MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES

"It's not how smart you are that matters; what really matters is HOW are you smart." - Howard Gardner

In 1983 Harvard professor Howard Gardner introduced his Theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI) through the publication of his book Frames of Mind. His theory validates the idea that all learners possess multiple ways of taking in and retaining information, and that each of us has strengths and preferences in our approach to learning. While Gardner has his critics (of course) I accept and promote his theory. It's not only based on extensive research, but it gives credibility to all learners and it encourages teachers to present their subjects in a variety of ways, thereby enriching the learning environment for everyone. Since we accept the fact that all brains can learn, and do so in the same manner, educators should appeal to individual learners so that their brains can function at capacity. The MI theory also promotes team building and cooperation by valuing the strengths of diverse thinkers to the common cause.

Gardner defines primarily eight different intelligences in his theory, although he had considered others before moving on to his current studies on morality in education.  The eight intelligences that I work with in assessing and training students are Verbal/Linguistic, Logical/Mathematical, Visual/Spatial, Musical/Rhythmic, Bodily/Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalistic.

BODILY/KINESTHETIC - This intelligence refers to people who process information through the sensations they feel in their bodies.  It entails the potential to use one's whole body or parts of the body to solve problems, make things, work in teams, or put on productions.  This intelligence finds it easy to use the mind to coordinate body movements.

MUSICAL/RHYTHMIC - This intelligence represents the capacity to think musically, to hear patterns, to recognize and manipulate them.  The musical intelligence is aroused and energized through the rhythms and melodies of music.

INTRAPERSONAL - This intelligence is the ability to know one's self and to be confident in one's intuition.  Individuals who exhibit intrapersonal intelligence are able to understand their own emotions, motivations, strengths and weaknesses.

LOGICAL/MATHEMATICAL - This intelligence consists of the ability to detect patterns, reason deductively, and think logically.  It refers to an individual's ability to use data: collect and organize, analyze and interpret, conclude and predict. This is the scientific mind oriented towards numeration and the abstract, usually good at strategic games and solving mathematical problems.

NATURALISTIC - This intelligence is enlivened through interaction with nature - biology, botany, geology - and the patterns and relationships that exist in the natural environment.  This is seen in people who recognize and classify plants, animals, and minerals.  They are holistic thinkers who value the unusual and are aware of species such as the flora and fauna around them.

INTERPERSONAL - This intelligence is the ability to interpret and respond to the moods, emotions, motivations, and actions of others.  It requires good communication and interaction skills, and the ability to show empathy towards the feelings of others.  It allows people to work effectively with others.

VISUAL/SPATIAL - This intelligence is the ability to accurately perceive the visual world including shapes, patterns, designs, and the entire spectrum of color.  It is the understanding of the placement and relationships of objects in our environment, including distance and direction.  It features the capacity to visualize, dream, and imagine.

VERBAL/LINGUISTIC - This intelligence involves a sensitivity and comfort level with spoken and written language.  It is the ability to effectively manipulate language, both rhetorically and poetically, to communicate and accomplish goals, as well as to remember information.

Gardner believes we all possess all of the above intelligences to some degree.  You might have a sense of your strengths after reading the above definitions.  But, you should take a closer examination of your intelligences profile by taking an assessment.  There are many free assessments available on the Web.  Some are better than others, of course, but I recommend this website: http://literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html

Click here when you have a few minutes to take the assessment, and see if you agree with the results.  Then, take a look at the suggestions that can complement your strengths.

There are many other assessment tools used to determine a person's intelligence preferences.  Assessments available on the web are listed in a page on the right side of this post.  But, there are ways to more informally evaluate a person's preferred approach to learning.  It's not always possible to take the time to test a learner when you're trying to help him/her.  For instance, a tutor can quickly decide on an approach to assisting a student by observing and asking a few questions.  Below are listed questions that one might ask to help decide a person's intelligence preferences.

BODILY/KINESTHETIC

• Do you regularly participate in some sport or physical activity?
• Is it difficult to sit still for long periods of time?
• Do you enjoy working with your hands in creating things?
• Do you find that ideas and solutions to problems come to you while you are exercising or doing some sort of physical activity?
• Do you enjoy spending your free time outdoors?
• Do you speak with your hands or other body gestures?
• Do you learn more about things by touching them?
• Do you enjoy thrilling amusement park rides such as the roller coaster and other activities like this?
• Do you think of yourself as being well-coordinated?
• In order to learn a new skill, do you have to practice it in order to learn it, rather than read about it or see it on a video?

