Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences

Howard Gardner

Ph.D., Harvard University

Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and Senior Director of Harvard Project Zero.

Best known for theory of multiple intelligences.

Author of several hundred articles and two dozen books including, Changing Minds.

Received MacArthur Prize fellowship in 1981.

First American to receive University of Louisville’s Grawemeyer Award in Education.

Introduction

The Theory of Multiple Intelligences was created by Dr. Howard Gardner in 1983.

Gardner’s theory places an emphasis on the idea that the traditional understanding of intelligence by means of IQ testing is far too limited.

To broaden this notion of intelligence, Gardner introduced eight different types of intelligences consisting of (and to be elaborated on later): Logical/Mathematical, Linguistic, Musical, Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Naturalist, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal.

ANTECEDENTS

1900 Paris

Students were having troubel with

school work

Alfred Binet conducted several tests to predict Which students will succed in schools.

1912 Wilhem SternIntelligence Quotient

“Mental age divided by chronological age and multiplied by 100)

Launching the Theory

Intelligence (IQ) Intelligence (Gardner)

Intelligence is what the test test

Biopsychological potential to process information that can be activated in a cultural setting to

solve problems or cretae products that are of value in a culture.

Ability to answer items on tests of intelligence

Problem solving skill allows one to approach a situation in which a

goal is to be obtained.

“I believe that human cognitive competence is better described in

terms of a set of abilities, talents, mental skills which I call intelligences”

His theory is not the last word in the identification of intelligences…..

“A set of factors to be considered in the study of human cognition”

The Eight Intelligences

Logical-Mathematical (Number/Reasoning Smart): Sensitivity to, and capacity to discern, logical or numerical patterns; ability to handle long chains of reasoning.

Linguistic (Word Smart): Sensitivity to the sounds, rhythms, and meanings of words; sensitivity to the different functions of language.

The Eight Intelligences

Musical (Music Smart): Abilities to produce and appreciate rhythm, pitch, and timbre; appreciation of the forms of musical expressiveness.

Spatial (Picture Smart) : Capacities to perceive the visual-spatial world accurately and to perform transformations on one’s initial perceptions.

The Eight Intelligences

Bodily-Kinesthetic (Body Smart): Abilities to control one’s body movements and to handle objects skillfully.

Naturalist (Nature Smart): Abilities to recognize plants and animals, to make distinctions in the natural world, to understand systems and define categories.

Assessment

“I define assessment as the obtaining of information about a person’s skills and potentials with the dual goals of providing useful feedback to the person and useful data to the surrounding community”

In a good apprenticeship the teacher and the students are always assessing.

Interesting Facts

Supporter of Emilia Reggio schools (similar education goals)

Affiliated with the project zero (Project’ Mission: To understand and enhance learning, thinking, and creativity in the arts, as well as humanistic and scientific disciplines, at the individual and institutional levels. Focused on education for understanding. Exploram is amuseum in Denmark (exhibits

are designed to activate specific human intelligences)

Multiple Intelligences Test - based on Howard Gardner's MI Model

Score or tick the statements in the boxes Score

I like to learn more about myself               1

I can play a musical instrument               2

I find it easiest to solve problems when I am doing something physical               3

I often have a song or piece of music in my head               4

I find budgeting and managing my money easy               5

I find it easy to make up stories               6

I have always been physically well co-ordinated               7

When talking to someone, I tend to listen to the words they use not just what they mean               8

I enjoy crosswords, word searches or other word puzzles               9

I don’t like ambiguity, I like things to be clear               10

Score the statements: 1 = Mostly Disagree, 2 = Slightly Disagree, 3 = Slightly Agree, 4 = Mostly Agree.

Add the scores or ticks in each column and write the total for each column in the boxes on the right.

Your highest scores indicate your natural strengths and potential - your natural intelligences.

There are no right or wrong answers.

We are happiest and most successful when we learn, develop, and work in ways that make best use of our natural intelligences

(our strengths and style and brain-type in other words).