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Know Your Self |
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����������� In recent years two scholars that have stood out in the education field are Neil Fleming for his development of the VARK questionnaire and Howard Gardner with his theories on multiple intelligences.� The VARK questioner is a short test that shows an individual where their strengths in learning are the greatest. Gardner breaks intelligence down into nine different categories using a survey of questions. Gardner's theories are controversial in the education field because they challenge standardized test. With these two surveys someone can learn to improve their learning and comprehension skills.� |
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����������� The VARK is a tool that everyone can use to know their comprehension strengths and how to capitalize on them. Neil Fleming, of Lincoln University, New Zealand first came up with these ideas in 1987. The VARK "is a short, simple inventory that has been well-received because its dimensions are intuitively understood and its applications are practical" (Fleming). The questions that are presented to the individual are given in a way that brings out the learning preferences that best suits the person. The test will narrow the individual's strengths down into four modes, consisting of visual, aural, read/write, and kinesthetic.� Each mode is divided into three sections, intake, study without tears (SWOT), and output. The majority of the people who take the VARK find they are multimodal. These individuals who find they are multimodal need to familiarize themselves with two or more of the VARK categories. |
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In a similar study Howard Gardner, a professor at Harvard and an author of Frames of Mind and other books on multiple intelligences, developed the theories on multiple intelligences. All people vary in the amounts that they posses. With additional work, these intelligences can be strengthened or if neglected they will diminish. This is very controversial to the traditional idea that "people are born with a fixed amount of intelligence" ("Workshop Month 1: Tapping into..."). The intelligences cover a wide variety of skills, previously over looked in intelligence tests. These intelligences are broken down in nine ways, verbal-linguistic, mathematical-logical, musical, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist, and existential. Each category spans a variety of skills that define a person's strengths and weaknesses. Gardner first came up with these classifications in 1983 with his first book describing these intelligences, Frames of Mind. In 1999 Gardner publishes Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligence for the 21st Century in which he "reports on the evolution of and revisions to the theory of multiple intelligences" ("Workshop Month 1: Tapping into..."). To form these theories Gardner "performed interviews with and brain research on hundreds of people, including stroke victims, prodigies, autistic individuals, and so-called idiot savants" ("Workshop Month 1: Tapping into..."). These theories are fuel to the fire of advocates against standardized tests such as the IQ test. These people believe that the standardized tests are not accurate reflections of a person's mental capacity and cause people to be labeled. Since Frames of Mind in 1983, Gardner has become very popular in the teaching professions serving as a consultant on multiple intelligences. Gardner's oppositions claim that the theories are nothing new to educators and psychologists, and that these intelligences are just talents and attributes of people rather then mental aptitude.� |
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After taking the VARK I found that I am mostly a kinesthetic learner with visual learning coming in second. These two forms go hand in-hand with each other. Both kinesthetic and visual learners learn and interact by visual cues and examples but also do well with creative hands on approaches. These conclusions seem to be on the mark about me. I am a very hands on person that understands by doing. The Multiple Intelligences survey showed similar strengths as the VARK did. Coming in at number one I was labeled as having strength in visual-spatial intelligence. This seems to be an accurate description of my strengths. Visual intelligence is described as "capacity to think in images and pictures, to visualize accurately and abstractly" ("Workshop Month 1: Tapping into..."). My next highest-ranking strength was in existential intelligence. This category is described as strength in philosophical and human origin theories. |
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I can use this to my advantage in my studies that seem vague or irrelevant to me. Math is a subject that is based on rules and formulas; I have a hard understanding them sometimes because they are things that I can't put my hands on. The VARK has showed me that I can use my kinesthetic strength by making problems that I can visualize with real world application. The multiple intelligences survey has showed me where my strengths are and where I can improve others. |
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These skills that I have learned will help me in the rest of my life. They will help with every thing from giving someone directions, to how I would present a project to others in my workplace. I have realized how I like to comprehend things and how varied other people are in the way they like to comprehend. I will take this into consideration in the future and try to read people to understand their strengths so I can better communicate with them. |
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Knowing these things about my self I can now strengthen my study habits. Taking the two surveys has also helped me understand why I can comprehend some subjects so much better then others. I realize that when interacting with others the way I under stand things differs then the way others do, so I have to be able to adapt too many different styles of learning and communication.� |
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Works cited |
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