Multiple Intelligences Theory and Why It Is Important

In todays world is dramatically changing and depending on it education is also

changing resulted in new theories, one of which is the multiple intelligences theory was
developed by Gardner in 1983 while he was working as a professor of education at Harvard.
Gardner had been a student and proponent of Piaget but as he started developing his own
theories, he found Piagets theories too limited to explain human cognition. He believed that
human cognition was not limited to one broad category, and at first identified seven
intelligences in Frames of Mind (1983), and then added another two in Intelligence Reframed
(1999).
Howard Gardner claims that all human beings have multiple intelligences. These
multiple intelligences can be strengthened, or ignored and weakened. He believes each
individual has nine intelligences
In this work, I will focus on in format of both Gardners definitions and why these
intelligences are so important instead of expressing why the news is important.

VERBAL/LINGUISTIC INTELLIGENCE
Gardner's Definition:
Linguistic Intelligence (Word Smart) is the capacity to use language, your native
language, and perhaps other languages, to express what's on your mind and to understand
other people.
If this is a strong intelligence for you, you have highly developed skills for reading,
speaking, and writing and you tend to think in words. You probably like various kinds of
literature, playing word games, writing poetry and stories, and getting into involved
discussions with other people, debating, formal speaking, creative writing, and telling jokes.
Verbal/Linguistic "Word Smart" kids may enjoy:
Writing letters, poems, stories, descriptions
Leading an oral discussion or debate

Multiple Intelligences Theory and Why It Is Important

Creating audio tapes

LOGICAL/MATEMATICAL INTELLIGENCE
Gardner's Definition:
People with highly developed logical/mathematical intelligences (math smart) understand
the underlying principles of some kind of a causal system, the way a scientist or a logician
does; or can manipulate numbers, quantities, and operations, the way a mathematician does.
If you happen to be a logical-mathematically inclined person you tend to think more
conceptually and abstractly and are often able to see patterns and relationships that others
miss. You most likely enjoy working with numbers and mathematical formulas and
operations, and you love the challenge of a complex problem to solve.
Logical/Mathematical "Math Smart kids, may enjoy:
Listing or organizing facts
Using deductive reasoning skills
Using abstract symbols and formulas
VISUAL / SPATIAL INTELLIGENCE
Gardner's Definition:
Spatial intelligence refers to the ability to represent the spatial world internally in your
mind, the way a sailor or airplane pilot navigates the large spatial world, or the way a chess
player or sculptor represents a more circumscribed spatial world.
If you are strong in this intelligence you tend to think in images and pictures. You are
likely very aware of object, shapes, colors, and patterns in the environment around you. You
probably like to draw, paint, and make interesting designs and patterns, and work with colored
markers, construction paper, and fabric. You probably have definite opinions about colors that
go together well, textures that are appropriate and pleasing, and how a room should be
decorated. And, you are likely excellent at performing tasks that require seeing with the
minds eyes, such as visualizing, imagining, and forming mental images.
Visual/Spatial Strategies "Art Smart" kids may enjoy:

Multiple Intelligences Theory and Why It Is Important

Creating charts, posters, graphs, or diagrams

Creating a Web page or PowerPoint project
Making a videotape or film
BODILY / KINESTHETIC INTELLIGENCE
Gardner's Definition:
Bodily/Kinesthetic intelligence, (body smart) is the capacity to use your whole body or
parts of your body: (your hands, your fingers, your arms), to solve a problem, make
something, or put on some kind of production. The most evident examples are people in
athletics or the performing arts, particularly when dancing or acting.
We often talk about learning by doing. This way of knowing happens through physical
movement and through the knowing of our physical body. The body knows many things
that are not necessarily known by the conscious, logical mind, such as how to ride a bike,
catch a thrown object, maintain balance while walking, and where the keys are on a computer
keyboard.
If you have strength in this intelligence area you tend to have a keen sense of body
awareness. You like physical movement, dancing, making and inventing things with your
hands, and role-playing. You probably communicate well through body language and other
physical gestures.
"Body Smart" kids may enjoy:
Creating a dance or movement sequence
Role Playing
Using physical gestures to communicate an idea
MUSICAL / RHYTHMIC INTELLIGENCE
Gardner's Definition:

