Top Study Tips for Multiple Intelligences

Even as a seven-year-old school kid, I used to have a unique interpretation of the term ‘intelligence’. Somehow, my childhood brain conveyed to me a simple message: your academic scores in exams as well as your classroom performance were some of the crucial yardsticks that measured your personal level of intelligence.

As I grew up, I discovered that my judgement was absolutely flawless, at least, to some extent.

For, the average level of intelligence in students have traditionally always been calculated by aptitude tests that evaluate proficiency in subjects like Math and reading. You must have observed that such a practice of measuring human IQ (intelligence quotient) continues even till the present-day. This is one of the major factors that spark anxiety among students who have cleared their school finals –uncertain of their intelligence required to qualify for a particular course or to complete it successfully.

So, you might have applied for a distance learning diploma course in clinical psychology. Prior to your entrance exam preparations, you start contemplating if you are armed with an adequate amount of intelligence necessary to crack the final exams of this course!

Now, in order to make your learning experience really productive, you should be aware of your ‘intelligence type’.

A distinct idea about your intelligence type would assist you in customizing your study habits to accomplish your learning goals and eventually arrive at the destination of success.

The Concept of Multiple Intelligences at a Glance

Although we associate intelligence with a single letter grade or IQ, determining intelligence is truly a challenge that is tricky enough.

Do you know why it is so?

Well, it is simply due to the fact that intelligence is multi-dimensional. For instance, you could be highly efficient in Science subjects, but detestable when it comes to penning an imaginative short story or an essay. However, this does not signify that you are not intelligent. Intelligence can be defined as the sum total of numerous aptitudes essential for reasoning any topic or subject logically and effortlessly.

This is exactly what ‘multiple intelligences’ stand for.

During the 1980’s, an academician from Harvard University, known as Howard Gardner developed the idea of multiple intelligences. He established the fact that students learn in different ways, since each and every learner possesses an individual learning trait that is unique. Because, every student is blessed with a distinctive combination of intelligence.

Gardner arrived at the conclusion that there exists nine types of intelligences.

Your intelligence might vary greatly from that of your friend’s, depending on your natural environment, genes and the way you have been raised.

How to Improve your Intelligences?

Are you wondering if there are any secret strategies that help you improve your intelligences? Indeed, there are many. Continue reading to realize the top study tips for multiple intelligences in the following paragraphs:

#1. Visual Intelligence

Referred to as the ‘picture smart’, visual intelligence is the ability of students to visualize the information that they receive, in their mind. Such learners are able to express themselves in all forms of art and creativity, which is the reason they are also termed as ‘spatial learners’. They can paint, sketch pictures and are great with presenting information through ‘charts’ and paintings.

Tips for students with visual intelligence:

• Play Chess – Playing chess is one of the activities that is bound to help students with visual intelligence. For, it enhances creativity by boosting problem-solving and memory skills. Thus you would find it easier to create information in visually appealing templates.

• Utilize Google Maps – Applications like Google Maps is a fantastic tool for spatial learners. Not only would Google Map help you locate an unfamiliar place, it can also upgrade your visual-spatial knowledge. Even in the absence of a map, it teaches you how to navigate across places appropriately.

• Play Puzzles – Playing with spaces proves to be an interesting activity of such students. Why not try playing puzzles to work on your spatial skills? Jigsaw puzzles, Rubik’s Cube and a few spatial puzzles require you to mentally visualize the movement of objects.

#2. Intrapersonal Intelligence

Intrapersonal people are highly introspective and boast of excellent self-reflective capabilities. They can analyze their strengths and weaknesses perfectly and are knowledgeable about that special element that makes them strikingly different from their peers. If you possess intrapersonal intelligence, you might consider yourself to be ‘self-smart’.

Tips for students with intrapersonal intelligence:

• Focus on Self-Study – Find a quiet place at home where you can study with concentration. The place must be devoid of all sorts of distractions and free of noise. Following this tactic helps you study effectively thereby retaining information.

• Keep Personal Notes – Try creating personal study materials in the form of personal notes. These would supplement your academic materials. So, naturally, these additional references would go a long way in guiding you in your exam preparation.

• Involve Role-Playing Events – Intrapersonal learners, also known as solitary learners, must get creative with ‘role-playing’. Teachers must engage in role-playing activities to motivate these pupils.

#3. Musical Intelligence

Some students are ‘music-smart’, and can interpret lessons if they are presented through a musical rhythm. For, they are sensitive to different kinds of rhythm, music, tones and sounds. They are also referred to as ‘auditory-musical’ individuals as they are capable of singing, composing music and also playing musical instruments.

Tips for students with musical intelligence:

• Sing – Sing to your heart’s content, be it in the shower or while you are busy in your daily chores like clearing your study desk or arranging books on the shelves. If there is a particular track that appeals to you, don’t hesitate to sing it or play it on your gadget. It would make you more creative.

• Employ Sound Recordings – Record music and use the sound recordings while you are studying about a particular topic. As the music plays in the background and you try to memorize academic ideas, it paves the way for better visualization.

