What is human intelligence?

The traditional view:

According to Lewis Terman, who helped devise the first standardized intelligence test, it is . . .
· the ability to think in terms of abstract ideas.

According to Edwin Boring, a renowned psychologist, it is . . .
· what the intelligence tests test.

Howard Gardner's view:

According to Howard Gardner, the father of multiple intelligences theory, it is . . .
· the capacity to do something useful and valued in the society.
· the ability to respond successfully to new situations and to learn from past experiences.
· the ability to resolve problems encountered in life.

Principles of Multiple Intelligence Theory

1. Intelligence is not singular; intelligences are multiple.

2. Every person is a unique blend of dynamic intelligences.

3. Intelligences vary in development both among and within individuals.

4. Multiple intelligences can be identified and described.

5. A pure intelligence is rarely seen.

6. Every person deserves opportunities to recognize and develop the multiplicity of intelligences.

7. Any list of intelligences is subject to change as we learn more about them.

J. Keith Rogers

QUIZ

Answer the following questions.

1. Is it possible that your students are NOT learning to their fullest potential?

2. Even when you are doing your best teaching, do you sometimes wonder why certain students don't get it?

3. Do any of your students know more about a topic than they demonstrate on tests?

4. Are any of your students highly skilled in areas that are not included in the curriculum?

5. Are there times your teaching does not seem to stimulate all of your students?

6. Do you think you need to try new ways to motivate and actively involve your students in the learning process?

Consider this question now:

Is it time to rethink our classroom methodologies?

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE TEACHING

· helps students discover their abilities, strengths and weaknesses,

· helps students build confidence,

· helps teachers develop appropriate strategies for the classroom,

· provides unforgettable learning.

THE EIGHT INTELLIGENCES IN BRIEF

A person with well-developed verbal-linguistic intelligence will:

· learn through listening, reading, and writing,
· listen, read, speak, and write effectively,
· be god at grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation,
· learn languages easily,
· communicate to others in a highly verbal way,
· have a good memory for names, places, and dates.

A person with well-developed mathematical-logical intelligence will:

· ask a lot of questions about how things work,
· be good at logical problem solving,
· enjoy putting things in categories or hierarchies,
· think on an abstract or conceptual level,
· have a good sense of cause-effect for age.

A person with well-developed visual-spatial intelligence will:

· learn by seeing and observing,
· think in pictures,
· like visual presentations,
· enjoy doing puzzles, mazes, or similar visual activities,
· doodle on workbooks, worksheets, or other materials,
· read maps, charts, and diagrams more easily than text.

A person with well-developed visual-spatial intelligence will:

· explore the environment through touch,
· learn by direct involvement,
· enjoy field trips, role-play, games, etc.,
· move, tap, or fidget while seated for a long time in one spot,
· show skill in a craft or good coordination in other ways.

A person with well-developed musical intelligence will:

· remember melodies of songs,
· be sensitive to environmental noises,
· play a musical instrument or have a rhythmic way of speaking,
· recognize different musical styles,
· respond to music by dancing etc.

A person with well-developed interpersonal intelligence will:

· form and maintain social relationships,
· communicate effectively in both verbal and non-verbal ways,
· be fond of collaboration,
· be a natural leader,
· belong to clubs, committees, or other organizations,
· have a good sense of empathy or concern for others.

A person with well-developed intrapersonal intelligence will:

· attempt to understand inner experience,
· display a sense of independence or a strong will,
· have a realistic sense of strengths and weaknesses,
· prefer working alone,
· have high self-esteem.

A person with well-developed naturalist intelligence will:

· be fond of being outdoors,
· attempt to discover things,
· be good at organizing, categorizing, sorting, or analyzing,
· be a good observer.

[Armstrong (1994) and Campbell (1996)]

MI Lesson Planning

While planning your lessons, you may wish to remember that teachers unconsciously tend to bring into their classes activities that appeal to their own dominant intelligences. Therefore, you may find the below questions helpful when planning your lessons.

Logical-Mathematical
How can I bring in numbers, logic, or critical thinking?

Linguistic
How can I use the spoken or written word?

Visual-Spatial
How can I use visual aids?

Musical
How can I bring in music?

Intrapersonal
How can I evoke emotions or memories?

