Multiple Intelligences
Howard Gardner: We can all learn through all
the different learning styles and strategies, but
individuals differ in their strengths. Gardner
says these differences “challenge an educational
system that assumes that everyone can learn
the same materials in the same way…” Goal is
to present info in a number of different ways
and to assess students in a number of different
ways so we can play to everyone’s strengths.
Verbal- Linguistic:
• Think in words. Use words effectively. Enjoy
reading, word games, and word puzzles.
Enjoy writing or telling stories and poetry.
Tend to be good writers or speakers or both.
Use words to persuade, entertain, or teach.
Logical-Mathematical:
• Enjoy working with numbers. Strong ability to
reason. Able to see patterns and relationships
between things. Like to experiment, solve
puzzles. Need to learn and form concepts
before dealing with details. Can easily
interpret data and analyze abstract patterns.
Visual-Spatial:
• Think and process info in pictures/images.
Excellent fine motor skills. Very aware of their
environment. Enjoy drawing, daydreaming,
jigsaw puzzles, Legos, reading maps. Taught
through drawings, verbal and physical
imagery.
Musical:
• Sensitive to sounds in their environment.
Think, feel and process through sound. May
study better with background music. Superior
ability to learn, compose, and perform music.
Constantly hear musical notes/songs in their
head. Can learn by turning lessons into lyrics,
speaking rhythmically, tapping out time…
Bodily-Kinesthetic:
• : Body awareness. Learn through movement
and touch. Harmony between body and mind.
Strong ability to control body with grace,
agility, and athleticism. Communicate well
through body language. Taught through
physical activity, hands-on learning, acting
out, role playing.
Interpersonal:
• Natural ability to interact with, relate to and
get along with others. Learn well through
interacting with others. Tend to have many
friends, empathy for others, and street smarts.
Can be taught through group activities,
seminars, and discussions. Good leaders.
Natural ability to negotiate, persuade, obtain
info.
Intrapersonal:
• Understands one’s own interests, goals,
feelings, ideas. Shy. Needs time alone to
process and create. Have wisdom, intuition,
motivation. Strong will, confident. Taught
through independent study and introspection.
Most independent of the learners.
Naturalistic:
• Natural interest in the environment. Enjoy
being in nature. Concerned about
environment. Easily recognizes plants,
animals, and rocks.