Learning styles are a popular concept in psychology and education and are intended to identify how people learn best. VARK learning styles suggest that there are four main types of learners: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic.
The concept of multiple intelligences is a theory proposed by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner. Intelligence is often defined as our intellectual potential; something we are born with, something that can be measured, and a capacity that is difficult to change.
Gardner’s theory has come under criticism from both psychologists and educators. These critics argue that Gardner’s definition of intelligence is too broad and that his eight different "intelligences" simply represent talents, personality traits, and abilities. Gardner’s theory also suffers from a lack of supporting empirical research. Despite this, many teachers utilize multiple intelligences in their teaching philosophies and work to integrate Gardner’s theory into the classroom.
There are many different ways of categorizing learning styles, but Neil Fleming's VARK model is one of the most popular. Fleming introduced an inventory in 1987 that was designed to help students and others learn more about their individual learning preferences.
Kolb's learning styles are one of the best-known and widely used learning styles theories. Psychologist David Kolb first outlined his theory of learning styles in 1984. He believed that our individual learning styles emerge due to our genetics, life experiences, and the demands of our current environment. In addition to describing four different learning styles, Kolb also developed a theory of experiential learning and a learning style inventory.
Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Verbal-linguistic learners • Have highly developed auditory (listening) skills • Enjoy reading and writing • Like to play word games • Have a good memory for names, dates and places • Are good at getting their point across Logical-mathematical learners • Like to explore patterns and relationships • Enjoy doing activities in sequential order • Are likely to enjoy mathematics and to experiment with things they don’t understand • Find it challenging to solve problems and use logical reasoning Visual-spatial learner • Tend to feel at home with visual arts, maps, charts and diagrams • Often think in images and pictures • Can visualize clear images of things • Often can complete jigsaw puzzles easily Musical-rhythmic learners • Are sensitive to the sounds in their environment • Enjoy music and may prefer listening to music when they study or read • Appreciate pitch and rhythm • Probably like singing to themselves Bodily-kinesthetic learners • Process knowledge through bodily sensations • Use the body in skilled ways • Have good balance and coordination • Are good with their hands • Are able to manipulate objects with finesse • Need opportunities to move and act things out • Tend to respond best in classrooms that provide physical activities and hands-on learning Intrapersonal learners • Prefer their own inner world • Like to be alone • Are aware of their own strengths, weaknesses, and feelings • Tend to think creatively and independently • Like to reflect on ideas • Often possess independence, self-confidence, determination, and high motivation • Often prefer working independently rather than in groups • May respond with strong opinions when controversial topics are discussed Interpersonal learners • Enjoy being around people • Have many friends and engage in social activities • Learn best by relating, sharing, and participating in cooperative group environments
scale: agree
- {score=6} strongly agree
- {score=5} agree
- {score=4} slightly agree
- {score=3} slightly disagree
- {score=2} disagree
- {score=1} strongly disagree
l: cfs
t: scale agree
o: width 50%
o: random
q: The following statements deal with your beliefs and feelings about your own behavior.
Read each statement and respond by selecting how much you agree or disagree with each statement.
- I can communicate an idea in many different ways.
- {reverse} I avoid new and unusual situations.
- {reverse} I feel like I never get to make decisions.
- I can find workable solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems.
- {reverse} I seldom have choices when deciding how to behave.
- I am willing to work at creative solutions to problems.
- In any given situation, I am able to act appropriately.
- My behavior is a result of conscious decisions that I make.
- I have many possible ways of behaving in any given situation.
- {reverse} I have difficulty using my knowledge on a given topic in real life situations.
- I am willing to listen and consider alternatives for handling a problem.
- I have the self-confidence necessary to try different ways of behaving
l: score
t: set
- sum $cfs
l: feedback
t: info
q: Your feedback on the cognitive flexibility scale is {$score}.
The average score among students is (around) 55 points.