Christopher Robinson

AGSC 325

Professional Portfolio

    Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles

            Understanding the different learning styles is an important part of being an effective teacher.  Every student will have a different way that they are best able to process new information.  Since we as teachers also have our preferred methods of learning, we tend to teach in a way that we understand the information.  By better understanding my learning style, I can make sure that people with other styles are not left out during my lessons.  After taking tests that show my learning strengths, I should have a better understanding of the ways that I learn. 

            The first test I took was the “Multiple Intelligence Test.”  By asking a series of questions this test calculates my preferences for various subjects and situations.  The results show eight areas that are important to learning styles.  A higher score in one area shows that you have a tendency to learn that way. While all of my scores were fairly close, the differences are understandable.  My highest scores were Musical (48), Naturalistic (45), and Mathematical/Logical (40).  I have a strong draw towards music.  I listen to music as much as possible, and when I cannot it is still running through my head.  I whistle, sing, and tap.  This certainly annoys all those around me, but without it things just don’t seem right.  I think that naturalistic explains my love of the outdoors.  I enjoy being outside hunting, fishing, or just sitting there.  I also would rather watch to see how things work before attempting any interaction.  Mathematical/Logical explains my need to fully calculate all possibilities before proceeding.  I am also an organization freak.  If the things I need for work are not in order, I am lost.  I feel that these results are accurate and do give me a better understanding of my learning styles. 

            My second test was the “Learning Styles Test”.  Similar to the first by asking questions to judge my learning styles.  However, the results are in a different format.  It compares two contrasting styles to see which one I prefer.  The higher the number is toward a style, then the more I prefer that style.  My first result was more reflective (3) than active.  I do prefer to sit and contemplate for a while before acting on something.  I have a tendency to sit back and watch all of the active learners do things the wrong way before I decide on what might be the right way of doing something.  While this is true, I do feel the need to try things a few times before it really sinks in.  My second result was more sensing (5) than intuitive.  I believe that this reinforces the first result.  I would rather have knowledge of every facet of something before attempting it.  While I do have the ability to learn as I go, I would much prefer knowing everything from the beginning.  I typically have the ability to remember all of the steps in a process and all of the reasons for doing them.  My third result was more visual (7) than verbal.  I’m not sure I completely agree with this one.  While I can learn almost nothing by hearing it, I to remember almost all that I read.  I prefer picture diagrams to writing alone, but diagrams without writing are useless to me.  My fourth result was more global (1) than sequential.  The low score seems to indicate that I might be a little of both.  Which one I prefer depends on what I am learning.  Some things I can learn all of the steps and see the final product, but sometimes I have to know the outcome before I understand the steps.  I feel that this test also gives a good representation of my preferred learning styles. 

            Learning style can greatly affect teaching style.  Since you learn better a certain way, you might automatically assume that others will learn best by those methods also.  It is important for teachers to understand that their students may learn in a different way than they do, and adapt their teaching styles to best help all students.  I feel that observation is one of the best teaching tools.  By observing how my students learn, I can adapt my lessons so that all students can get the most from them.  I feel that the Agricultural Science field is the best to show these many teaching methods.   Lectures with images followed by hands on exercises allow students with different learning styles to understand.  While I have a tendency to learn better by thinking through everything before acting, I know that some need to learn by trial and error.  By making sure that everything is understood before moving on, I can find ways to teach those that do not have my same learning styles. 

            These tests certainly reinforced what I had suspected about my learning styles.  I feel that the “Learning Styles Test” gives me a more clear idea of how I actually learn.  Being able to compare one style to another made it easier for me to see the differences.  I have always tried to understand how I learn so I already had an idea of my styles.  These tests just made it possible for me to put on paper what I already suspected.  I will try and use this to both help me learn more efficiently, and to be a more effective teacher.