Interpersonal
How can I start peer or group work?

Bodily-Kinesthetic
How can I involve the whole body?

Naturalist
How can I bring in observation / research?

Although Howard Gardner himself is against testing and sorting students into groups and labelling them, those interested in his theory have now devised inventories to spot people's preferred intelligences. We'll jump on the bandwagon too and give you an MI Inventory :)

Multiple Intelligences Inventory

Read the following items quickly and write the number 0, 1, or 2 into the spaces provided. The number 0 means the statement is NOT true for you. Write the number 1 if the statement is true or may be true for you. Write the number 2 if the statement is STRONGLY true for you. For each intelligence, add up the numbers:

Linguistic Intelligence

_____ I am good at writing letters.
_____ I can remember jokes and stories easily.
_____ I have a good memory for names, places, and dates.
_____ I enjoys reading books.
_____ I can spell words accurately.
_____ In school, my favorite subjects were language classes, history, and speech and not chemistry or math.

_____ TOTAL POINTS

Logical-Mathematical Intelligence

_____ I ask a lot of questions about how things work.
_____ I compute arithmetic problems in my head quickly.
_____ I enjoy math class.
_____ I enjoy playing chess, or other strategy games.
_____ I enjoy putting things in categories or hierarchies.
_____ thinks on a more abstract or conceptual level than most people I know.

_____ TOTAL POINTS

Spatial Intelligence

_____ I report clear visual images.
_____ I read maps, charts, and diagrams easily.
_____ I daydream a lot.
_____ I enjoy art activities.
_____ I get more out of pictures than words while reading.
_____ I doodle on workbooks, worksheets, or other materials.

_____ TOTAL POINTS

Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

_____ I excel in sports.
_____ I feel uncomfortable when seated for a long time in one spot.
_____ I can mimic other people's gestures or mannerisms.
_____ I love to take things apart and put them back together again.
_____ I enjoy running, jumping, wrestling, or similar activities.
_____ I show skill in a craft.

_____ TOTAL POINTS

Musical Intelligence

_____ I can tell when music sounds off-key or disturbing in some other way.
_____ I can remember melodies of songs.
_____ I can play a musical instrument or sing.
_____ I often unconsciously hum to myself.
_____ I tap rhythmically on the table or desk as I work.
_____ I am sensitive to environmental noises.

_____ TOTAL POINTS

Interpersonal Intelligence

_____ I enjoy socializing.
_____ I am a natural leader.
_____ I give advice to friends who have problems.
_____ I belong to clubs, committees, or other organizations.
_____ I have several close friends.
_____ Others enjoy my company.

_____ TOTAL POINTS

Intrapersonal Intelligence

_____ I am independent and have a strong will.
_____ I know my strengths and weaknesses.
_____ I enjoy being alone.
_____ I prefer working alone to working with others.
_____ I am able to learn from my failures and successes in life.
_____ I have high self-esteem.

_____ TOTAL POINTS

Naturalist Intelligence

_____ I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and camping.
_____ I enjoy collecting things such as rocks, leaves, shells, and feathers.
_____ In school, my favorite subjects were science classes.
_____ I enjoy photographing or sketching nature scenes.
_____ I am good at categorizing, classifying, sorting, or analyzing items or information.

_____ TOTAL POINTS

YOUR PREFERRED INTELLIGENCE: ___________________________

(Adapted from Armstrong, 1994; Wingate, 1996; Kagan & Kagan, 1998)

ACTIVITIES TO TRIGGER THE INTELLIGENCES BEFORE, WHILE, OR AFTER READING:

1. Linguistic Intelligence

Reading!

2. Logical-mathematical Intelligence

Predicting
Categorizing
Crossword puzzles

3. Visual-Spatial Intelligence

Poster-making
Highlighting
Drawing maps, diagrams, graphs
Mindmapping

4. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence

Drama
Role playing
Creating craftwork
Dancing

5. Musical Intelligence

Chants
Creating music
Choral reading

6. Interpersonal Intelligence

Cooperative groups
Class discussion
Peer sharing
Interviews

7. Intrapersonal Intelligence

Reflection
Self identification
Guided imagery
Journals

8. Naturalist Intelligence

Observation