Howard Gardner
Theory of Multiple Intelligences
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Howard Gardner is a theorist who is best known for his theory of multiple intelligences. Gardner has written numerous amounts of books and articles that have introduced people around the world to complex ideas of structuralism and cognitive science. In his writings, Howard Gardner explores the concepts of creativity, art, and intelligence in relation to children’s learning. In 1983, Gardner published his book, “Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.” This book discusses Gardner’s ideas that each human possesses several distinct “intelligences”. Each style of intelligence has its own unique way of helping an individual learn or operate. As a follow up to the previous book, Gardner published “The Unschooled Mind and Multiple Intelligences: The Theory in Practice”. This book discusses ways to connect research or studies to the way schools operate.
Gardner is currently Professor of Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education; Professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine; and Co-Director of Harvard Project Zero, a long-term study of human intellectual and creative development.
Howard Gardner does not believe that humans possess one style of learning but in contrast we as human use a multiple of learning styles that contribute to our “intelligences”. Gardner defines the following as a set of intelligences that individuals may possess:
1. Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence -- well-developed verbal skills and sensitivity to the sounds, meanings and rhythms of words
2. Mathematical-Logical Intelligence -- ability to think conceptually and abstractly, and capacity to discern logical or numerical patterns
3. Musical Intelligence -- ability to produce and appreciate rhythm, pitch and timber
4. Visual-Spatial Intelligence -- capacity to think in images and pictures, to visualize accurately and abstractly
5. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence -- ability to control one's body movements and to handle objects skillfully
6. Interpersonal Intelligence -- capacity to detect and respond appropriately to the moods, motivations and desires of others.
7. Intrapersonal Intelligence -- capacity to be self-aware and in tune with inner feelings, values, beliefs and thinking processes
8. Naturalist Intelligence -- ability to recognize and categorize plants, animals and other objects in nature
9. Existential Intelligence -- sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about human existence, such as the meaning of life, why do we die, and how did we get here.
The site on multiple intelligences, discusses how the first 7 intelligences impact learning. As discussed on this site, multiple intelligence impacts curriculum, instruction, and assessment. In order to properly teach students we must first create a curriculum, which fosters all types of intelligences. Traditionally, curriculum relies heavily upon the verbal and mathematical intelligences. Therefore, our instruction should foster a variety of intelligences in each lesson so that many different learning styles may be met. Finally, our assessment must also meet all intelligences so that each student is offered an equal opportunity to be successful. Teachers must expose students to a variety of modalities or touch upon the various intelligences so that each student has an opportunity to learn to the best of their ability.
See the following sites for further information about Howard Gardner:
The PSI Café: A Psychological Resource Site
Gardner's Homepage (Project Zero: Harvard U.)
Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligence (and then some) (from Educational Systems Design)
Multiple Intelligences (Definition, Discussion and Impact) (from Funderstanding)
Multiple Intelligence Theory ( Slide Show Based on Howard Gardner's Work) (by L. Burton: Andrews U.)
Tapping Into Multiple Intelligences (http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/month1/index.html)
GARDNER'S
PAPERS
Cracking Open the IQ box (by H. Gardner: 1995)
Who Owns Intelligence? (by H. Gardner: 1999)