Accelerated Learning

and multiple intelligences

Mastering accelerated change requires accelerated learning

Accelerated learning embraces Harvard Professor Howard Gardner's Theory of 'Multiple Intelligences' and illustrates that each of us has an individual preferred way of learning that suits us best. When we learn the study skills that exactly match our personal style, we are learning the way that is most natural to us. As it is natural, it is easier and so becomes faster.

In today's fast-changing world many people will embark on five or six different careers during the course of a lifetime. Learning how to learn, therefore, is more important than what we learn. This is because what we learn can quickly become outdated, while how to learn is a skill that we can take with us to master every new situation.

Learning how to learn should be the first lesson everyone is taught in school. It is the most basic skill of all–but most people never get it. When we learn how to learn we equip ourselves to confidently tackle new challenges.

The Accelerated Learning Network provides tools to help improve our ability to learn and develop new skills throughout our lives. It doesn't matter what age we are, we need to be as open and receptive to learning as we can.

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES

Howard Gardener developed the "Theory of Multiple Intelligences" which says, in effect, that IQ should not be measured as an absolute figure in the way that height, weight or blood pressure are. It's a crucial blunder, he maintains, to assume that IQ is a single fixed entity which can be measured by a pencil and paper test.

It's not how smart you are but how you are smart, says Gardner. As human beings, we all have a repertoire of skills, he says, for solving different kinds of problems. And he defines intelligence this way: "An intelligence is an ability to solve a problem or fashion a product which is valued in one or more cultural settings."

Gardner revealed his theory in his ground-breaking book "Frames of Mind" in which he outlined seven distinct intelligences. He subsequently added an eigth.

Here is an outline of the eight Intelligences:

Linguistic Intelligence

The ability to read , write and communicate with words. Authors, journalists, poets, orators and comedians are obvious examples of people with linguistic intelligence.

Famous examples: Charles Dickens, Abraham Lincoln, T.S. Eliot, Sir Winston Churchill.

Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

The ability to reason and calculate, to think things through in a logical, systematic manner. These are the kinds of skills highly developed in engineers, scientists, economists, accountants, detectives and members of the legal profession.

Famous examples: Albert Einstein, John Dewey.

Visual-Spatial Intelligence

The ability to visualise a future result. To imagine things in your mind's eye. Architects, sculptors, sailors, photographers and strategic planners. You use it when you have a sense of direction, when you navigate or draw.

Famous examples: Picasso, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Musical Intelligence

The ability to make or compose music, to sing well, or understand and appreciate music. To keep rhythm. It's a talent obviously enjoyed by musicians, composers, and recording engineers. But most of us have a musical intelligence which can be developed. Think of how helpful it is to learn with a jingle or rhyme (e.g. "Thirty days has September...").

Famous examples: Mozart, Leonard Bernstein, Ray Charles.

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

The ability to use our body skillfully to solve problems, create products or present ideas and emotions. An ability obviously displayed for athletic pursuits, dancing, acting, artistically, or in building and construction. We can include surgeons in this category but many people who are physically talented–"good with their hands"–don't recognize that this form of intelligence is of equal value to the other intelligences.

Famous examples: Charlie Chaplin, Michael Jordan.

Interpersonal (Social) Intelligence

The ability to work effectively with others, to relate to other people, and display empathy and understanding, to notice their motivations and goals. This is a vital human intelligence displayed by good teachers, facilitators, therapists, politicians, religious leaders and sales people.

Famous examples: Gandhi, Ronald Reagan, Mother Teresa, Oprah Winfrey.

Intrapersonal Intelligence

The ability for self-analysis and reflection–to be able to quietly contemplate and assess one's accomplishments, to review one's behavior and innermost feelings, to make plans and set goals, the capacity to know oneself. Philosophers, counselors, and many peak performers in all fields of endeavor have this form of intelligence.

Famous examples: Freud, Eleanor Roosevelt, Plato.

In 1996, Gardner decided to add an eighth intelligence (Naturalist) and in spite of much speculation resisted the temptation to add a ninth–Spiritualist Intelligence.

Naturalist Intelligence

The ability to recognize flora and fauna, to make other consequential distinctions in the natural world and to use this ability productively–for example in hunting, farming or biological science. Farmers, botanists, conservationists, biologists, environmentalists would all display aspects of the intelligence.

Famous examples: Charles Darwin, E.O. Wilson.

MEASURING IQ

Traditionally, academic subjects have been taught in ways that largely involve two intelligences–linguistic and logical-mathematical. Now consider what an IQ test basically measures–ability with words and numbers. So students who are naturally strong in linguistic and mathematical intelligences do well on the standard Stanford-Binet IQ test. Therefore, it's a fairly good predictor of success at school because the way we teach (lectures) and the material with which we deal (logically constructed books) depend heavily on these two intelligences. Since teachers are drawn from people who do well at school, it's a self-perpetuating system.

But is an IQ result a good predictor of happiness, of economic success, of success in relationships, of success in life? Not really. In a modern society, of course, linguistic and logical-mathematical ability are very important, but there are six other intelligences. It is when we marshal all intelligences that we really begin to use our full brain power.

TAKE THE TEST

Accelerated Learning courses are helping people move to even higher levels of success and re-motivate themselves. They take the latest concepts on intelligence and research on the brain and put them into practice.

(adapted from "Accelerated Learning for the 21st Century" by Colin Rose and Malcolm J. Nicholl)

Which of the intelligences do you favour? What are your strengths?

