Howard Gardner's Visual Spatial Intelligence
Visual spatial intelligence makes it possible for us to perceive visual and spatial data, to transform such data, as well as being able to recreate visual images from memory. In other words, it is an ability to form a cerebral model of a spatial world by relying on the sense of sight. This way of understanding the world includes the ability to create mental images and to use ones imagination.
Young children might build cities out of blocks and create impromptu murals on the kitchen and bedroom walls. They like to draw, paint, make interesting designs and patterns from fabric, colored construction paper, and clay. As well, they love putting together jigsaw puzzles. When they get older, they tend to be good at reading maps and finding their way around new places, daydreaming, creating accurate drawings; they may find it easier to learn information that is presented in images rather than just by words. Put a slightly different way, a strength here often means one does well at visualizing things. As adults, such people think in images and pictures. They are often very aware of objects, colors, shapes and patterns in the environment. They possess strong opinions about such things as colors that go together, textures that are pleasing and appropriate, and decorating. To sum, they are excellent at performing tasks that require seeing with the mind's eye (visualizing, forming mental images, imagining, and pretending).
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