Study Skills for Neurodivergent Students

Dr. Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences says that individuals learn and process information in diverse ways, not just through a single, standardised measure. This understanding is especially relevant for neurodivergent students, who often have unique learning preferences, approaches and strengths.

The eight intelligences are:

💬 Linguistic: Being good with words, whether it's talking, writing, or learning.

📊 Logical-mathematical: Having a knack for solving problems, thinking logically, and working with numbers.

🗺️ Spatial-visual: Being able to picture things in your mind, play around with shapes, and visualise concepts.

🤸 Bodily-kinaesthetic: Being skilled with your body, having good control, coordination, and dexterity.

🎵 Musical: Having a strong sense of rhythm and melody, and being able to create and enjoy music.

👥 Interpersonal: Being great at understanding people, getting along with others, and forming connections.

🤔 Intrapersonal: Knowing yourself well, understanding your own emotions, motivations, and goals.

🌳 Naturalistic: Having a strong connection with nature, being able to identify and classify living things, and having a fascination with the natural world.

The table below describes these intelligences in terms of different kinds of 'smartness'. You may well recognise yourself, your friends or family members in here!

(Credit) Armstrong, T. (2017). Multiple intelligences in the classroom. Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development.

Remember:

• This is not an exhaustive list, and you may find you prefer several of these, or different ones at different times or contexts.
• Experiment and find the approaches that work best for you.
• Don't be afraid to seek help from lecturers, librarians, or support services.
• Celebrate your unique learning method and use it to your advantage!