Sean Keasling

Multiple Intelligences

EdTech 504 (Spring 09)

Multiple Intelligences

Introduction

In 1983 Howard Gardner proposed the theory of multiple intelligences. He originally

proposed that there are seven forms of intelligences and in the mid 1990’s proposed an eighth

intelligence. The eight intelligences that Gardner proposed are: verbal-linguistic, musical-

rhythmic, logical-mathematical, visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, interpersonal,

and naturalist intelligence (Bixler, 2003). Gardner proposes that “each individual has all of the

intelligences but some people will improve more readily in one intelligence area than in others”

(Hampton, 2009).

After Gardner’s theory gained popularity. there were some schools that were created to

focus and center their instruction methods on the multiple intelligences theory. One school,

Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy, has their students working on various activities in

addition to being in the classroom setting. Students at the Enota Multiple Intelligences

Academy may participate in activities such as Smartville Savings and Learn, Smartville Culinary

Arts, and Smartville Post Office. These activities help the students to “explore and express the

multiple ways of being smart” (Bernard, 2009).

 Consequently, in this paper I will discuss the results of the multiple intelligence test that I

took, comment on my personal results and interpret how closely the results match my learning

style.

The Eight Multiple Intelligences

The eight intelligences that make up Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory are as

follows (information pulled from Bixler, 2003):

Intelligence Definition How they learn Professions

Verbal Linguistic Have highly developed Learn best by Poets, writers, and
auditory skills, enjoy saying and hearing teachers
reading and writing, words.
like to play word
games, like to tell
stories, like to get their
point across, and has a
good memory for
names, dates, and
places.

Musical Rhythmic Sensitive to the sounds Learning through Singers, conductors,

of their environment, melody and music. composers, and
including the instrumental
inflections of the performers.
human voice. Enjoy
music and may listen to
music when they study
or read. Skilled at pitch
and rhythm.

Logical Mathematic Like to explore patterns Learn best by Scientists

and relationships, like classifying
to experiment with information, using
things they do not abstract thought,
understand, ask and looking for
questions, and enjoy common basic
well ordered tasks. principles and
 Enjoy working with patterns.
numbers and solving
problems with logical
reasoning.

Visual Spatial Work well with maps, Learn best by Sculptors, painters,
charts, diagrams and looking at pictures architects, surgeons, and
visual arts in general. and watching engineers.
Able to visualize clear videos.
mental images. Like to
design and create
things.

Bodily Kinesthetic Use bodily sensations Learning activities Carpenters, mechanics,

to gather information. that provide dancers, gymnasts,
Have good balance and physical activities swimmers, and jugglers.
coordination and are and hands on
good with their hands. learning work well.

Intrapersonal Aware of their own Learn best by Entrepreneurs,

strengths, weaknesses, engaging in philosophers, and
and feelings. They are independent study psychologists.
also aware of self, projects rather than
being a creative, working on group
independent, and projects. Pacing
reflective thinker. their own
Usually possess instruction is
independence, self- important
confidence,
determination, and high
motivation. May
respond with strong
opinions.

Interpersonal Enjoy being around Learn best by Salespeople,

people, have many relating, sharing, consultants, community
friends, and engage in and participating in organizers, counselors,
social activities. Can group and teachers.
develop genuine environments.
empathy for others.

Naturalist In touch with nature. Learn best by Fields directly

Sense patterns and are studying natural
 good at categorization. phenomenon in connected with nature.
Good planners and natural settings, and
organizers of living learning how things
areas. work.

The Key Learning Community

Key Learning Community opened an elementary school in 1987, a middle school in

1993, a high school in 1999, then all moved into one building in the year 2000 (Armstrong,

2002). The Key Learning Community school basis their instruction on Howard Gardner’s theory

of multiple intelligences. Each student is required to take elective classes called “pods”. These

pods are “a means to give teachers and students an opportunity to do something they really love

and are passionate about” (Armstrong, 2002). In addition, each student is required to study art,

play an instrument, create music compositions, and visit the “flow room” where they immerse

themselves into an area of interest (Armstrong, 2002). At the beginning of each school year the

instructors get together and pick a theme for the upcoming school year. This theme is used to

base most of the school year’s projects around.

Students in the Key Learning Community do not receive grades. Instead they receive

progress reports that are based on three dimensions, progress, participation, performance, in

addition to self assessment. The progress report is as follows (Armstrong, 2002):

Progress = N (needs help), S (steady progress), R (rapid progress)

Participation = triangle (intrinsically motivated), square (extrinsically motivated), X

(disruptive), circle (passive)

Rankings for subject matter = novice, apprentice, journeyman

In the Key Learning Community students are motivated and find the school work fun.

Furthermore, the teaching staff is very enthusiastic about the program as well.
 Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy

Another school that is centers its instruction around the multiple intelligences theory is

the Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy in Gainesville, Georgia. At this school students take

regular classes and rotate through a six week period through one of six activities: music, art,

creative movement, culinary institute, physical education, and technology (Bernard, 2009). In

addition, students also participate in a Smartville, which is like a functioning village. In

Smartville, students participate in various activities like sorting and delivering mail for the post

office, work at Smartville Savings and Learn, or run the Little Elephant depot (Bernard, 2009).