By answering the following questions you will be able to gauge which forms of intelligence are your strongest—and weakest. This will enable you to focus on making sure you make the most of your existing abilities and—if you so desire—see if you can develop some of the others.

Let us emphasize that most of us have a mixed portfolio of intelligences and that there is no purpose in trying to simply label someone as a ‘logical-mathematical’ type or a ‘bodily-kinesthetic’ type. The checklist is designed to help you develop a fuller appreciation of the intelligences you enjoy.

Check each statement which applies to you and add the totals.

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Linguistic

1. You enjoy word play. Making puns, tongue-twisters, limericks.

2. You read everything—books, magazines, newspapers, even product labels.

3. You can easily express yourself either orally or in writing, i.e. you’re a good story-teller or writer.

4. You pepper your conversation with frequent allusions to things you've read or heard.

5. You like to do crosswords, play Scrabble or have a go at other word puzzles.

6. People sometimes have to ask you to explain a word you’ve used.

7. In school you preferred subjects such as English, history and social studies.

8. You can hold your own in verbal arguments or debates.

9. You like to talk through problems, explain solutions, ask questions.

10. You can readily absorb information from the radio or audio cassettes.

Total:

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Logical-Mathematical

1. You enjoy working with numbers and can do mental calculations.

2. You’re interested in new scientific advances.

3. You can easily balance your checkbook; do the household budget.

4. You like to put together a detailed itinerary for vacations or business trips.

5. You enjoy the challenge of brain teasers or other puzzles that require logical thinking.

6. You tend to find the logical flaws in things people say and do.

7. Math and science were among your favorite subjects in school.

8. You can find specific examples to support a general point of view.

9. You take a systematic, step-by-step approach to problem-solving.

10. You need to categorize, group or quantify things to properly appreciate their relevance.

Total:

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Visual-Spatial

1. You have an appreciation of the arts.

2. You tend to make a visual record of events with a camera or camcorder.

3. You find yourself doodling when taking notes or thinking through something.

4. You have no problem reading maps and navigating.

5. You enjoy visual games such as jigsaw puzzles and mazes.

6. You’re quite adept at taking things apart and putting them back together.

7. In school you liked lessons in art and preferred geometry to algebra.

8. You often make your point by providing a diagram or drawing.

9. You can visualize how things look from a different perspective.

10. You prefer reading material that is heavily illustrated.

Total:

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Bodily-Kinesthetic

1. You take part in a sport or regularly perform some kind of physical exercise.

2. You’re quite adept at ‘do-it-yourself.’

3. You like to think through problems while engaged in a physical pursuit such as walking or running.

4. You don’t mind getting up on the dance floor.

5. You like the most thrilling rides at the fun fair.

6. You need to physically handle something to fully understand it.

7. The most enjoyable classes in school were PE and any handicrafts lessons.

8. You use hand gestures or other kinds of body language to express yourself.

9. You like rough and tumble play with children.

10. You need to tackle a new learning experience ‘hands on’ rather than reading a manual or watching a video.

Total:

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Musical

1. You can play a musical instrument.

2. You can manage to sing on key.

3. Usually, you can remember a tune after hearing it just a couple of times.

4. You often listen to music at home and in your car.

5. You find yourself tapping in time to music.

6. You can identify different musical instruments.

7. Theme music or commercial jingles often pop into your head.

8. You can’t imagine life without music.

9. You often whistle or hum a tune.

10. You like a musical background when you’re working.

Total:

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Interpersonal

1. You enjoy working with other people as part of a group or committee.

2. You take great pride in being a mentor to someone else.

3. People tend to come to you for advice.

4. You prefer team sports—such as basketball, softball, soccer, football—to individual sports such as swimming and running.

5. You like games involving other people—bridge, Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit.

6. You’re a social butterfly. You would much prefer to be at a party rather than home alone watching television.

7. You have several very close personal friends.

8. You communicate well with people and can help resolve disputes.

9. You have no hesitation in taking the lead; showing other people how to get things done.

10. You talk over problems with others rather than trying to resolve them by yourself.

Total:

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Intrapersonal

1. You keep a personal diary or log to record your innermost thoughts.

2. You often spend ‘quiet time’ reflecting on the important issues in your life.

3. You have set your own goals—you know where you’re going.

4. You are an independent thinker—you know your own mind, make up your own mind.

5. You have a private hobby or interest which you don’t really share with anyone else.

6. You like to go fishing by yourself or take a solitary hike. You’re happy with your own company.

7. Your idea of a good vacation is an isolated hilltop cabin rather than a five-star resort and lots of people.

8. You have a realistic idea of your own strengths and weaknesses.

9. You have attended self-improvement workshops or been through some kind of counseling to learn more about yourself.

10. You work for yourself—or have seriously contemplated ‘doing your own thing.’

Total:

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Naturalist

1. You keep or like pets.

2. You can recognize and name many different types of trees, flowers and plants.

3. You have an interest in and good knowledge of how the body works—where the main internal organs are, for example, and you keep abreast on health issues.

4. You are conscious of tracks, nests and wildlife while on a walk and can ‘read’ weather signs.

5. You could envision yourself as a farmer or maybe you like to fish.

6. You are a keen gardener.

7. You have an understanding of, and interest in, the main global environmental issues.

8. You keep reasonably informed about developments in astronomy, the origins of the universe and the evolution of life.

9. You are interested in social issues, psychology and human motivations.

10. You consider that conservation of resources and achieving sustainable growth are two of the biggest issues of our times.

Total:

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Compare the totals from all eight intelligences and you will readily see your greatest strengths and weaknesses. The higher your score, the more you favor that particular intelligence.