Self learning style assessment and applications

¶ … 1983, Howard Gardner challenged conventional views of teaching and learning styles with his book, Frames of Mind. Gardner hypothesized that the skill-sets of different people are directly correlated to their learning styles. It was from this that he developed the theory of multiple intelligences. Within this theory there are seven intelligences, linguistic intelligence, musical intelligence, logical-mathematical intelligence, spatial intelligence, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, and what are known as intra and inter-personnel forms of the personal intelligences.

The following paper is an assessment of the intelligence which represents my personal learning style. It is clear this style is best represented by the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence.

This intelligence is related to physical movement and the knowing/wisdom of the body. Including the brain's motor cortex, which controls body motion. Body/kinesthetic intelligence is awakened through physical movement such as in various sports, dance, physical exercises as well as by the expression of oneself through the body, such as inventing, drama, body language, and creative/interpretive dance. (Learning Styles: A Multiple Intelligence Approach, Pg. 1)

Generally those who have a kinesthetic learning style have a strong understanding of their body and their ability to move. There are six capacities involved with the kinesthetic learner.

1) Kinesthetic learners have control of their voluntary movements. In other words, the kinesthetic learner has a good understanding of both their fine motor movements such as in the fingers as well as in the larger bodily movements. This is partially why one might find some kinesthetic learners in the operating room working as surgeons and others on the sports field playing professional sports.

2) Kinesthetic learners have a strong understanding of "preprogrammed" movement. This is instinctual movement, the flinching if something is scary or putting one's hand out to protect from a fall.

3) Kinesthetic learners have an expanding awareness of their body. As the kinesthetic learner grows so does his or her awareness of how to move effectively. Just because one is a kinesthetic learner does not mean that he or she will suddenly be able to dance in the ballet. The expanding awareness refers to the fact that the kinesthetic learner continues to grow in their understanding. The fact that they think this way does not give them any advantage in sports or any other kinesthetic field without proper training and rehearsal of the movements.

4) Kinesthetic learners have a strong mind body connection. In other words, seeing the basketball hoop and putting the ball into it are two different things. The connection between the minds desire to do something and the body's reaction to this desire is strong in the kinesthetic learner.

5) Kinesthetic learners have strong mimetic abilities. When the kinesthetic learner sees somebody else perform a particular feat, whether this is a dance move or the stroke of a paintbrush, they tend to have the ability to imitate these bodily movements.

6) If kinesthetic learners use their bodily skills, they will tend to have better functioning of this element. In other words they may be more flexible or fit.

Each of the preceding characteristics may exist in some kinesthetic learners and may not exist in others. It is important to remember that the vast majority of those who have this particular learning style compliment it with some elements of the other learning styles.

The kinesthetic learner requires an understanding of their needs from instructors. Many kinesthetic learners have a hard time focusing and this learning style has been confused with learning disorders such as ADHD in children.

The following is a list of tactics that the kinesthetic learner may perform to increase his or her ability to retain information and to learn new skills:

Connect body motions with learning.

Be sure that there is physical comfort and calm when learning new skills.

When reading notes, use the body to express different areas of the work.

Try to experience what is being learned. In other words if learning about an artist, try to go to a museum and see that artist's work.

Kinesthetic Learning Style, Pg 1)

One website for children (www.girlsite.org) indicated a list of items that the kinesthetic learner might do to enhance their skills. This list included the following items:

Play games like softball.

Play charades.

Learn a craft like woodworking or weaving.

Walk on curbs to improve balance.

Exercise.

Take dancing lessons.

Make things with clay while watching TV.

Play video games that use fast reflexes.

Walk around the room blindfolded.

Perhaps the preceding list appears a bit immature for the teenage or adult kinesthetic learner. But there are a few elements that one might take from the list to help exercise this learning style. The list is activity oriented. Watching television alone without anything else to occupy the kinesthetic learner is not enough. The trick for those with this learning style is to constantly challenge their style by using it to it's full advantage.

Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania has created a list of strategies for teachers who have kinesthetic learners in their classrooms or are tutoring kinesthetic students. This list of teaching tactics is quite extensive and not every element is completely suitable for this paper. However, there are many elements which apply here. Following is a summary of the most important strategies listed on their website.

1) Kinesthetic learners do best when they have the opportunity to feel what they are doing. As such, the best way to engage these learners is to provide as many "hands on" exercises as possible. One thing that might help kinesthetic learners throughout their lives is to suggest that they create their own "hands on" learning materials for courses which they are taking.

2) Give instructions to the student and then pass out materials.

3) It is not a bad idea to suggest that students trace images in their books and on screens. This reinforces what is being taught while utilizing their learning style.

4) Kinesthetic learners need short and varied work sessions. Depending on the age of the student, short may mean anywhere from ten minutes to forty minutes. Regardless of the timeframe it is important to challenge these students with variety. They are easily distracted so, it is best if they sit toward the front of the classroom and stay away from distractions such as bookshelves or bulletin boards.

5) Specificity is extremely important to the kinesthetic learner. When providing an assignment the kinesthetic learner should be given an exact page count for an essay or should be provided with a specific number of examples that he or she is required to enumerate. Specificity is important because, kinesthetic learners do well when they have a precise goal to work toward. They tend to lose focus when a goal is somewhat gray in nature.