Multiple Intelligences Theory and Why It Is Important

Musical Rhythmic Intelligence, (music smart), is the capacity to think in music, to be able
to hear patterns, recognize them, and perhaps manipulate them. This is the knowing that
happens through sound and vibration. In the original research on the theory of multiple
intelligences this intelligence was called musical-rhythmic intelligence.
If you are strong in this intelligence area you likely have a love of music and rhythmic
patterns. You are probably very sensitive to sounds in the environment; rain on the roof,
varying traffic patterns. You may study and work better with music in the background. You
can often reproduce a melody or rhythmic pattern after hearing it only once. Various sounds,
tones, and rhythms may have a visible effect on you--others can often see a change in facial
expressions, body movement, or emotional responses. You probably like to create music and
you enjoy listening to a wide variety of music. You may be skilled at mimicking sounds,
language accents, and others speech patterns, and you can probably readily recognize
different musical instruments in a composition.
Musical/Rhythmic "Music Smart" kids may enjoy:
Writing or singing a curriculum song in the content area
Developing and/or using rhythmic patterns as learning aids
Composing a melody
NATURALIST INTELLIGENCE
Gardner's Definition:
Naturalist intelligence designates the human ability to discriminate among living things
(plants, animals) as well as sensitivity to other features of the natural world (clouds, rock
configurations). This ability was clearly of value in our evolutionary past as hunters,
gatherers, and farmers; it continues to be central in such roles as botanist or chef.
The naturalist intelligence involves the full range of knowing that occurs in and through
our encounters with the natural world including our recognition, appreciation, and
understanding of the natural environment. It involves such capacities as species discernment,
communion with the natural world and its phenomena, and the ability to recognize and
classify various flora and fauna.

Multiple Intelligences Theory and Why It Is Important

If the naturalist intelligence is one of your strengths you have a profound love for the
outdoors, animals, plants, and almost any natural object. You are probably fascinated by and
noticeably affected by such things as the weather, changing leaves in the fall, the sound of the
wind, the warm sun or lack thereof, or an insect in the room. At a young age you were likely
nature collectors, adding such things as bugs, rocks leaves, seashells, sticks, and so on to your
collections.
Nature Smart" kids may enjoy:
Categorizing species of plants and animals
Developing an outdoor classroom
Collecting objects from nature
INTERPERSONAL INTELLIGENCE
Gardner's Definition:
Interpersonal intelligence, (people smart) is understanding other people. Its an ability we
all need, but is at a privilege if you are a teacher, salesperson, or a politician. Anybody who
deals with other people has to be skilled in the interpersonal sphere.
If this person-to-person way of knowing is more developed in you, you learn through
personal interactions. You probably have lots of friends; show a great deal of empathy for
other people and exhibit a deep understanding of other points of view. You probably love all
kinds of team activities and are likely skilled at drawing others out in a discussion. You are
also probably skilled in conflict resolution, mediation, and finding compromise when people
are in radical opposition to each other.
Interpersonal "People Smart" kids may enjoy
Giving feedback to the teacher or to classmates
Intuiting other's feelings
Empathy practices
INTRAPERSONAL

INTELLIGENCE

Gardner's Definition:
Intrapersonal intelligence, (self smart) refers to having an understanding of yourself,
of knowing who you are, what you can do, what you want to do, how you react to things,

Multiple Intelligences Theory and Why It Is Important

which things to avoid, and which things to gravitate toward. They tend to know what they can
do. They tend to know what they cant do. And they tend to know where to go if they need
help.
If this intelligence is one of your strong points you may like to work alone and sometimes
you may shy away from others. You are probably self-aware and thus you tend to be in tune
with your inner feelings, values, beliefs, and thinking processes. You are frequently bearers of
creative wisdom and insight, are highly intuitive, and you are inwardly motivated rather than
needing external rewards to keep you going. You are often strong willed, self-confident, and
have definite, well-thought out opinions on almost any issue. Other people will often come to
you for advice and counsel.
Intrapersonal "Self Smart" kids may enjoy
Keeping a journal or diary
Setting short/long-term goals
Learning why and how the content under study is important in real life
EXISTENTIAL INTELLIGENCE
Gardner's Definition:
Individuals who exhibit the proclivity to pose (and ponder) questions about life, death, and
ultimate realities.
Existential Wondering Smart" kids may enjoy pondering
Why they are here on Earth
What the world was like before they were born
What life might be like on another planet
To sum up, Howard Gardner states profoundly crucial theory for educational
psychology: however, our education system still selects people not concerning all of these
sorts of intelligences. Although this problem seems easy to be solved, first of all we need
to meet basic requirements such as allocating more money and space to make people
learn. On the other hand, since this is not a one-sided problem, it can be finalized a
success with social collective consciousness and movement. While, for example, anyone

Multiple Intelligences Theory and Why It Is Important

who is busy with education is doing his or her best, politicians have to support and
contribute to these efforts divert the society in the right way, I mean, not telling them
have at least three children.

References:
Gardner, Howard. (1983). Frames of Mind. New York: Basic Books.
Gardner, Howard. (1987). The Theory of Multiple Intelligences in Annuals of Dyslexia