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Howard Gardner's
Multiple Intelligences
LINGUISTIC
AND LOGICAL & MATHEMATICAL INTELLIGENCES have long shared the spotlight
in education. Traditionally, these two intelligences are the main focus
of lessons taught in a classroom. In fact, most evaluation or assessment
practices base a student's body of knowledge solely on the measured
skills of those intelligences.
However, Howard
Gardner (1983) proposes in his book "Frames of Mind" that
there are eight different intelligences that deserve equal recognition.
This article will describe in detail each of these intelligences.
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| 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!
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