Teaching Theories: Multiple Intelligence Approach Essay

Howard Gardner introduced the theory of multiple intelligences stating that each person possesses a blend of at least eight different kinds of intelligence: verbal/linguistic, logical/mathematical, visual/spatial, bodily/kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and environmental/naturalistic (Bruno, 2009).

“A solution to a problem can be constructed before it is articulated” (Gardner 514). This is a perfect statement used to describe this intelligence. I am very mathematically centered. Throughout school I have been able to find the solution to a math problem, but most of the time I cannot explain my process. My friends would always ask me for help, but I would have to first figure out what I did before I could help them do it. I have to learn concepts before dealing with details. This helps me with understanding the concept first, then focusing on the details to strengthen my

“He performed interviews with and brain research on hundreds of people, including stroke victims, prodigies, autistic individuals, and so-called "idiot savants” (Multiple Intelligence (MI) – Howard Gardner).” The nine multiple intelligences are, visual/spatial, verbal/linguistic, mathematical/logical, bodily/kinesthetic, musical/rhythmic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, naturalist, and existentialist ("Multiple Intelligence (MI) – Howard Gardner"). Everyone obtains these intelligences and they can all be improved. Visual/spatial learners are good at visualizing and they learn by seeing what is being taught, for example the teacher drawing a graph on the board gives the student a visual. They enjoy making art work and visualizing ideas such as decorating. Verbal/linguistic are good at speaking, reading, taking notes, and listening. They enjoy public speaking and can easily explain ideas. “These students have always been successful in traditional classrooms because their intelligence lends itself to traditional teaching” ("Multiple Intelligence (MI) – Howard Gardner"). Mathematical/logical are good at following step by step directions such as math problems and are neat, they usually get frustrated when things are disorganized or things do not makes sense. “This is the other half of the children who typically do well in traditional classrooms where teaching is logically sequenced and students are asked to conform” ("Multiple

 3. MATHEMATICAL/LOGICAL - children who display an aptitude for numbers, reasoning and problem solving. This is the other half of the children who typically do well in traditional classrooms where teaching is logically sequenced and students are asked to conform.

Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences challenges the common belief that intelligence is one-dimensional. He believes that there are 8 main intelligences: linguistic, mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist. In the gifted program, teachers and students work together to exercise the different kinds of learning styles, in order to utilize the gifted learner’s full potential. They receive enrichment to do so, as they are guided to using all kinds of intelligences, so they strengthen them starting from a

‘‘Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory can be used for curriculum development, planning instruction, selection of course activities, and related assessment strategies. Instruction which is designed to help students develop their strengths can also trigger their confidence to develop areas in which they are not as strong. Students’ multiple learning preferences can be addressed when instruction includes a range of meaningful and appropriate methods, activities, and assessments. Gardner’s early work in psychology and later in human cognition and human potential’ led to the development of the initial six intelligences. Today there are nine intelligences and the possibility of others may eventually expand the list. These intelligences (or competencies) relate to a person’s unique aptitude set of capabilities and ways they might prefer to demonstrate intellectual abilities’’ ( (Armstrong, T., 2010). Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences

In his book Frame of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Gardner proposes that there are eight distinct types of intelligences: Visual/spatial, verbal/linguistic, logical/mathematical, kinesthetic, musical,

Albert Einstein once said, “Everybody is a genius. If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Intelligences is the ability to learn facts and skills and apply them. Howard Gardner wrote a book called Intelligences Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century. He wrote this book to help expand the knowledge of professors and everyday people that no matter your IQ and or test scores that you cannot simply judge someone off of a numerical score. People are smart just in different areas bringing different learning styles and intelligence to the table. Gardner studies led him to propose seven possible intelligences. Intrapersonal

Howard Gardner developed a theory in the early 1980’s that each person has a range of talents or intelligences. He identifies eight intelligences that include verbal/linguistic, mathematical/logical, musical/rhythmic, visual/spatial, bodily/kinesthetic, naturalistic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Teachers can use this theory to differentiate the learning experiences for their students by choosing activities to match the different intelligences within their classroom.

