What kind of learner are you?

First of all, Intelligence* has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving. As you know, intelligence is affected by a number of differents factors: genetic, environmental, emotional and so on. Intelligence is most widely studied in humans, but has also been observed in animals and plants.


The Theory of Multiple Intelligence was created by Howard Gardner in 1983 when he published a book called Frames of Mind as a new model which revolutionized the way that educators looked at intelligence. Gardner believed in 7 kinds of intelligence and also he thought that everybody had more that just one. The intelligences are:

• Verbal - Linguistic: This area has to do with words, spoken or written*
• Logical - Mathematical: This area has to do with logic, abstractions, reasoning and numbers*
• Bodily - Kinesthetic: Control of one's bodily motions and the capacity to handle objects skillfully*
• Spatial: This area deals with spatial judgment and the ability to visualize with the mind's eye.*
• Musical: This area has to do with sensitivity to sounds, rhythms, tones, and music.*  
• Interpersonal: This area has to do with interaction with others*
• Intrapersonal: This area has to do with introspective and self-reflective capacities.*

Gardner thought that if you didn't understand yourself you'll be more likely to make a bad decisions about your life. For him, the Intrapersonal intelligence is the most important, because it is an ability to understand what motivated other people. However, goals for young people are difficult to understand at first, that's why, according to teachers, stories help children to understand the world and according to Gardner, we should look at how intelligences work together.


What all this means is that if we can identify children's different streghts among these types of intelligence, we can hepl children to fuilfill their potential as learners.

Ultimately, it would certainly be desirable to have an algorithm for the selection of an intelligence, such that any trained researcher could determine whether a candidate's intelligence met the appropriate criteria. At present, however, it must be admitted that the selection (or rejection) of a candidate's intelligence is reminiscent more of an artistic judgment than of a scientific assessment.

Gardner, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, 1985*

*Wikipedia.

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