According to Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence theory, the interpersonal learning style is one of the eight ways people learn.
It is about how well someone connects with and understands others in social situations. Moreover, people with a strong interpersonal learning style are good at interacting with others, picking up on social cues, and building relationships. This intelligence is important for working well with others and succeeding in society.
What is Interpersonal Learning?
Interpersonal learning is all about communication and collaboration. It is the core and the beginning of collaborative learning.
Interpersonal learners learn and grow through interaction with others, by sharing and gaining knowledge through communication. They enjoy group discussions, learning projects, and debates. People with a high degree of interpersonal intelligence make great team leads and excel in organizing workflow.
How to detect an interpersonal learner? Here are three characteristics:
Social extroverts: Find interpersonal learners in groups and see who is hyperactive in the group. The best way to engage interpersonal learners is to bring them to a group and let them work with others.
Natural leaders: As mentioned, interpersonal learners are leaders by nature having all the soft skills to lead small and large groups.
Courageous: They know how to risks and they never play small. They never shy away from asking questions or stating their opinion.
The Role of Interpersonal Learning in Modern Education
In modern education, interpersonal learning plays a crucial role by emphasizing how well students can connect and work with others. Moreover, it goes beyond traditional academic skills, highlighting the significance of effective communication, teamwork, and social understanding. In fact, interpersonal learning is more about soft skills that influence the overall learning process.
In today’s collaborative and diverse environments, where online collaborative learning has a considerable influence, fostering interpersonal learning also is essential for success. Students with strong interpersonal skills excel in group projects and contribute positively to the overall online learning environment. Modern educational approaches recognize that preparing students for real-world challenges includes not only academic knowledge but also the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively.
It is also essential to mention that as technology continues to connect people globally, the significance of interpersonal learning in education becomes more and more evident, ensuring that students are ready for real-life issues.
What Are the Learning Styles?
A learning style is how a person likes to learn things best. It is important to know that what works for some might easily change after a while. In other words, there are seven main learning styles. Exploring them helps us understand how each person learns in their own way, using their potential to learn better.
According to Howard Gardner, the author of The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, there are seven types of intelligence:
Spatial/Visual
Spatial-visual learning style refers to how someone is good at understanding information through visuals. Instead of relying on words, these people observe visual content and analyze it. They see the world in pictures and mentally visualize objects from various perspectives.
Bodily/Kinesthetic
The bodily-kinesthetic learning style is about how someone learns by using their body and physical movements. These people grasp information best when they are actively doing something. It is also known as the physical or tactile-kinesthetic learning style.
Musical
The musical learning style describes how someone thinks in patterns and is particularly attuned to rhythms and sounds, understanding the relationships between them. In addition, people with this learning style find it easiest to gain knowledge through activities such as singing, composing, or playing musical instruments where they can engage with and express themselves through music.
Linguistics
The linguistic learning style is all about how people learn using language skills such as reading, writing, listening, or speaking. This learning style refers to one’s ability to reason, solve problems, etc.
Mathematical/Logical
The logical-mathematical learning style refers to how someone learns using math and logical order, relying on numbers and other visual information. People with this style comprehend patterns and connections between numbers, actions, or symbols, finding it easier to learn and understand information presented logically.
Intrapersonal
The interpersonal learning style characterizes individuals who favor independent learning. These learners are motivated by themselves, find satisfaction in working alone, and achieve optimal learning outcomes when learning on their own.
Naturalist
This learning style is suitable for those who are good at understanding living things and have a scientific way of thinking. In other words, they can recognize, sort, and play around with things in their environment, like objects, plants, or animals.
Benefits of Interpersonal Learning
Interpersonal learning brings a package of benefits, enhancing social and emotional intelligence. By promoting effective communication, empathy, and communication, individuals develop strong interpersonal skills that are critical for success in various aspects of life.
Improved Communication Skills: Interpersonal learning fosters communication skills through discussions, group projects, and presentations.
Enhanced Critical Thinking: Learning alongside others encourages healthy debate and exchange of ideas. This challenges assumptions, broadens perspectives, and sharpens critical thinking skills.
Stronger Problem-Solving Abilities: Interpersonal learning provides a platform for brainstorming solutions together. By working with diverse viewpoints, individuals develop creative problem-solving skills and learn to adapt their approaches based on feedback.
Boosted Confidence and Self-Esteem: Sharing ideas and receiving constructive criticism in a supportive environment builds confidence and self-esteem. Learners gain a sense of accomplishment through collaborative projects and recognition from their peers.
Development of Emotional Intelligence: Interpersonal learning helps people understand and manage their own emotions, as well as recognize and respond to the emotions of others. This fosters empathy, builds stronger relationships, and creates a more positive learning environment.
Increased Motivation and Engagement: Learning with others can be more motivating and engaging than solitary study. Social interaction, shared experiences, and the opportunity to learn from peers can keep learners energized and focused.
Improved Retention of Information: Active participation in discussions and collaborative projects helps learners retain information better than passive learning methods. Engaging with the material through discussions and activities strengthens understanding and memory.
Deeper Understanding of Diverse Perspectives: Interpersonal learning exposes individuals to different viewpoints and experiences. This broadens their understanding of the world, fosters tolerance, and promotes inclusivity.
Strong Networking Skills: Working with others in a learning environment such as an LMS creates opportunities to build connections and develop valuable networking skills. This can be beneficial for future academic or professional pursuits.
How to Get Started with Interpersonal Learning?
While it is hard to be an extrovert when you are an introvert, educators can still contribute to the development of strong leaders when you are already open to interpersonal learning. Here's how we can transform our classrooms (both online and offline) into vibrant hubs of interpersonal learning:
Group Projects: Move beyond traditional group projects. Incorporate activities where students become "experts" on specific topics and then teach their peers, fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration.
Think-Pair-Share: Pose a question, have students ponder it individually, then pair them up to share their ideas. This builds confidence before group discussions and ensures everyone participates.
Socratic Seminars: Guide students through open-ended questions, encouraging them to analyze text, challenge assumptions, and defend their interpretations.
Online Discussion Forums: Set up online forums where students can discuss course material, ask questions, and share insights beyond classroom hours.
Collaborative Documents: Use online tools like Google Docs for group projects, allowing real-time co-creation and communication across locations.
Social Learning Platforms: Explore platforms like Padlet or Mentimeter for interactive brainstorming sessions, polls, and collaborative mind maps.
Icebreaker Activities: Start the semester with activities that encourage students to get to know each other, reducing social anxieties and fostering a sense of community.
Positive Reinforcement: Acknowledge all contributions, even if they are not fully formed. Celebrate diverse perspectives and encourage respectful debate.
Student-Led Presentations: Make students take ownership of their learning by presenting their findings or leading discussions on assigned topics.
Peer Review Activities: Offer activities where students review each other's work, providing constructive feedback and fostering critical thinking skills.
Conclusion
Have you already found an interpersonal learner in your group? Or maybe it’s you? Or if you are an educator, you have a bigger mission in detecting interpersonal learners and fostering this learning style to give others a chance to be the spark.
So, the next time you design a lesson plan, think beyond the lecture format. Ask yourself: how can I encourage students to teach each other, challenge each other's ideas, and co-construct knowledge? Remember, interpersonal learning isn't a spectator sport; it requires active participation from everyone.