How does your child like to learn ?
Gone are the days when school was all about the 3Rs - reading , writing and ' rithmetic . Whilst debates about the content of our National Curriculum and the value of testing children throughout their schooling continue , there is an increasing recognition that there are skills which are essential for all individuals develop .
These skills come under many guises , for example ; whole brain thinking , critical thinking skills and Bloom ' s Taxonomy . Essentially they are the skills that make us life learners , they enable us to develop resilience , to adapt to our situation , to be enterprising and to solve problems . In brief , these skills enable us to analyse , evaluate and be creative ; to remember , understand and apply our learning to our everyday lives .
When used in the classroom , these skills encourage an individual , to develop their self- confidence as learners in an environment where " It ' s OK to not to know but it ' s not OK to not try ."
In addition , the understanding of how we learn has greatly developed . It is generally accepted that there are many types of intelligences known as multiple intelligences of which there are eight in all . Put simply these are :
LINGUISTIC individuals who like to read , write and to memorise and retell stories and facts .
LOGICAL / MATHEMATICAL individuals who like to think and explore numbers and patterns , classifying and grouping information .
34
SPATIAL individuals who like to draw , build , design and create ; they enjoy working with colour and pictures and tend to be good at visualising .
MUSICAL individuals who like to sing , hum , listen and respond to music as well as play instruments ; they easily pick up rhythm and remember melodies .
BODILY / KINAESTHETIC individuals who like to move around ; they are generally good at physical activities , including sport and crafts .
NATURALISTIC individuals who like to be outside , who are interested in conservation and animals , enjoying studying how things work and natural phenomena .
INTERPERSONAL individuals who enjoy working with others ; enjoying collaborative learning .
INTRA-PERSONAL individuals who prefer to work on their own and have their own interests and goals .
The majority of schools and teachers are aware of these multiple intelligences and the importance of learning skills . Within the school environment as well as the curriculum they endeavour to promote these skills and to develop all individuals as life learners . In the classroom , most teachers plan lessons that include VAK ( Visual , Auditory and Kinaesthetic ) activities which provide opportunities to develop an individual ' s multiple intelligences .
Visual learning activities include drawing , copying , making diagrams , using highlighters and colour coding . Learners who respond well to visual activities often like to follow written instructions or to use flashcards . They may doodle and often choose to sit at the front of the class . Generally they will find it harder to listen to verbal instructions and may lose concentration if there are no visual stimuli .
Auditory learning activities include discussion , watching and listening to videos , remembering facts and using rhythm or word association . Learners who respond to auditory activities do well in oral tests , choose to write about what they ' ve heard and prefer verbal instructions . They are able to discuss or explain their thoughts and learning with others . Some will find it harder to complete written questions and answer type activities and tests .
Kinaesthetic learning activities include drama , science investigations , solving real life problems , studying with others and learning in short blocks . Kinaesthetic learners prefer interactive , " hands on " activities and multiple choice type exercises . They have a tendency to find it hard to sit still for long periods of time . Consequently they may find it difficult to do well in writing long essays .
As individuals we have our strengths and weaknesses within these types . Knowing our selves as learners has a value not just at school and in passing tests , but throughout our lives . It not only identifies our strengths and our areas to develop , but also supports us in acquiring new skills and knowledge as well as developing our communication skills . Albert Einstein recognised this when he wrote ; “ Everybody is a genius . But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree , it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid ."
By Jenny Orgill