Amy E. Olsen

There is no one right way to teach, just as there is no one right way to learn. What works for one student doesn't necessarily work for another. Pedagogyhas undergone many permutationsin the search for the best way to educate the most people. In 1983 psychologist Howard Gardner proposed a theory of seven types of intelligence. The Multiple Intelligences (MI) concept posits the idea that people learn differently. Certainly knowing one's own preferred learning style should help that person learn better.

Two of Gardner's intelligences that most people are familiar with are the linguistic and logical-mathematical. The linguistic learner is the person who enjoys writing and reading, while the logical-mathematical learner enjoys arithmetic problems, strategy games, and experiments. Kinesthetic learners may have some trouble sitting at a desk all day because they learn best through movement. Students who learn best this way can be good athletes and dancers. They also prefer tactileprojects such as woodworking or cooking; these learners benefit most from hands-on activities. Spatial learners assimilate information through pictures or 20 images. They relish spending time with mazes, jigsaw puzzles, or drawings. Musical students delight in singing or playing instruments. They are espe­cially attentive to the sounds around them. Interpersonal learners like to work with others; they are good at communicating and understanding how other people feel. Lastly, intrapersonal learners look within themselves and are sensitive to their own feelings.

By being knowledgeable about different learning styles, educators can use an interdisciplinary approach to teaching. A math teacher could have students read about famous mathematicians or have a student write about a math problem to bring in the linguistic learner. An English teacher could ask students to connect a reading to a song to aid the musical learner. There are ways to make an assignment germaneto the many types of learning styles that exist. Evaluating learning also has many subjective elements to it. For instance, it can be hard to point out exactly why a student's art project should get а В or a C. Art is usually judged by personal tastes, and what appeals to one person may repel another person. By understanding the concept of Multiple Intelligences, students have the chance to learn using their strengths and to show what they have learned in a way that is meaningful to them. As education theories coalesce, society will discover that uniting ideas can bring out the best in everyone.