning at 3 out of 11 meaning I prefer to think about problems quietly first, think over it thoroughly, work alone, and have difficulty sitting through lectures. To improve on this scale I would have to study by periodically reviewing what I have read and to think of possible questions or to write short summaries of readings or class notes in my own words. An active learner would retain and understand information by discussing or applying it with others, and would also struggle with sitting through lectures albeit to a lesser extent.
On the Sensory/Intuitive scale I scored a 3 indicating that I am fairly balanced with a lean toward sensory learning. By being a sensory learner I prefer facts, prefer solving problems with well-established methods, I have patience with details and I'm good with memorizing facts and doing hands-on work, I'm more practical and careful than intuitors, and prefer realistic class courses. To improve on this when it comes to having abstract courses, ask the instructor for specific examples of concepts and procedures, and find out how the concepts apply in practice. If the teacher does not provide enough specifics, try to find some in your course text or other references or by brainstorming with friends or classmates. Intuitive learners prefer possibilities and relations, innovation and creativity with methods, they work faster than sensory learners, and dislike memory problems.
On the Visual/Verbal scale I scored a 5 on the Verbal part of the scale indicating that I moderately prefer verbal teaching and will learn much easier in a verbal teaching environment. As a verbal learner I learn more from words than I do so from images and demonstrations. I can improve on writing summaries or studying outlines of course material in my own words. Working in groups can be particularly effective in the sense of gaining an understanding of material by hearing classmates' explanations. A visual learn meanwhile would learn moreso from pictures, diagrams, flow charts, time lines, films, and demonstrations.
On the Sequential/Global scale I scored a 1 showing a balance between the two with a slight lean toward Global learning. As a global learner I learn in large jumps, absorb information without seeing a connection then "getting it", and I'm able to solve complex problems quickly or put together things in different ways after I've grasped the "big picture" with difficulty explaining it. Their are multiple steps of improving my global learning. Before studying the first section of a chapter in a text, skim through the entire chapter to get an overview. Doing so may be time-consuming initially but it may save you from going over and over individual parts later.
Instead of spending a short time on every subject every night, immerse yourself in individual subjects for large blocks. Try to relate the subject to things already known, either by asking the instructor to help you see connections or by consulting references. A sequential learner, meanwhile would learn much easier by linear steps, with one following another. Overall I find these assessments of myself to be accurate in comparison with my real-life experience of learning over the last 15 school years. To learn more on your learning style access http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire or http://www.engr.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/ilsweb.html(which I used for the first site wasn't quite working).
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