WHAT'S YOUR LEARNING STYLE?

Everybody has a preferred learning style. Knowing and understanding our learning style helps us to learn more effectively. This is particularly true for LD/AD(H)D people because of their different ways of learning. Through identifying your learning style, you will be able to capitalize on your strengths and improve your self-advocacy skills. Learning Styles Self-assessment Score each statement in the columns below by giving yourself the appropriate number:

1 - Not Like Me 2 - A Little Like Me 3 - Like Me 4 - A Lot Like Me

Click on the "submit" button at the end of the questionnaire to see your score! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. I feel the best way to remember something is to picture it in my head I follow oral directions better than written ones I often would rather listen to a lecture than read the material in a textbook I am constantly fidgeting (e.g. tapping pen, playing with keys in my pocket) I frequently require explanations of diagrams, graphs, or maps I work skillfully with my hands to make or repair things I often prefer to listen to the radio than read a newspaper I typically prefer information to be presented visually, (e.g. flipcharts or chalkboard) I usually prefer to stand while working I typically follow written instructions better than oral ones I am skillful at designing graphs, charts, and other visual displays I generally talk at a fast pace and use my hands more than the average person to communicate what I want to say I frequently sing, hum or whistle to myself I am excellent at finding my way around even in unfamiliar surroundings I am good at putting jigsaw puzzles together I am always on the move I excel at visual arts I excel at sports I'm an avid collector

20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

I tend to take notes during verbal discussions/lectures to review later I am verbally articulate and enjoy participating in discusions or classroom debates I easily understand and follow directions on maps I remember best by writing things down several times or drawing pictures and diagrams I need to watch a speaker's facial expressions and body language to fully understand what they mean I frequently use musical jingles to learn things I often talk to myself when alone I would rather listen to music than view a piece of art work I need to actively participate in an activity to learn how to do it I frequently tell jokes, stories and make verbal analogies to demonstrate a point I frequently touch others as a show of friendship and camaraderie (e.g. hugging)

What are the types of Multiple Intelligence?

Visual/Spatial Intelligence ability to perceive the visual. These learners tend to think in pictures and need to create vivid mental images to retain information. They enjoy looking at maps, charts, pictures, videos, and movies. Their skills include: puzzle building, reading, writing, understanding charts and graphs, a good sense of direction, sketching, painting, creating visual metaphors and analogies (perhaps through the visual arts), manipulating images, constructing, fixing, designing practical objects, interpreting visual images. Possible career interests: navigators, sculptors, visual artists, inventors, architects, interior designers, mechanics, engineers Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence ability to use words and language. These learners have highly developed auditory skills and are generally elegant speakers. They think in words rather than pictures. Their skills include: listening, speaking, writing, story telling, explaining, teaching, using humor, understanding the syntax and meaning of words, remembering information, convincing someone of their point of view, analyzing language usage. Possible career interests: Poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, translator Logical/Mathematical Intelligence ability to use reason, logic and numbers. These learners think conceptually in logical and numerical patterns making connections between pieces of information. Always curious about the world around them, these learner ask lots of questions and like to do experiments. Their skills include:

problem solving, classifying and categorizing information, working with abstract concepts to figure out the relationship of each to the other, handling long chains of reason to make local progressions, doing controlled experiments, questioning and wondering about natural events, performing complex mathematical calculations, working with geometric shapes Possible career paths: Scientists, engineers, computer programmers, researchers, accountants, mathematicians Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence ability to control body movements and handle objects skillfully. These learners express themselves through movement. They have a good sense of balance and eye-hand co-ordination. (e.g. ball play, balancing beams). Through interacting with the space around them, they are able to remember and process information. Their skills include: dancing, physical co-ordination, sports, hands on experimentation, using body language, crafts, acting, miming, using their hands to create or build, expressing emotions through the body Possible career paths: Athletes, physical education teachers, dancers, actors, firefighters, artisans Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence ability to produce and appreciate music. These musically inclined learners think in sounds, rhythms and patterns. They immediately respond to music either appreciating or criticizing what they hear. Many of these learners are extremely sensitive to environmental sounds (e.g. crickets, bells, dripping taps). Their skills include: singing, whistling, playing musical instruments, recognizing tonal patterns, composing music, remembering melodies, understanding the structure and rhythm of music Possible career paths: musician, disc jockey, singer, composer Interpersonal Intelligence

ability to relate and understand others. These learners try to see things from other people's point of view in order to understand how they think and feel. They often have an uncanny ability to sense feelings, intentions and motivations. They are great organizers, although they sometimes resort to manipulation. Generally they try to maintain peace in group settings and encourage co-operation.They use both verbal (e.g. speaking) and non-verbal language (e.g. eye contact, body language) to open communication channels with others. Their skills include: seeing things from other perspectives (dual-perspective), listening, using empathy, understanding other people's moods and feelings, counseling, cooperating with groups, noticing people's moods, motivations and intentions, communicating both verbally and non-verbally, building trust, peaceful conflict resolution, establishing positive relations with other people. Possible Career Paths: Counselor, salesperson, politician, business person Intrapersonal Intelligence ability to self-reflect and be aware of one's inner state of being. These learners try to understand their inner feelings, dreams, relationships with others, and strengths and weaknesses. Their Skills include: Recognizing their own strengths and weaknesses, reflecting and analyzing themselves, awareness of their inner feelings, desires and dreams, evaluating their thinking patterns, reasoning with themselves, understanding their role in relationship to others.

