Understanding Multiple Intelligences and Types of Learning Preferences (2024)

Educators and researchers are always looking for ways to improve learning outcomes and keep students engaged with learning. Becauseof this, the education field is crowded with different theories aboutlearningstyles(now learningpreferences)teachingstyles, andother methods onhow students learn.

It’s important to understand the different types oflearning preferencesand prevailing theories when buildingonline schoolandhomeschool lessons,and when helping student’sstudy effectivelyto master difficult concepts.While one learning preferenceor theory won’t work for all students, learning about them canstill helpyou identify your own student’s strengths and weaknesses.Someovertimehave been met with criticism, but that’s not to say we can’t test some of their practices out to find outhowour studentsbest prefer to learn and study.They’re still popular today for a reason!

Here is an overview ofsome of thepopular learning theories and differentlearning preferencesto help every student achieve success.

TheMultiple IntelligencesTheory

Some researchers believe in theMultiple IntelligencesTheory, whichclaims that people have eight independent ways of processing information:

• Verbal-linguistic:(Word smart)
• Logical-mathematical:(Logic smart)
• Visual-spatial:(Picture smart)
• Auditory-musical:(Music smart)
• Bodily-kinesthetic:(Body smart)
• Interpersonal:(People smart)
• Intrapersonal:(Self smart)
• Naturalistic:(Nature smart)

It’s more accurate to think of the eight intelligences as abilities or strengths. The human brain is extremely complex, andall ofthese types of “smarts” work together. Your student may have several of these strengths.

How to use theMultiple IntelligencesTheory

To apply theMultiple IntelligencesTheory toonline school, teachers andLearning Coachescan use activities based on the intelligences to help students develop all of their learning strengths. Some activities help develop more than one strength at a time, offering a holistic way to support differenttypes of learners. Here are some activities to engage your student:

• Taking photos for theonline schoolyearbook to exercise“picture smarts”
• Making crystalsto build“nature smarts”
• Drawing a map to scale to exercise“logic smarts”and“picturesmarts”
• Spending10 minutes writingabout one of their best attributes to integrate“word smarts”and“intrapersonal smarts”
  

Learning Preferences

Learning preferencesfocus on how students process information using their senses to absorb and retain what is being taught. While many people may say they have a“learning style,”theyreally havelearning preferences, or ways they prefer to have lessons delivered to them. Studentsactually learnand retain more educational content when it is delivered– or taught – tothem in a variety of different ways as opposed to only one way,even if that way is their preferred way to learn.

Below are three different types oflearning preferencesto keep in mind when buildingonline schoolorhomeschool lessons. If your student is struggling with a difficult concept, you can also use these preferences as a guide to find a different way to deliver the learning content to them to help make things click.

• Visual learners:Those who prefer to learn throughimages, graphs, maps, and drawings
• Auditory learners: Studentswho prefer to learn by hearing and speakingnew information
• Tactile/kinesthetic learners: The student who prefers to learnby experiencing, touching, and performing tasks

With theselearning preferencesin mind, here are some examples of delivering learning content in ways to reach alltypes of learners.

• Have your student practice counting money by giving them real coins, which is a tactile/kinesthetic learnerapproach
• Whenhelping young readers, point to each word as you read it aloud, which uses both auditory and visual skills
• To learn geography, study a map, which is a visual task
  

Physical Activities forKinesthetic Learners

While physical activity is particularly important for kids who have a kinestheticlearning preference,taking breaksand staying active is important for all types of learners! Even if your student doesn’t gravitate toward hands-on or physical activities, you can still incorporate them into theironline schoolroutineto clear the mind andrelieve stress. Try these learning activities to stimulate the body as well as the brain:

• Have your student play multiplication catch or leap for measurement to practice skills through activity
• Have your student use a stability ball instead of a chair for short periods of time to improve balance, posture, and upper-body strength
• Start a family fitness challenge. Get the whole family involved in the new fitness plan, whether it’s by holding indoor scavenger hunts or creating your own unique activities
• Do indoorphysical educationactivities between lessons. Fun physical activities for grades K–12 can keep your student busy all year long, no matter what the weather is like outside
  

Learning Support at Home

Whether labeled aslearning styles,preferencesor intelligences, none of these strengths or abilities are static or fixed. They change as your student grows and matures. These approaches can be useful tools in ateacher’s orLearning Coach’s toolkit to add variety to your student’sonline schoolexperience and support learning at home, especiallywhen helping your student become anindependent learner.

There are lots of benefits to an online school model like Connections Academy.Oneof them is being able to test out these learning theories for yourself with your student,whileenjoying the flexibility of a custom scheduleand personalized education model.Check outhow an online school modelreallyworks,andseeif it might bea rightfitfor you and your family.