What is the theory of multiple

intelligences?Alison Bencivenga

Benold Middle SchoolGeorgetown, TX

In 1983, Howard Gardner (Harvard professor) said:

All people learn differently.

There are 9 “intelligences,” or ways people learn.

Some kinds of intelligence will be dominant over others. This is

different for each person.

Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence

Student learns best with spoken and written language.

Visual/Spatial Intelligence

Student learns best by seeing information and visual displays.

Mathematical/Logical Intelligence

Student learns best through reasoning and problem-solving; good at seeing

patterns and connections.

Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence

Student learns best by doing; physical interaction and practice of skills works best.

Musical/Rhythmic Intelligence

Patterns, rhythms and music are

excellent ways for these students to learn and retain

information.

Intrapersonal Intelligence

Student learns best by assessing the values and

responsibilities attached to learning; strongly aware of their

own feelings and attitudes.

Interpersonal Intelligence

Cooperative learning strategies are very effective with these students, who learn best through interaction with

others.

Naturalist Intelligence

Students are adept at sorting

information into classes and categories, in

addition to the study of nature.

Existential Intelligence

Students learn best by

addressing “big” questions about human existence and their roles in the world.

What does this mean for educators?

Many American educators now

embrace Gardner’s theory and vary lessons to

address a wider range of learning

styles.

What might this look like in the classroom?

One example: Create groups to complete a task. Assign an historical figure to each group.

Step One: Research Compile information and pull together the most important facts.

Step Two: create a poster to represent important concepts in visual form.

Step Three: Compose/Rehearse

Students with strong musical intelligence might create or find a short song or jingle to perform for the rest of the class.

Step Four: Present

A student with strong verbal-linguistic skills presents the group’s work to the rest of the class.

A sample project (from History Alive!)

What does this mean for students?

Students who can identify their strengths can adapt their studystrategies to make better use

of time and effort.

Examples of effective study strategies using

multiple intelligences:

Interpersonal: study groups

Visual/spatial: flash cards, graphic organizers

Verbal/linguistic: oral repetition

Bodily/kinesthetic: transcribing notes by hand, drawing, “act-it-outs”

Musical/rhythmic: creating songs/jingles/rhymes

Resources

Concept to Class. http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/mi/index.html

Gardner, Howard. Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. New York: Basic,1983

Gardner, Howard. Intelligence Reframed:  Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century.  New York:  Basic, 2000.

McKenzie, Walter. http://surfaquarium.com/MI/nine_intelligences.pdf

Teachers’ Curriculum Institute: History Alive!

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