Howard Gardner’s Theory of
Multiple Intelligences
Sam and Elise
Background
• Three general categories
– Visual
– Auditory
– Kinesthetic
• Theory of Multiple Intelligences
– Developed by Howard Gardner in 1983 (7) and
1999 (2)
– Expands of the three categories
http://howardgardner01.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/howardgardner.jpg?w=205
• Description
Verbal-Linguistic
– Written and spoken words
– Interpretation and explanation via language
– Good at understanding relationship between
communication and meaning
http://www.ourschoolzone.com/main/d
ox/project/mi/verbal/verbal.gif
Verbal-Linguistic
• Tasks and activities
– Editing papers
– Giving speeches
– Listing pros and cons
– Writing directions
• Careers
Lawyers, teachers,
historians, writers, TV
and radio presenters
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/images/p34-to-p35/p341-2-jpg.jpg
http://www.lawstudentatlast.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/04/Becoming-a-Lawyer.jpg
Logical-Mathematical
• Description
– Analyzing problems
– Detecting patterns
– Performing calculations
– Scientific reasoning
– Understanding cause and effect
http://lh4.ggpht.com/8CMcJssJYOFvJ9Nq9jdq9CJpfm51w3APP0bnufyI
wzNHmUGeA19o_qdft1jXwkKnM4feR9bgscA2FtMSEb2ORME
Logical-Mathematical
• Tasks and activities
– Create a process
– Devising strategies
– Mental math
• Careers
Bankers, Engineers, Scientists,
Statisticians
http://www.jhunewsletter.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/10/B7_albert_einstein.jpg
http://csraccordingtobree.blogspot.com/2013/04/no-banker-leftbehind.html
• Description
Musical
– Awareness, appreciation and use of sound
– Recognizing tone and rhythm
– Understanding relationship between sound and
feeling
http://prodigy.hireeducation.co.za/articleImages/music_brain.jpg
Musical
• Tasks and activities
– Teaching someone how to play
an instrument
– Partake in choir and/or band
– Whistling
– Composing music
• Careers
Composer, Music Producer,
Singer, Voice Coach, DJ
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Johann_Sebas
tian_Bach.jpg
http://pcbeachspringbreak.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/02/vanity2.jpg
Bodily Kinesthetic
• Description
– Eye and body coordination
– Manual dexterity
– Physical agility and balance
http://www.ourschoolzone.com/main/dox/project/mi/bodily/bodily.gif
Bodily Kinesthetic
• Tasks and Activities
– Demonstrating a sports
technique
– Interpreting sign language
– Riding a horse
– Catching objects
• Careers
Athletes, Dancers, Phy. Ed.
Teachers, Nurses, Sign-language
Interpreters
http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/nurse.jpg
http://latimesphoto.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/olympicsday12_02_m8ghi7pd.jpg
Spatial-Visual
• Descriptions
– Interpretation and creation of visual images,
pictorial imagination and expression
– Understands relationships between images and
meanings and between space and effect
http://www.ourschoolzone.com/main/dox/project/mi/spatial/spatial.gif
Spatial-Visual
• Tasks and activities
–
–
–
–
–
Designing a building
Interpreting a painting
Organize a storage room
Painting a landscape
Composing a photograph
• Careers
Artists, Architects, Graphic Designers,
Photographers, Sculptors
http://www.zastavki.com/pictures/1600x1200/2010/People_Children_
Young_artist_023259_.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Photographer.
jpg
• Description
Interpersonal
– Ability to relate to others
– Interpretation of behavior and communications
– Understands the relationship between people and
their situations
http://inborntalent.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/inter.gif
Interpersonal
• Tasks and activities
– Coach or council another
person
– Demonstrate feelings
through body language
– Interpret moods from facial
expressions
– Mentoring
• Careers
Care givers, Coaches,
Counselors, Teachers,
Therapists, HR professional
https://www.uu.edu/programs/tep/images/tepimage-07.jpg
http://colleague.pepperdine.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2010/06/building-therapists-benefiting-lives.jpg
• Description
Intrapersonal
– One’s relationship to others and the world
– Personal objectivity
– The capability to understand oneself
– One’s ability to react to change
http://www.dianawaring.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Intrapersonal.jpg
Intrapersonal
• Tasks and activities
– Aware of inner feelings
– Ability to decide one’s own
personal changes and how to
achieve them
• Careers
Researchers, Theorists,
Philosophers
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Resear
cher_uses_pipettes.jpg/1249px-Researcher_uses_pipettes.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/46_qfyY4HO4/Ucnwh6I7fQI/AAAAAAAADC4/JhpswLAz97o/s1600/phil
osopher+v2.jpg
Naturalist
• Description
– Recognize relationship with natural world
– Apply science theory to life
http://www.ourschoolzone.com/main/dox/project/mi/nature/natural.gif
Naturalist
• Tasks and activities
– Recognizing and
categorizing plants,
animals and other
objects in nature
• Careers
Scientist, Naturalist,
Landscape Architect,
Farmer, Zoologist, DNR
http://www.thekathleenshow.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/03/Farmer-in-field.jpg
http://www.readareading.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/JobDescription-and-Responsibilities-of-a-Zoologist.jpg
Existential
• Description
– Reflective
– Deep thinking
– Capacity to tackle deep questions about human
existence (What is the meaning of life? Why do we
die? How do we get here?)
http://www.madisonavenuejournal.com/images/jj/12122005/thinker.j
pg
Existential
• Tasks and activities
– Designing abstract theories
– Understanding philosophical
questions
• Careers
Philosopher, Scientist, Theologian
http://www.cbc.ca/books/philosopher-thinking-584.jpg
MI and Adolescents
• Middle School and Junior High
– Time where Adolescents start to discover what
types of MI’s they have
– Discovering personal identity and who/what they
want to be when they grow up
http://gse.buffalo.edu/gsefiles/images/alberti/Happy%20Middle%20School%20Students.jpg
Conclusion
• Nine different forms of intelligences
• All learn differently
• Need for Inclusion is huge!
– Developing personal identity
– Frame of mind constantly changing
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/3
56.martin/files/multiple_intel
ligences_diagram
Sources
•
•
“Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences” (2010). Faculty Development
and Instructional Design Center. Northern Illinois University.
http://www.niu.edu/facdev/resources/guide/learning/howard_gardner_the
ory_multiple_intelligences.pdf. Accessed on 5 January, 2014.
“Multiple Intelligence (MI) – Howard Gardner.” Cortland University.
http://web.cortland.edu/andersmd/learning/mi%20theory.htm. Accessed
on 5 January, 2014.
http://www.motivateus.com/tquotes.htm