By participating in Smartville students “exercise their multiple intelligences on multiple levels,

always in a meaningful way” (Bernard, 2009).

Personal Reflection

After taking the multiple intelligences test I found out that my strengths are in the

intelligence areas of musical rhythmic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and can use verbal

intelligence with some ease. This falls in line with what I would have figured my intelligences

would be.

Musical rhythmic is the intelligence that I am the strongest in. Someone who is strong in

the area of musical rhythmic intelligence is sensitive to the sounds in their environment. My

wife sometimes thinks that I am a little off my rocker because we will be watching television and

I will hear a certain series of tones and it will remind me of a song that I have heard. Hearing

that set of tones encourages me to starting singing or whistling the song that those tones

reminded me of. Even in the middle of summer my wife may hear me whistling a Christmas

song just because I heard a rhythm or series of tones that reminded me of that song. Likewise,

just hearing a rhythm will encourage me to add more rhythms to what I hear. For example,
someone may be sitting in a rocking chair and the rocking noise will make a nice even tempo.

After hearing the rhythm of the rocking chair I may start tapping my fingers on the off beats to

create a song with my tapping and the sound of the rocking chair.

Interpersonal intelligence was another area according to my intelligence test that I excel

in. The main reason that I am strong in this intelligence is because of my first job, which was a

security guard at the Hutchinson Mall. When I got hired the main thing that my boss told me to

do was “walk around, talk to the people that work at the stores, help customers, and be seen.”

Essentially, he was telling me that this job was indeed a public relations position. Working as a

security guard helped me to learn how to interact and communicate with people of all ages,

professions, and ethnic background. Gaining this public relations experience has helped me to

interact and understand other people that I am with in contact with in public situations. From

time to time my wife will see me strike up conversations with total strangers and have

conversations like we have known each other forever.

Intrapersonal intelligence is the final intelligence area that according to my intelligence

test that I excel in. According to the definition of intrapersonal intelligence a person who is

strong in the area of intrapersonal intelligence has an understanding of one's interests and goals.

One example in my past that I can draw upon is that since my freshman year in high school, I

have always known that I was going to become a band instructor. This was always a goal of

mine and I worked hard to achieve my music education degree. In addition, I am a very

confident person and have a strong sense of who I am, what my goals are, what make me happy,

and what my morals are.

Teaching to Multiple Intelligences

 In my classroom I try to do various activities in order to reach as many multiple intelligences

as possible during my instruction. Some of the activities that I have had the students do are:

 Practice by themselves in one of our practice rooms.

 Practice with a small group of other band students.

 Incorporate various music related websites to help with the learning of certain concepts,

(rhythm, music history, scales, etc.) In order to check for understanding of a concept I

may have the student explain the concept to either myself of the entire class.

 Demonstrate a concept by modeling

 Either playing a passage on the piano or on my primary instrument, the saxophone

 Write down rhythms on the chalk board and have the students count them out loud.

 Start or end my class with various activities.

 Logic Puzzles

 Read a current event from the MSNBC website

 Complete mazes

 Listen to music recordings of famous musicians and music groups

 Watch music performances on video of famous musicians and music groups

 Sit wherever you want day

 Students are able to sit by their friends in the band and can sit anywhere in the room

for rehearsal

 Put music examples on the overhead projector so they can visualize what I am talking

about a certain concept.

All of these activities help me to reach many of the different multiple intelligences. One

activity that I have created for my high school students, is my Name That Tune/Jeopardy game.
The kids really enjoy this activity and are really enthused to participate. In this Name That

Tune/Jeopardy, I use a website that I can enter text into a Jeopardy template to create my own

Jeopardy game. For the name that tune part of the activity I have music that I have pulled from

my own music collection or downloaded off of iTunes. I have categories of different music in

the Jeopardy game and will ask the students to name that tune, name the performing artist, or

name that instrument that they hear. I will then play a recording for them and they will “ring” in

with a buzzer system to answer the question. My high school students just love this activity and

look forward to playing it when I create a new game for them each semester. The multiple

intelligences that I am teaching to in this activity are musical rhythmic, linguistic, and visual

spatial.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory helps to classify different

intelligences for each person and to help to figure out how each person learns. There have been

different schools which have been created in order to center their instruction on the multiple

intelligences theory. At these schools students take on different project created around the

different intelligences to help them learn better. Students at the Enota Multiple Intelligences

Academy will participate in a mock city called Smartville, in which they will participate in the

Smartville Savings and Learn, Smartville Post Office, and the Little Elephant Depot. These

activities help students “exercise their multiple intelligences on multiple levels, always in a

meaningful way” (Bernard, 2009). Finally, I found out after taking a multiple intelligence test

that the areas that I excel in are musical rhythmic, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and even can take

or leave verbal linguistic intelligence. These intelligences are very close to my personality and

they are the areas in which I thought I would be proficient in.