Learning Styles or “Multiple Intelligences” describe how most people learn. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines intelligence as “the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations”. In 1983, Howard Gardiner, a psychologist at Harvard University, identified eight “intelligences”. Gardiner taught that each person can have one dominate “intelligence” –a way that people learn and understand information best and also rely on several additional intelligences while gaining knowledge (Howard Gardener, Intelligence Reframed, (New York: Basic Books, 1999), 41-48). In most situations, the Linguistic intelligence is always used in teaching and learning since this style of learning includes the written and spoken word. The most impactful learning happens when several intelligences are incorporated simultaneously.

The eight learning styles, along with a few keywords to describe each style, are listed below. Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D,  coined the “smarts” for each learning style. His work can be found at www.institute4learning.com

Along with each learning style are several suggestions to use when studying scriptures, conference talks, Come Follow Me lessons, etc. which fit each learning style.