This form can help you determine which intelligences are strongest for you. If you're a teacher or tutor, you can also use it to find out which intelligences your learner uses most often. Many thanks to Dr. Terry Armstrong for graciously allowing us to use his questionnaire. Instructions: Read each statement carefully. Choose one of the five buttons for each statement indicating how well that

statement describes you. 1 = Statement does not describe you at all 2 = Statement describes you very little 3 = Statement describes you somewhat 4 = Statement describes you pretty well 5 = Statement describes you exactly 1 1. I pride myself on having a large vocabulary. 2. Using numbers and numerical symbols is easy for me. 3. Music is very important to me in daily life. 4. I always know where I am in relation to my home. 5. I consider myself an athlete. 6. I feel like people of all ages like me. 7. I often look for weaknesses in myself that I see in others. 8. The world of plants and animals is important to me. 9. I enjoy learning new words and do so easily. 10. I often develop equations to describe relationships and/or to explain my observations. 11. I have wide and varied musical interests including both classical and contemporary. 12. I do not get lost easily and can orient myself with either maps or landmarks. 2 3 4 5

13. I feel really good about being physically fit. 14. I like to be with all different types of people. 15. I often think about the influence I have on others. 16. I enjoy my pets. 17. I love to read and do so daily. 18. I often see mathematical ratios in the world around me. 19. I have a very good sense of pitch, tempo, and rhythm. 20. Knowing directions is easy for me. 21. I have good balance and eyehand coordination and enjoy sports which use a ball. 22. I respond to all people enthusiastically, free of bias or prejudice. 23. I believe that I am responsible for my actions and who I am. 24. I like learning about nature. 25. I enjoy hearing challenging lectures. 26. Math has always been one of my favorite classes. 27. My music education began when I was younger and still continues today. 28. I have the ability to represent what I see by drawing or painting.

29. My outstanding coordination and balance let me excel in high-speed activities. 30. I enjoy new or unique social situations. 31. I try not to waste my time on trivial pursuits. 32. I enjoy caring for my house plants. 33. I like to keep a daily journal of my daily experiences. 34. I like to think about numerical issues and examine statistics. 35. I am good at playing an instrument and singing. 36. My ability to draw is recognized and complimented by others. 37. I like being outdoors, enjoy the change in seasons, and look forward to different physical activities each season. 38. I enjoy complimenting others when they have done well. 39. I often think about the problems in my community, state, and/or world and what I can do to help rectify any of them. 40. I enjoy hunting and fishing. 41. I read and enjoy poetry and occasionally write my own. 42. I seem to understand things around me through a mathematical sense.

43. I can remember the tune of a song when asked. 44. I can easily duplicate color, form, shading, and texture in my work. 45. I like the excitement of personal and team competition. 46. I am quick to sense in others dishonesty and desire to control me. 47. I am always totally honest with myself. 48. I enjoy hiking in natural places. 49. I talk a lot and enjoy telling stories. 50. I enjoy doing puzzles. 51. I take pride in my musical accomplishments. 52. Seeing things in three dimensions is easy for me, and I like to make things in three dimensions. 53. I like to move around a lot. 54. I feel safe when I am with strangers. 55. I enjoy being alone and thinking about my life and myself. 56. I look forward to visiting the zoo.

3.71

Self: You have a very good sense of self. You like to spend time by yourself and think things over. You will often take in information from another person, mull it over by yourself, and come back to that person later to discuss it. You like working on projects on your own. You often prefer to learn by trial and error. Effective techniques to enhance your learning include keeping a journal and giving yourself time to reflect on new ideas and information. More ideas:

Go on "guided imagery" tours. Set aside time to reflect on new ideas and information. Encourage journal writing. Work on the computer. Practice breathing for relaxation. Use brainstorming methods before reading. Listen to and read "how to" tapes and books. Read cookbooks.

3.57

Social: You like to develop ideas and learn from other people. You like to talk. You have good social skills. Effective techniques of enhancing your learning using your social intelligence include

taking part in group discussions or discussing a topic one-to-one with another person. Find ways to build reading and writing exercises into your group activities, such as:

Reading a dialogue or a play with other people Doing team learning/investigating projects Setting up interview questions and interviewing your family, and writing down the interview Writing notes to another instead of talking.

2.57

Language: You enjoy enjoy saying, hearing, and seeing words. You like telling stories. You are motivated by books, records, dramas, opportunities for writing. Effective techniques of enhancing your learning using your language intelligence include reading aloud, especially plays and poetry. Another idea is to write down reflections on what you've read. You may also enjoy exploring and developing your love of words, i.e., meanings of words, origin of words and idioms, names. Use different kinds of dictionaries. Other ideas:

Keep a journal Use a tape recorder to tape stories and write

them down

Read together, i.e., choral reading Read a section, then explain what you've read Read a piece with different emotional tones or viewpoints one angry, one happy, etc. Trade tall tales, attend story-telling events and workshops Research your name

The scores for your other five intelligences:

2.57

2.43

2.43

2.14

1.71

Just because these five are not in your top three doesnt mean youre not strong in them. If your average score for any intelligence is above three, youre probably using that intelligence quite often to help you learn. Take a look at the Practice section to see how to engage all your intelligences.