Multiple Intelligences

1. Multiple Intelligences Jesse Morton Doug Mathews Dave Kaus

2. The Theorist: Howard Gardner • Theory established in 1983 • He is a professor at Harvard University • Reason: He found that students learned differently and that “MI accounts for a broader range of potential in children and adults.”

3. The 8 Main Intelligences • Visual/Spatial Intelligence • Bodily/Kinesthetic • Verbal/Linguistic • Logical/Mathematical • Musical/Rhythmic • Interpersonal • Intrapersonal • Naturalist

4. Visual/Spatial • Defined as the “ability to perceive the visual”. • Learners tend to think pictorially and need explicit mental images to remember information. • They tend to prefer visual aids, such as videos, maps, charts, etc. • Skills include reading, writing, art, construction

5. Bodily/Kinesthetic • “Ability to control body movements and handle objects skillfully.” • The learners have a good sense of hand-eye coordination and can remember information by interacting with their environment. • Skills include dacning, sports, body language, crafting, acting.

6. Verbal/linguistic • “Ability to use words and language.” • Highly developed auditory skills and are generally elegant speakers, thinking in words instead of pictures. • Skills include speaking, listening, story telling, understanding words, persuasion/

7. Logical/Mathematical • “Ability to use reason, logic and numbers.” • Learners think conceptually in terms of logic and mathematical patterns and are able to make connections between bits of information. • Skills include problem solving, classifying information, performing complex calculations, working with shapes.

8. Musical/Rhythmic • “Ability to produce and appreciate music.” • Learners tend to think in sounds, rhythms, and patterns. They tend to be sound-sensitive and will often either like or criticize music as soon as they hear it. • Skills include singing, playing instruments, recognizing tonal patterns, remembering tunes, understanding music theory.

9. Interpersonal • “Ability to relate to and understand others.” • Learners can see things from another POV and can sense another person’s feelings easily. Use verbal and non-verbal language to communicate with others. • Skills include having empathy, counseling, resolving conflicts, cooperating with groups.

10. Intrapersonal • “Ability to self-reflect and be aware of one’s inner being.” • Learners try to understand their deepest feelings, dreams, their strengths and weaknesses, and relationships with others. • Skills include reflecting upon and analyzing themselves, awareness of dreams and desires, evaluating their thinking patterns.

11. Naturalist • Not one of the original intelligence thought of in 1983; this was thought of in 1999. • This would apply to someone who has a great appreciation and understanding of nature. • A person high in this intelligence would like taking trips outdoors, going on nature walks, etc.

12. Strengths of the Theory • Addresses student diversity in learning • Can be easily incorporated in the classroom • Believed to reduce the number of referrals to special education. • This is a more comprehensive way of learning, as people tend to have intelligence in more than one of the 8 categories.

13. Weaknesses/Criticisms • It is not “well-defined”: Will the number of “intelligences” continue to increase? • “It defeats national standards”: Adoption of MI would make it difficult to compare students’ skills. • Educators faced with overcrowded classes fear that they may not be able to cover all intelligences in each lesson.

14. Technological Integration of MI • PowerPoint • Inspiration Graphic • Use of the Internet • Use of CD Players • Overheads • Mp3 players (Podcasts) • Film

15. Bibliography • http://www.ldpride.net/ • http://www.infed.org/ • http://www.thirteen.org/ • To find how you rank amongst the eight intelligences, take a test at http://literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html