The Theory Of Multiple Intelligences

In “A Rounded Version: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences”, Howard Gardner illustrates how there are a variety of intelligences. Gardner starts off with an example how IQ tests may predict achievement in school but may not predict achievement in life. After finding out certain parts of the brain are responsible for certain functions, such as “Broca’s Area” which is responsible for sentence production, Gardner proposes the existence of multiple intelligences. Multiple studies later led him to propose seven distinct intelligences; Musical, bodily-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, linguistic, spatial, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Each intelligence has certain classifications. According to Gardner’s classifications, I realized my intelligences are bodily-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, and intrapersonal.

Intelligence by definition is “the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills” (Oxford Dictionary, 2014). However, many psychologists argue that there is no standard definition of ‘intelligence’, and there have been many different theories over time as psychologists try to find better ways to define this concept (Boundless 2013). While some believe in a single, general intelligence, others believe that intelligence involves multiple abilities and skills. Another largely debated concept is whether intelligence is genetically determined and fixed, or whether is it open to change, through learning and environmental influence. This is commonly known as the nature vs. nurture debate.

If a child's intelligence can be identified, then teachers can accommodate different children more successfully according to their orientation to learning.  Teachers in traditional classrooms primarily teach to the verbal/linguistic and mathematical/logical intelligences.  The nine intelligences are:

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

Howard Gardner said, “Anything that is worth teaching can be presented in many different ways. These multiple ways can make use of our multiple intelligence.” Howard Gardner has written a book about a theory he called the Multiple Intelligences theory, in which Gardner states that people have one main intelligence from which they learn. There are eight different intelligences, according to Gardner, explaining how people learn best and the different strengths of learning they exhibit. Although Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences theory has been around since the 1980s, it is still relevant and useful to those in all areas of the education process. Some people believe that Howard Gardner’s theory is too broad and difficult to write a curriculum around. It has been proven, however, in certain instances, that the utilization of this theory raises students’ scores and their success rates.

People don’t usually describe them as intelligences but as abilities and to this, Howard Gardner states ‘it is not HOW SMART ARE YOU? BUT HOW ARE YOU SMART?’ People that play sports well and are stated to have bodily kinesthetic, have learned how to move and adjust to throw a ball or to tackle another player. The people that don’t know how to do those things, just haven’t required the knowledge and skills to do them yet. Everyone takes hours to learn to read and add and lots of people

“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

The next strongest category is the Interactive Intelligence at 31%, the following types of intelligence contained this part of my assessment. Bodily/Kinetic Intelligence is learned by through interaction with one's environment. This intelligence is not the domain of active learners, it promotes understanding through concrete experience. Interpersonal Intelligence is defined as learning through interaction with others. Not the domain of those who are simply someone who is a social butterfly. This intelligence promotes collaboration and working cooperatively with

As educators, it’s our responsibility to help each student achieve success in the classroom setting. There are many practices used to determine student learning styles, but I believe Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory helps identify all types of learning styles. For example, Gardner breaks down the learning styles into eight, more specific, multiple intelligences, which allows us, as educators, to more properly identify the unique learning needs of our students. The eight multiple intelligences are Verbal/Linguistic, Logical/Mathematical, Musical/Rhythmic, Bodily/Kinesthetic, Visual/Spatial, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalistic. Similarly to Gardner’s eight multiple intelligences, there are three learning styles: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. Learning styles are similar to the eight multiple intelligences, but they are less specific. By using Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory, we, as educators, are able to identify the unique intelligence levels of our students.

The multiple intelligence theory of learning states that there are several different areas of intelligence; kinesthetic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal are just three of the seven. Throughout time this theory has been in debate for challenging the classic school systems own theory on how all students learn one way and one way only.

Following multiple intelligences, he believes encompass human capability” (Berns, pg. 254). Children are very different and adapt to different learning styles; one multiple intelligence that works for one student may not work for another student. This is why it is crucial for teachers to know the different learning styles of their students. 1. Logical-mathematical- skills related to solving logical problems and performing mathematical calculations. Some of the teaching styles I would use for this intelligence would be to do experiments that relate to science and math that requires math calculations and solving logical problems. I would also challenge them with their math/number skills by giving them math problems to solve for fun. I will incorporate math into other subjects to see that we use math every day. As a teacher, I would see that they like to categorize and classify thing, so I would make sure that I would do that since that is how they work best. 2. Linguistic- skills related to the meaning, sound, and rhythm of words as well as the use of language. Some teaching styles I would use for this intelligence would be at to let these students have a chance of retelling stories and using their imagination. I would also provide study guides in my classroom because these students tend to learn better when they can memorize names, places, dates, etc. Also, and do a memorization game over materials. These students are good at when they can see words written down, so as I

Students are more positive about each other when they learn co-operatively than when they learn alone, competitively, or individualistically. Students are more effective interpersonally as a result of working together (Johnson and Johnson, 1984). My two lessons reflect good practice primarily because of the use of group work and the consideration of students’ differing learning styles. Good practice – Multiple Intelligences Howard Gardner is an American psychologist who came up with the theory of Multiple Intelligences. Multiple Intelligences are different ways to demonstrate intellectual ability. Gardner proposes seven different intelligences: linguistic, logic-mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal and intrapersonal (http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm). Seven kinds of intelligence allow seven ways to teach, rather than one. Teachers, therefore, should to attend to all intelligences. Students should have opportunities to work on tasks where their style of intelligence can be utilised best.

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.

Each person is unique in their own way, especially the outstanding capabilities of their mind. For example, it is common to only know of the visual learning, auditory learning, and kinesthetic learning aspects, but what people do not know is that the mind goes beyond that (Lane). Developed by Howard Gardner exists the Multiple Intelligences, which consists of nine different intelligences. Of all of the intelligences exists Verbal-linguistic, Logical-mathematical, Spatial-visual, Bodily kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Naturalist, and Existential (Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences). According to Gardner, each person has a unique blend of capabilities and skills, which students could balance out their skills if they discovered their strengths (Lane). Personally, I scored at 92% Naturalistic and 0% Bodily Kinesthetic on the quiz,

A new approach to the conceptualization and assessment of human intelligences is described. According to Gardner 's Theory of Multiple Intelligences, each human being is capable of seven relatively independent forms of information processing, with individuals differing from one another in the specific profile of intelligences that they exhibit. (Gardner, Hatch 1989) The Multiple Intelligence Theory and Howard Gardner are valuable to the field of Education due to the fact that it allows individuals not to be classified as whether intelligent or unintelligent. It allows us to know that individuals are not the same when it comes to knowledge and we all learn differently.