This is a subject that also fascinates me. During my Master’s program at U of I, we explored this concept in one of my courses. I was very thrilled to learn more about it, and decided to bring it up as part of my learning and development programs. So as part of this blog too, let me share with you more about this theory.
What is the theory of multiple intelligences (M.I.)?
“An intelligence is the ability to solve problems, or create products, that are valued within one or other cultural settings”. – Howard Gardner FRAM OF MINDS (1983)
Howard Gardner claims that all human beings have multiple intelligences. These multiple intelligences can be nurtured and strengthened, or ignored and weakened. He believes each individual has nine intelligences:
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.
According to Gardner,
- All human beings possess all nine intelligences in varying amounts.
- Each person has a different intellectual composition.
- We can improve education by addressing the multiple intelligences of our students.
- These intelligences are located in different areas of the brain and can either work independently or together.
- These intelligences may define the human species
Why Am I Sharing This With All Of You?
In my opinion, we have to embrace our differences, and as human beings we are different! We learned in different ways, and with that we contribute to build better societies, relations, families, teams, employee relations, and work-related projects. When we were little we tented to learn things just in one way or two… and adjusted ourselves to one or two methodologies. The truth is that we are individuals equipped with multiple tools that can make us successful in many ways. We can grow stretching those abilities, and developing our strengths in a more directed way, if we really focus on who we really are.
Moreover, Gardner says that these differences "challenge an educational system that assumes that everyone can learn the same materials in the same way and that a uniform, universal measure suffices to test student learning. Indeed, as currently constituted, our educational system is heavily biased toward linguistic modes of instruction and assessment and, to a somewhat lesser degree, toward logical-quantitative modes as well." Gardner argues that "a contrasting set of assumptions is more likely to be educationally effective. Students learn in ways that are identifiably distinctive. The broad spectrum of students - and perhaps the society as a whole - would be better served if disciplines could be presented in a numbers of ways and learning could be assessed through a variety of means."
Action Item:
1. To read more go to: http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm
2. Also if you want to learn about yourself, take the following assessment: http://literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html
3. What do you think about this theory?
Enjoy!
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