Multiple Intelligences

Howard Gardner

Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Harvard

University and Senior Director of Harvard Project Zero

Howard GardnerRecipient of the MacArthur Prize Fellowship in 19811990 was the first American to receive the University of Louisville’s Grawemeyer Award in EducationIn 2000 received a Fellowship from the John S. Guggenheim Memorial FoundationHe has received honorary degrees from twenty-one colleges and universities, including institutions in Ireland, Italy and Israel In 2004 he was named an Honorary Professorat East China Normal University in Shanghai In 2005 he was selected by Foreign Policy and Prospect magazines as one of 100 most influential public intellectuals in the world.

What is Multiple Intelligence?

But he is best known in educational circles for his theory of multiple intelligences

MI is basically the idea that there is more than just one type of intelligence

In fact he contends that there are actually seven to ten main types of intelligence

Historically speaking….

It has been assumed that people possess two kinds of intelligence: mathematical and verbal.

As a results education and curriculum has been fashioned around this idea

Gardner realized that there had to be much more to what people knew about the world than just their knowledge of numbers and words.

Varied Human Abiltiies

With so many talented people out there in fields other than science and literature, he believed other kinds of knowledge had to exist.

The multiple intelligences theory helped to explain the varied nature of human ability.

Project ZeroSo Gardner (1983) developed his theory after working with Jerome Bruner on the nature of human cognition and through his work at Harvard’s Project Zero

Gardner saw the importance of traditional standards of math and language in intellect, so the first two categories were Logical-Mathematical Intelligence --the ability to think logically and find patterns; and Linguistic Intelligence: the mastery of language (Brualdi, 1996; Gardner, 1983).

Logical-Math & Linguistic

People who are high in logical intelligence are great problem solvers and include engineers, mathematicians, and scientists.

People who are high in linguistic intelligence have a firm grasp on the intricacies of written and spoken word, which includes writers and public speakers.

Artistic and Bodily-Kinesthetic

Gardner added more:

Musical Intelligence: skill in creating and recognizing music

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence: using your body to solve problems; and Spatial Intelligence: ability to recreate the visual world

Final Categories

Interpersonal Intelligence, or the capacity to understand feelings of other people

Intrapersonal Intelligence, or the ability to understand your own feelings

Emotional Intelligence

Inter and intra intelligences address how some people are extremely capable in dealing with sensitive personal issues within themselves and with others.

Social workers, teachers, and psychologists would probably measure high on these categories    

Newer IntelligencesOther intelligences that have been

considered: Naturalist Intelligence, or the capability to work with and understand certain features of your environment *Existential Intelligence, or the knowledge for spiritual and divine issues *Moral Intelligence, or the concern with the rules, behaviors and attitudes that govern the sanctity of life (Smith, 2002)

**The last two are not as solid as the others and are still under investigation..

Gardner’s Affects on SchoolGardner's theory changed educational practices in a large number of school districts.

Little has been mentioned, however, about how his teachings can be appropriately implemented

Some people question its educational value.  

Others wonder if the intelligences that he describes are actually just skills or talents and not separate content areas of knowledge (Neisser, 1996)  

Still in use and considered valid

Despite critics who question its use,

  the continued success of multiple intelligences in a variety of settings attests to its value.

Seven Types1. Linguistic

Children with this kind of intelligence enjoy writing, reading, telling stories or doing crossword puzzles.

2. Logical-Mathematical Children with lots of logical intelligence are interested in patterns, categories and relationships. They are drawn to arithmetic problems, strategy games and experiments.

3. Bodily-Kinesthetic These kids process knowledge through bodily sensations. They are often athletic, dancers or good at crafts such as sewing or woodworking.

4. Spatial These children think in images and pictures. They may be fascinated with mazes or jigsaw puzzles, or spend free time drawing, building with Leggos or daydreaming.

(text from Bill Allen)

5. Musical Musical children are always singing or drumming to themselves. They are usually quite aware of sounds others may miss. These kids are often discriminating listeners.

6. Interpersonal Children who are leaders among their peers, who are good at communicating and who seem to understand others' feelings and motives possess interpersonal intelligence.

7. Intrapersonal These children may be shy. They are very aware of their own feelings and are self-motivated.

(text from Bill Allen)

What does this mean to you?

To learn effectively, you need to know how you learn

This ability is much more than a college skill

Being a learner for life, means that you can keep pace with the rapid pace of change

The Human Brain

Your mind is the most powerful tool you will ever possess

When you have problems, however, you may convince yourself you are flawed

Every individual is highly developed in some areas and flawed in others

Famous examples

Winston Churchill failed sixth grade

Abraham Lincoln was demoted to a private in the war

Louis Pasteur was a poor student in chemistry

Walt Disney was fired and told he had no good ideas

*What some considered deficiencies may have just been differences in learning preference

Utilizing Learning Preference

There is no best way to learn

If you know your strengths and limitations, you can develop techniques

For instance, if you know you do better with small, group discussion, you might choose a prof that uses this style of teaching

Other Strategies

If you know you are more verbal and end up in a logical-math classYou can increase your focus and concentration in classYou can spend extra study time on material (go to the IC for help!)You can ask for help from peersYou can look for supplemental materials to help you

Career Benefits

Your learning style is basically your working styleYou will perform at the top of your ability if you work at a job you likeYou will open your choices and opportunitiesThe more aware you are of your learning abilities, the better you work in teams

Overall…. Self-Perception is Important

Feeling inadequate from time to time is normal

But it is important to see yourself in a broad capacity, not limited by immediate circumstances or others view of you

Negative self-perception can be self-fulfilling

Fight Negative ImagesBelieve in yourself –otherwise others may not either

Talk to other people whom you trust-people who know you well, can remind you of your positives

Take personal time if needed—stress warps perspective, so sometimes time is needed to recollect yourself

Look at all of the evidence –Remember to look at all of your good points along with occasional stumbling blocks.

Let’s Figure it out!

What’s your learning style?