Lilypie

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Multiple Intelligences ....

I was net surfing when I came across a biography on Education Psychologist Howard Gardner and his Multiple Intelligence Theory. I remember I studied this topic back in NIE on how to adapt lesson plans to cater to the various intelligences, but in a real-life local classroom setting, it is still impossible to achieve for now.

According to Professor Gardner, there are eight types of intelligences – Linguistic Intelligence, Logical-Mathematical Intelligence, Musical Intelligence, Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence, Spatial Intelligence, Naturalist Intelligence, Interpersonal Intelligence and Intrapersonal Intelligence.

No one person will have all eight types of intelligences, not even a genius. However, it is a possibility for someone to have a few varieties out of the eight, although he / she will always have a dominant intelligence.

Linguistic Intelligence is essentially being word smart. People who are linguistically intelligent normally have a good flair of languages, and are able to write poems, articles, etc, very well. They normally end up as journalists, lawyers or translators. William Shakespeare was someone with linguistic intelligence.

Logical-Mathematical Intelligence is being number smart. People who are logical-mathematically intelligent are those who can analyse problems logically, investigate issues scientifically and carry out mathematical operations easily. They normally end up doing something scientific related, like Albert Einstein.

Musical Intelligence is being music smart. People who are musically intelligent are able to compose songs, appreciate musical patterns, and give great performances. They normally end up in the performing arts, like some great composers like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

According to Professor Gardner, apparently musical intelligence mostly exists together with those who are linguistically intelligent. I guess maybe in writing songs one must be both musically and linguistically intelligent before it can be a good piece in the first place.

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence is being body smart, ie able to twist and turn their bodies in such a flexible way. People who are bodily-kinesthetic intelligent make excellent dancers, gymnasts and sportspeople. This intelligence does not exist in clumsy people, as every part of the body have to move in such graceful ways.

Spatial Intelligence is being pattern smart. People who are spatially intelligent are able to recognize patterns and pictures. They will be the first to pick up a different pattern in anything. These people normally end up in the visual arts, and become artists, sculptors, painters, etc, like Leonardo Da Vinci.

Naturalist Intelligence is being nature smart. People who are naturalists are able to recognize and draw upon different aspects of the natural environment. These people make good environmentalists or naturalists, like Charles Darwin with his evolution theory.

Interpersonal Intelligence is being social smart. These are the people who will shine in any social gathering. They have charisma, and able to sway people to their words. They have natural leadership abilities to bring people forward according to their visions. These people usually make good world leaders or politicians, like Adolf Hitler.

Intrapersonal Intelligence is being self smart. People who are intrapersonally intelligent are normally those who do a lot of self-reflection. They will write a lot in their journals, and often think aloud to themselves. These are those who make good philosophers, like Socrates, the father of western philosophy, or his student Plato, or his student Aristotle.

Although these are the right intelligences, Professor Gardner feels that there should be more. So he included three more intelligences in, but they are not officially in the list. They are Spiritual Intelligence, Existential Intelligence and Moral Intelligence.

Interesting theory indeed. Judging from the different people around excelling in the different areas, Professor Gardner is a genius indeed to develop this theory. Hmmm… I really like to find out which intelligence(s) do I have?

5 comments:

Ole' Wolvie said...

Tony Buzan (inventor of the Mind Map) have also delved into this theory (his is pretty similar).

He stated that everyone has multiple intelligence, and that each intelligence can be developed.

I believe that people have different affinity in the intelligences. Hence each intelligence would require a different amount of effort to develop.

gus said...

wah cialat i have none .. how ah?

shakespeareheroine said...

Ole Wolvie : I have Tony Buzan's book on Mind-Mapping. Very useful, especially when I use it for studies.

Gus : Don't worry about it. I think I have none as well. :-p

Richard said...

People interface with the world in many different ways. While it is nice and convenient to categorize and pigeon-hole people, I have an inherent aversion to that. I like to understand, but not to confine.

I am someone who like to do free form experimentation. Following the steps and procedures are difficult for me. When I learn something , the first thing I want to do is test the limits and try alternate approaches. I also like to ask a lot of questions.

Anonymous said...

Excellent, love it! Care after laser tattoo removal Isuzu trooper wheel studs used cisco Cadillac rear filler 1978 http://www.unlocked-gsm-phones.info/cheapbangladeshcallingcards.html

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...