| Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences: All of us have varying degrees of each intelligence. Remember that instructional practices should involve all intelligences, so that everyone has the opportunity to learn. |
Linguistic
Intelligence
This intelligence involves the ability to read, write, and communicate with
words. A student may be expected to use their linguistic skills to communicate
what they already know or what new information they have learned.
Logical & Mathematical Intelligence
This
intelligence requires the ability to look for patterns, reason, and think in a
logical manner. It can also be associated with scientific thinking.
Visual & Spatial
Intelligence
This intelligence is the ability to think in pictures and visualize outcomes.
This skill should not be thought of only in visual terms because Gardner
believes that blind children develop spatial intelligence.
Musical
Intelligence
This intelligence gives a person the ability to make and compose music, sing,
and use rhythm to learn. It is important to note that functional hearing is
needed for a person to develop this intelligence in pitch and tone, but not so
for rhythm.
Bodily &
Kinesthetic Intelligence
This intelligence encompasses the ability to use one's body movements to solve
problems. This may contradict the belief that mental and physical activities do
not relate to each other.
Interpersonal
Intelligence
This intelligence involves learners to use their social skills and good
communication skills with others. They may also show the ability to empathize
and understand other people.
Intrapersonal
Intelligence
This intelligence is the ability to reflect, analyze, and contemplate problems
independently. A person may look upon himself or herself to assess one's own
feelings and motivations.
Naturalist
Intelligence
This intelligence is the newest addition to
Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligence (1996). This is the ability to
make distinctions in the natural world and the environment.
Practical
Implications
Upon learning about Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences, a teacher may be
tempted to say that a student learns only through a specific intelligence and
that this student has that one intelligence. The theory, rather, implies that
educators need to place all eight intelligences as equally important
intelligences in the classroom and that all people have a little bit of every
intelligence in them. With this understanding, educators allow every student to
shine and succeed!
More Information
Find out more about Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences and how it
is extended in his work with the research group, Harvard's
Project Zero.
The ERIC Digest article Multiple Intelligences: Gardner's Theory provides a lot of background information and how it might be incorporated in classroom practices.