Gardner's Multiple Intelligences

• In 1983, Harvard professor Dr. Howard Gardner came up with a theory of Multiple Intelligences. In its most basic form, this theory advocates the idea that every person learns best in different ways, and every person has unique talents or levels of intelligence in different areas. In other words, a person can be intelligent in one area but not in another; intelligence, then, becomes more subjective than an IQ score or a college degree. Visual and verbal intelligence are two of the types of intelligences he identified.
  
  Individuals who possess high levels of intelligence in these particular areas tend to learn better when they can receive instruction and assessment in those areas. It is because of this relationship between intelligences and learning styles that Gardner's theories have resonated so strongly with teachers in the past 20 years and have become an integral part of the process of instructional planning.
  
  

Verbal Learners

• Verbal learners are people who possess a high level of linguistic intelligence; they do well with languages and can express themselves verbally very well. These people are also often classified as auditory learners, meaning they can learn well by listening. Traditional lecture-based instruction, then, works well for these students. They do well with lessons involving written or verbal communication, class presentations, or call and repeat strategies.
  
  

Visual Learners

• Visual learners need to see it in order to remember it. They possess stronger levels of spatial/visual intelligence, and they often do well in the visual arts. If they hear a lecture, it can be difficult for them to retain the information from it without visual aids to accompany it. These types of learners succeed when teachers use PowerPoint presentations or overhead notes, video presentations, or other visual aids in the classroom.
  
  

Planning Instruction

• Teachers should make an attempt to find out about the learning styles of their students early on in the year. Tests for Gardner's Multiple Intelligences are available. You can even simply ask students to describe how they learn best. In this way, you can plan instruction to meet the needs of your specific students and their preferred learning styles.
  
  

Evaluating and Assessing

• When planning instruction, use a diverse set of delivery strategies to help all students understand the material. You should also allow for a variety of assessment methods for this same reason. Some students will do well explaining their answers out loud, while others will prefer to write them down. Some students are good at presenting a creative project while others might like to make a portfolio. Try to give every student a chance to shine in the classroom; paying attention to learning styles helps accomplish this goal.