MUSICAL/RHYTHMIC 

• Do you have a pleasant singing voice?
• Can you tell when a musician plays a note off key?
• Do you frequently listen to music?
• Do you play a musical instrument?
• Was it easy for you to learn to play a musical instrument?
• Do you think your life would not be as rewarding without music?
• Do you usually have music going through your mind?
• Can you keep time to music?
• Do you know the tunes to many different songs or musical selections?
• Can you usually sing back a melody accurately after you hear a new selection only once or twice? 

INTRAPERSONAL

• Do you regularly spend time alone meditating, reflecting, or thinking about important life questions?
• Have you attended counseling sessions or personal growth seminars to learn more about yourself? 
• Do you have a hobby or interest that you keep to yourself?
• Have you set goals for yourself regularly?
• Do you have a realistic view of your strengths and weaknesses?
• Would you prefer spending time by yourself rather than with many people around you?
• Do you keep a diary or journal to record the events of your inner life?
• Are you either self-employed or have you given serious consideration to starting your own business?

LOGICAL/MATHEMATICAL

• Have you always done math in your head easily?
• When you were in school, were math and/or science your best subjects?
• Do you enjoy playing games that require logical thinking?
• Do you set up experiments to see "what if" in your course of jobs, around the house, or at work?
• Do you look for logical sequences and patterns with the belief that almost everything has a logical explanation?
• Do you read science periodicals to keep track of the latest scientific developments?
• Do you like finding logical flaws in things that people say and do?
• Do you feel the need to have things measured, catagorized, analyzed, or quantified in some way?
• I think in clear, abstract, wordless, imageless concepts.

NATURALISTIC

• Do you like to spend time in nature?
• Do you belong to a volunteer group related to nature?
• Do you enjoy having animals around the house?
• Do you have a hobby that involves nature, such as bird watching?
• Can you easily tell the differences among species of flora and fauna?
• Do you read books or magazines, or watch television shows or movies that feature nature?
• On vacation, do you prefer natural settings to cultural attractions?
• Do you enjoy visiting zoos, aquariums, or other places where the natural world is studied?
• Do you enjoy working in your yard or garden?

INTERPERSONAL

• Have people always come to you for advice?
• Have you always preferred group sports to solo sports?
• Do you usually prefer to talk to other people about  problem, rather than figure it out on your own?
• Do you have at least three close friends?
• Do you prefer social activities over individual pursuits?
• Do you enjoy teaching others what you can do well?
• Are you considered to be a leader, either by yourself or others?
• Do you feel comfortable in a crowd?
• Do you prefer to spend your time with others than alone?

VISUAL/SPATIAL

• Have you always been able to reproduce clear images in your mind, even when your eyes are closed or the objects are not in front of you?
• Are you sensitive to color?
• Do you take a lot of photographs or homemade movies?
• Do you enjoy jigsaw and other visual puzzles?
• Do you have vivid dreams?
• Do you usually have an easy time getting around, even if it's your first time in a place?
• Do you enjoy drawing or doodling?
• Was geometry easier for you than algebra?
• Do you have an easy time reading maps and translating their information into reality?
• Do you enjoy books and magazines with many illustrations, photos, and design elements?

VERBAL/LINGUISTIC

• Have you always enjoyed books and given them importance?
• Do you hear words in your head before you speak or write them?
• Do you enjoy talk shows more than television shows or movies?
• Do you enjoy word games, puns, rhymes, tongue-twisters, and poetry?
• Do you have a highly developed vocabulary and enjoy knowing words that other people do not know?
• In your own education, did you enjoy subjects related to words and ideas, such as English and social studies, more than math and science?
• Have you enjoyed learning to read or speak other languages?
• In your spech, do you refer to information you have read or heard about?
• Have you been praised, recognized, or paid for your writing?

CREATIVITY

It's important to understand our preferences in the way we learn so that we can put ourselves in the best circumstances to do what our brain was made to do - live as fully creative lives as possible.  While we all have strengths in how we learn, based on Gardner's eight intelligences, we should exercise all eight.  Creativity is the combination of all the intelligences.  Many people will tell you they are not creative.  But this would only be true if they are not connected to their creative capacity, because we all have that capacity.  I invite you to watch the TED presentation below.  Ken Robinson is a leader in the development of creativity, and a very entertaining speaker.

Tapping into our preferred intelligences allows us to live more creative lives and to pursue careers and occupational endeavors that are connected to our passions, our talents and abilities.  Ken Robinson has written an enlightening book that talks to this idea in his compelling way.  I recommend reading his delightful, bestselling book - The Element.  Click on the image of the book below to view a short interview with the author.