• Learn How to Play An Instrument – Learning how to play any musical instrument is known to refine your musical skills considerably. You develop an idea about the basic rhythms, tones and pitches once you start doing so. It also helps you develop an ear for details that would benefit you immensely in your lessons.

#4. Interpersonal Intelligence

Such ‘people smart’ learners are incredibly social, and are known as interpersonal people. They love the idea of collaborating on group assignments and projects, expressing their ideas and thoughts in front of people and interacting actively with people. They are found to be really sensitive to the feelings of others.

Tips for students with interpersonal intelligence:

• Form Study Groups – Form a study group comprising your classmates with whom you relate the most. Discuss important portions of the school curriculum with your group. Also, solve mock test papers together. Share your issues and provide solutions together.

• Communicate – Since these students are also termed as ‘social learners’, they believe in getting their message across to their peers and teachers. So make it a point to share your views with people around you. Also, remember to encourage others to offer you their honest feedback about your opinions.

• Participate in Role-Playing – Role-playing is a fun activity that ends up being an active learning strategy for intrapersonal as well as interpersonal students. Request your teachers to conduct role-playing sessions, dividing you into teams.

#5. Linguistic Intelligence

If you have a way with phrases, letters and words, be rest assured that you are ‘word smart’. Or, in other words, a verbal or linguistic person. These kind of people are fond of indulging in word games and writing down stories or notes. Similar to interpersonal students, linguistic students also share a passion of discussing information with others.

Tips for students with linguistic intelligence:

• Maintain a Journal – Firstly, maintain a personal journal. If you come across an interesting news story, or any news article pertaining to any famous personality, feel free to write down about them in your diary.

• Read your Lessons Aloud – Linguistic students must always remember to read out their lessons loud and clear. Since you are good with words and phrases, you must make efforts to read your content in a dramatic manner. Doing so helps you remember whatever you read.

• Record your Scripts – Have tape recorder handy while you sit down to study your notes or read your textbook, if you are a verbal person. You can also utilize a digital audio recorder to record your lessons. Use the recording to revise your lessons later.

#6. Kinesthetic Intelligence

A typical classroom might also comprise students who find lectures quite monotonous, and instead they learn better if bodily movements are incorporated in classroom sessions. Such students are called ‘kinesthetic’ or ‘bodily students’. They are actually ‘body smart’. And, enjoy working with their hands and creating things with dexterity. They even love staying outdoors and studying in the form of play! Kinesthetic people are attracted to physical activities including acting, dancing and all kinds of games.

Tips for students with kinesthetic intelligence:

• Write and Draw More – Writing and drawing diagrams are also among important physical activities. Therefore whenever you are studying, practice the diagrams in Biology. Not only for Biology, but for any subject that involves diagrams. In addition, make it a habit to write down definitions or formulae while memorizing them.

• Use Materials That Support Learning – If kinesthetic students can accumulate materials that aid in learning, it would heighten your learning experiences to a great extent. For instance, using objects like play dough or clay would accelerate your learning.

• Take Frequent Breaks – Since you find it an uphill task to focus on a single academic assignment for over twenty minutes, I would suggest you take frequent breaks while you are studying.

#7. Mathematical Intelligence

Now comes the ‘number smart’ category of students. Can you guess who these people are? Well, as the name suggests, this kind of people are hand and glove with numbers and equations. They seem to be born with an innate ability to solve the toughest problems and include people like mathematicians and engineers.

Tips for students with mathematical intelligence:

• Play Card Games – Who said you need to delve into dull activities in order to strengthen your Mathematical expertise? Playing card games is yet another exciting way to stimulate your brain for the purpose of working out Math problems. And trust me, it works my friends.

• Join a Math Club – Does it sound boring to some of you? Even if it does, joining a Math club is a wonderful idea that can ameliorate your Math skills and your aptitude in reasoning. Learning about new Mathematical concepts would encourage you to practice Math more often.

• Crack Codes – Start cracking secret codes and compete with your friends. You can collect them from the Internet. You do it once and I bet you would be addicted to them. Going about it would definitely make you better at your favorite subject.

#8. Naturalist Intelligence

The concept of naturalist intelligence had been added by Howard Gardner in the year 1995. People with this kind of intelligence discover that they are able to relate and connect more with the natural environment consisting of birds, plants, flowers and animals.

Tips for students with naturalist intelligence:

• Make Gardening Your Hobby – Indulge in a passion of gardening if you are an ardent nature-lover, or a naturalist student. You can plant a small garden in your verandah or in the lawn of your home. By attending to your plants and taking care of them you would learn more about your environment.

• Get a Taste of the Outdoors – Also, try and get a taste of the outdoors! The traditional study desk in your home is certainly not the ideal place for learning, at least for people like you who adore Mother Nature. I am sure such students would really love the idea of attending ‘forest schools’.

#9. Existential Intelligence

The multiple intelligence theory also speaks about ‘spiritual intelligence’. Gardner has proposed about this intelligence during the year 1999. Researchers are exploring this type of intelligence.

So, what kind of an intelligence has God bestowed you with? I hope you can identify your ‘intelligence type’ from the list I have provided you. Wishing you all the best, dear students!