Interpersonal Intelligence

Interpersonal intelligence is the ability to make distinctions among other individuals in regard to their moods, motivations and temperaments and to communicate with others. Interpersonal intelligence would emphasize the ability of students to work as part of a group, which requires verbal and non verbal communication skills, co-operation and empathy within a group. The focus would be on learning in groups or in pairs. Students should be encouraged to use the knowledge and skills to help the group or partner succeed. Brainstorming, coaching, demonstration of certain skills, carrying out surveys and writing a report on the findings, projects, discussion and debates would be some of the activities under interpersonal intelligence.

To help students learn with and from others, instructors can incorporate cooperative groups, interpersonal interaction, conflict mediation, peer teaching, group brainstorming, peer sharing, community involvement, and parties or social gatherings as context for learning (Armstrong, 1994). Approaches such as encouraging the development of social skills and service learning are also interpersonally grounded (Campbell, Campbell, Dickinson,1996), as well as interviewing for knowledge and finding individuals with like interests. (Kagan and Kagan ,1998). To encourage interpersonal interaction in my classes, students often work in small groups that I assign. Later in the semester, students have become comfortable enough to choose their own groups.

Visual/ Spatial Career

People with Visual intelligence are artistic. They are very aware of their surroundings and are good at remembering images. They have a great sense of direction. They like to draw, paint and read maps. They learn best through drawings and visual aids

Common Characteristics:

Good at solving visual puzzles
Enjoyed geometry in school
Good at drawing
Can visualize pictures in head
Notices colors and shapes
Enjoys photography
Good with directions
Can remember places vividly
Good at artistic composition
Likes books with pictures


Careers for Visual Thinkers

Here are some careers that use strength in visual-spatial thinking:

• scientist • advertising
• inventor • designer
• poet • chef
• musician • entrepreneur
• artist • self-employment
• sports-person • coach/teacher
• architect • mathematician
• computer systems• marketing

Visual/Spatial Activities

Do you find your students thinking in pictures and images, have a good eye for detail and color, and like to draw and create? If so, your kids may perform well in visual and spatial activities. These types of children are known to be Art Smart or Space Smart, according to Howard Gardner.

When your students use their visual spatial intelligence, like young artist Marla Olmstead, they have good artistic abilities, an eye for detail, and they may enjoy painting, coloring, drawing, and sculpting. You can use these visual spatial activities with your lesson plans in the classroom.

Arts and Crafts Activities

•Take photographs
•Make puppets for puppet show
•Paint, draw or color
•Make a poster or advertisement
•Make a mobile
•Play with colors
•Design clothing and accessories
•Design a logo
•Draw a picture from a math problem
•Illustrate a book

Visual Activities

•Guided Imagery
•Pretend or imagine
•Create a mind map
•Watch a movie or educational video

Spatial Activities

•Draw or build something three dimensional
•Estimate in size or amount in math
•Create or read a map
•Play with geometry shapes
•Puzzles
•Mazes - Create Your Own Maze Activity
•Graphic Organizers

Strengths of Visual Spatial Learners

Visual Spatial Learners are adept at:

Puzzles & mazes
Block Counting – 3D arrays with hidden blocks
Visual Transformations
Envisioning a folded & cut piece of paper when opened
Spelling words forward and backwards
Getting around in unfamiliar territory
Reading charts, maps, diagrams
Picturing objects from different angles
Recalling a series of numbers/letters
Numerical relations & mathematical reasoning
Pulling everything apart
Discovering visual models of reality
Finding problems

Visual Spatial Learners often enjoy:

Blocks
Boxes
Computers
Daydreaming
Gears
Legos
Mazes
Movies
Puzzles
Tinker Toys
Taking stuff apart

Visual/Spatial Intelligence

Hi There!

Today we learn about visual/ spatial intelligence. Visual/Spatial is the ability to perceive and recreate the visual world accurately, to visualize in one’s head and to give some kind of order and meaning to objects in space. Visual/Spatial Intelligences call upon our creative and artistic elements, particularly a vivid imagination and can be effectively used in the classroom in a variety of ways.

For this intelligence, students should be able to demonstrate visual perception, which would include the use of images, designs, colours, pictures, visual symbols, patterns designs and shapes. Drawing and painting pictures have to be considered in this category, as would drawing a map. Finding our way from one place to another or visualizing activities are also important. Mappings, as well as activities like sculpting are also suitable activities. Many activities involve an individual’s spatial intelligence. Instructors can employ the use of visual/spatial learning environment equipped with access to visual tools, intentional display areas and changing perspectives through rotating seating. (Campbell, Campbell, Dickinson,1996).

Armstrong(1994) also suggests using charts, graphs, and diagrams, visualization, photography, videos/DVDs, slides and movies, visual puzzles and mazes, art appreciation, imaginative storytelling, picture metaphors, creative daydreaming, idea sketching, visual thinking exercises, mind mapping, visual pattern seeking, optical illusions, and color cueing.

Bodily-kinesthetic Career

Careers that suit those with this intelligence include:

acrobat - dancer - aerobic teacher - coach
physical education teacher - athlete - ballet dancer
actor - actress - drama coach
jockey - rodeo rider - equestrian
assembler - building trade person
carpenter - choreographer - clown
massage therapist – gymnast - pianist
commercial artist - construction worker - craftsperson
inventor - juggler - magician - manual laborer
mechanic - mime - physical therapist
sculptor - stunt people - surgeon - trainer - architect


Although these careers can be duplicated through virtual simulation, they will not produce the actual physical learning that is needed in this intelligence


Common Characteristics

Learns by "doing"
Would rather touch than just look
Well-coordinated withgood motor skills
Likes figuring out how things work
Enjoys the outdoors
Likes to work with hands
Can't sit still for too long
Enjoys sports and exhilarating experiences
Likes to be active
Has a lot of physical energy
Athletic

Bodily-kinesthetic Activities

People with this type of intelligence learn best through bodily movement and usually excel in physical activities such as dancing and sports. They have excellent motor skills and balance. They often have a difficult time sitting still in traditional classrooms and want to get up and "do" the activity. Athletes, doctors, soldiers, dancers and actors are strong in this intelligence. This may be one of your strongest intelligences if you...

• Excel in sports.
• Are a good dancer.
• Are expressive and skilled at acting.
• Can build things.
• Can accurately throw or hit a ball.

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence Involves Physical Activity

•Role-play an event.
•Make a castle of cards or a sand castle.
•Build or construct a model of some structure.
•Repair a mechanical equipment.
•Plan and go on a field trip.
•Demonstrate a hands-on activity
•Dance.
•Learn martial arts.
•Play games.
•Do physical exercises.
•Trekking or mountain climbing.