Verbal-Linguistic intelligence speaks to an individual’s ability to understand and manipulate words and language. This intelligence is possessed by everyone at the same level and includes reading, writing, speaking and other forms of verbal and written communication. Logical-Mathematical intelligence refers to an individual's ability to do things with data: collect, and organize, analyze and interpret, conclude and predict. Individuals strong in this intelligence see patterns and relationships. These individuals are oriented toward thinking: inductive and deductive logic, numeration, and abstract patterns. Visual-Spatial intelligence refers to the ability to form and manipulate

What is intelligence? Is it how well an individual can excel at academic tasks, emotional tasks, or physical tasks? Can intelligence be measure scientifically and accurately or is it an abstract idea or concept that requires an individual to critically think and come up with an answer? A common interpretation of intelligence is the ability or abilities of an individual’s capacity for: logic, emotion, abstract, learning, planning, understanding, memory, self-awareness, creativity, and most important of all is the ability to problem-solved. Intelligence itself is an umbrella with subtypes under it, and the one to inquire about is the theory of multiple intelligences. Many scientists believe that this theory does not exist because it cannot be proven scientifically but multiple intelligence theory does exist. Multiple intelligences is not a teaching style as many seem to believe, but it is a new way to look at the IQ of an individual while not being bounded by the traditional IQ tests. Just like general intelligences theory, the multiple intelligence theory can be used to distinguish intelligences through tests, logically define theory, as well as real world experiences and applications. These two theories, multiple and general intelligence, has been debated time and time again in the field of psychology but with no absolute solution.

By definition, intelligence is the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. It is determined by the ways we are able to solve problems, our mathematical skills, interpersonal and intrapersonal knowledge, and naturalist intelligence. We are able to test our personal intelligent through many different quizzes called IQ tests. One of the most popular ones being the Stanford Binet tests, which is used as a good resource to test the intelligence of students. However, it is questionable whether or not IQ tests are very accurate.

Intelligence is the ability to adapt to new information and use creativity and prior knowledge to assess problems in life situations. It is general cognitive problem-solving skills and. It is the mental ability involved in reasoning, perceiving relationships and analogies, calculating, and learning quickly. In the past,Earlier it was believed that there was one underlying general factor at the intelligence base called the g-factor, but later psychologists maintained that it is more complicated and could not be determined by such a simplistic method (Green). Some psychologists have divided intelligence into subcategories. For example Howard Gardner maintained that it is comprised of seven components: musical, bodily-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, linguistic, spatial, interpersonal, naturalist, existential, and intrapersonal ("Gardner 's Multiple Intelligences."). We measure these intelligences through tests. Mainly known as intelligence testing, IQs are gathered from certain tests that measure the 7 components of intelligence.

The intelligences that were listed above are not the only ones, there are many of them out there. Linguistic intelligence would be used by a poet, logical-mathematical intelligence would be used by a scientist, musical intelligence would be used by a musician, spatial intelligence would be used by an airplane pilot, bodily kinesthetic intelligence would be used by an athlete, interpersonal intelligence would be used by a car salesman, and intrapersonal intelligence would be used by somebody that likes to be by themselves. Knowing what each of these intelligences mean can get a person started on a positive track to know exactly how that person learns. Learning something new every day is key to gaining knowledge about something and expanding the way a person thinks. Having studies and test done by experts can give anyone the basis on where to start.

I would define intelligence as an ability to gain knowledge through a variety of learning abilities, and application of this knowledge through a skill. Some of these definitions explain the complexity of intelligence, while others are too simple. I think the standard definition of intelligence provided by The American Heritage Dictionary, does not allow for the different types of intelligence and cannot be considered as valid tool to define intelligence. I believe intelligence is much too complex to summarize in a single sentence.