Howard Gardner: Theory of Multiple

Intelligences

Prepared by Dawn Woods

“there exists a multitude of intelligences, quite independent

of each other; that each intelligence has its own

strengths and constraints; that the mind is far from

unencumbered at birth”

Q: What is Intelligence?

A: Intelligence is the capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity; aptitude in grasping truths, relationships, facts, meanings, etc.

Yea….but how do we measure intelligence?

Society used to measure intelligence by using an

IQ test.The IQ tests were

biased and very subjective

Howard Gardner devised a more detailed way of describing intelligences: he proposed the idea of multiple intelligences.

All human beings possess all nine intelligences in varying amounts

Each person has a different intellectual compositionWe can improve education by addressing these areasIntelligences are located in different areas of the brain and can be combined or used independentlyThese intelligences are what defines the human species

Gardner proposed:

Naturalist “Nature Smart”

Musical “Music Smart”

Verbal/linguist “Word Smart”

Interpersonal “People Smart”

Bodily/kinesthetic “Body Smart”Visual/spatial

“Picture Smart”

Existential “Deep Question Smart”Intrapersonal

“Self Smart”

Logical/math “Logic Smart”

Each student has their mix of intelligences; teachers should watch for these areas and encourage them.

It is wrong to think of students as either smart or not smart

Lessons should incorporate a variety of modalities to incorporate various learning strengthsThese intelligences are what defines the human species

Gardner’s theories help us draw these conclusions:

Using Multiple Intelligence theory in practice:

Naturalist“Nature Smart”

Logical/math “Logic Smart”Use numbers, logic and math in a variety of settings

Allow for plenty of science and outdoor explorationGrow up to be biologist, naturalists, animal trainers etc.

Grow up to be engineers, scientists, etc.

Using Multiple Intelligence theory in practice:Verbal/linguist “Word Smart”

Existential “Deep Question Smart”

Offer plenty of word activities, reading and opportunities to play with words

Give time to think, puzzle through

Grow up to be writers, poets, script writers, etc.

Grow up to be inventors, sociologists, etc.

Using Multiple Intelligence theory in practice:

Musical “Music Smart”

Interpersonal “People Smart”Use cooperative learning frequently

Incorporate music into lessons

Grow up to be therapists, politicians, teachers, etc

Grow up to be musicians, disc jockeys, etc.

Using Multiple Intelligence theory in practice:

Bodily/kinesthetic “Body Smart”

Visual/spatial “Picture Smart”

Intrapersonal “Self Smart”

Include art as much as possible, use puzzles too!

Allow students time to be physical, use their bodies

Help students understand their own learning

Grow up to be artists, interior designers, architects

Grow up to be athletes, dancers, actors, etc

Grow up to be salesmen, politicians, etc.

Mindy L. Kornhaber

... the theory validates educators' everyday experience: students think and learn in many different ways. It also provides educators with

a conceptual framework for organizing and reflecting on curriculum assessment and

pedagogical practices. In turn, this reflection has led many educators to develop new

approaches that might better meet the needs of the range of learners in their classrooms.

Source Material:You Tube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2QtSbP4FRg Wikipedia: Howard Gardner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Gardner Infed Website: http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm

TecWeb Website: http://www.tecweb.org/styles/gardner.html

Educational World: http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr054.shtml