Learning Style, Personality & Multiple Intelligences

Through our course content we investigated three key concepts which explained the differences in the preferred learning conditions of students. These included their: learning style, personality style, and multiple intelligences.

The learning style of a person has a major influence on their preferred learning conditions. Felder identified four dimensions in which people differ in their learning style suggesting students are either active/reflective, sensing/intuitive, visual/verbal, and sequential/global (1).

The personality of an individual is also thought to influence how they learn best. The dimensions used to measure personality traits of people are weighted across four dimensions including Extraversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuition, Thinking/Feeling, Judging/Perceiving which affect their preferred style of learning (1).

The multiple intelligence theory suggests that learners have different abilities and some are more intelligent in certain areas than others. The areas of intelligence include: Kinaesthetic (Body Smart), Linguistic (Word Smart), Logical (Number Smart), Interpersonal (People Smart), Intrapersonal (Myself Smart), Musical (Music Smart), Visual/Spatial (Picture Smart), and Naturalistic (Nature Smart)(1).

All of these theories are similar in their concepts suggesting that student’s learning characteristics are dependent on a number of variables, and that these variables are related to the internal attributes of the individual. In terms of learning environment it is important for teachers to understand the differences in the learning styles and strengths of individuals. A major challenge for teachers in this regard is developing a program that is applicable to the diverse needs of the individual. I believe e-learning tools offer enormous potential in meeting this challenge through their adaptability to suit the needs of a diverse range of learning styles. Therefore, I would strongly support their use in classroom settings as a tool for creating more enjoyable learning experiences for the individual.

References
1)http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=18262


REFLECTIONS
How would you use ICT's to tailor your own learning experience according to your strengths and weaknesses?