Howard Gardner
Howard Gardner, born July 11, 1943, is an American Developmental Psychologist who was inspired by Piaget. Gardner has written over twenty books that have been translated into more than thirty languages. He is best known for his Multiple Intelligence Theory. This theory shows us that everyone is intelligent, but in many different ways. Our intelligence can shine through in different areas with different levels of strengths. Multiple Intelligence Theory Logical-Mathematical Intelligence is the ability to analyze mathematical or other problems, detect patterns, perform mathematical calculations, use scientific reasoning and deduction, and the understanding of relationships between cause and effort toward a tangible outcome or result. Tasks or activities that might be best asked of a child with this intelligence would be: create a process, analyze how a computer works, perform a mental mathematical calculation, create a process to measure something, devise a strategy to achieve an aim, assess the value of a business or proposition. Appropriate professions for this type of learning style are: analysts, arbitrators, traders, statisticians, bankers, insurance brokers and negotiators, researchers, scientists, certified public accountants, and engineers. Musical Intelligence is the ability to think in music and rhythm, easily remember songs and melodies, have an understanding of timber and composition, and can identify differences between pitches. People who possess musical intelligence tend to have a strong appreciation for music and generally enjoy being immersed in music. Abilities to play instruments come natural to this type of person. These individuals have a strong appreciation for patterns, and good compositions as well as songs, melodies, and rhythms. Gardner believes that this type of learning often runs parallel to that of the linguistic learner. Tasks or activities that might be best asked of a child with this intelligence would be: whistling a tune, leading a choir, identifying music played in public, composing media jingles, reviewing a musical play, performing any musical piece, or coaching someone to play a musical instrument. Appropriate professions for this type of learning style are: voice vouches, acoustic engineers, DJs, entertainers, musical producers, musical instrument repair specialists, musical performers, singers, and composers. Bodily Kinesthetic Intelligence is the ability to handle objects skillfully. This would also include a sense of timing and a clear sense of goals and physical action. People who exert this sort of intelligence would generally be good at physical activities such as sport, dance, and acting. Individuals with a bodily-kinesthetic intelligence really enjoy movement. They liked to figure out how things work. They love the outdoors, and do not sit still for too long. Tasks or activities that might be best asked of a child with this intelligence would be: to learn by doing rather than seeing, stack books on a shelf, demonstrate a sports technique, design a window display, interpret a speech using American Sign Language, put together a modular furniture piece, arrange workplace furniture, prepare samples for magnification and testing, and ride a horse. Appropriate professions for this type of learning style are: athletes, dancers, surgeons, musicians, physical education teachers, physician actors, sign language interpreters, actors, geologists, instrumentalists, builders, nurses, police officers, anthropologists, biologists, and soldiers. Linguistic Intelligence is the ability to interpret, explain, and understand the use of ideas in language and communicating meanings. People who are good at the linguistic intelligence are “word smart”. They might be good at arguing and persuading. They may be trivia experts because they can more easily retain facts. They probably read a lot, and write clearly. They learn best and enjoy from speaking, writing, reading, and listening. Individuals with linguistic learning are easily able to explain, and voice themselves. They love word games, nonsense, rhymes, and word twisters. Tasks or activities that might be best asked of a child with this intelligence would be: large and small group discussions, editing a peer’s paper, doing research for projects, giving an oral presentation, listing the strengths and weakness of a product, writing a eulogy, or writing directions to accompany a map. Appropriate professions for this type of learning style are: secretary, copywriters, editors, historians, lawyers, politicians, journalists, linguists, poets, PR & media consultants, speakers, teachers/professors, trainers, translators, TV & radio presenters, voice-over artists, or writers. Spacial Intelligence is the ability to form a visual representation of the world, comprehend three-dimensional shapes and images. People who are strong in this area are very imaginative and depend highly on visual thinking. They have the unique ability to see images and recognize objects from different angles. People who Tasks or activities that might be best asked of a child with this intelligence would be: charts, diagrams, visualization scenarios, creating videos, estimating distances, taking photographs, create an organizational logo, graphs, graphic organizers, color, art activities, computer graphic software, mind mapping, and working with manipulatives. Appropriate professions for this type of learning style are: sailors of the south seas, engineers, painters, artists, surgeons, sculptors, graphic designers, city-planners, architects, cartographers, musicians, inventors, and landscape architects. Naturalist Intelligence is the ability to learn from nature and the environment such as plants, tree, and organisms. This theory involves learning from your surroundings. These individuals are said to be highly aware of changes to their environment. They really enjoy camping, gardening, hiking, and exploring the outdoors. It could be said they don’t enjoy learning topics that don’t have any connection to nature. This theory is one of the newer theories. Tasks or activities that might be best asked of a child with this intelligence would be: categorizing information, classifying natural forms, gathering, growing a garden, caring for animals, and organizing products of the Earth. Appropriate professions for this type of learning style are: biologist, zoologist, geologist, conservationist, farmer, gardener, and any naturalist area that has to do with nature. Interpersonal Intelligence is the ability to understand others. Individuals with interpersonal intelligence are good with people and thrive in social situations. They are good at reading, empathizing, and understanding others. These individuals are characterized by their sensitivity to others moods, temperaments, motivations, and feelings. They are good at interacting and understanding other individuals. They learn best through interaction and dialogue. They are skilled at assessing the skills and those around them. They are good at solving what’s going on around them by moods. It is normal for them to see intentions within others. They are natural leaders and love to be around others. Tasks or activities that might be best asked of a child with this intelligence would be: coaching or counseling others, interpreting moods from facial expressions, mentoring a new faculty member, demonstrating feelings through body language, affect the feelings of others in a planned way. Appropriate professions for this type of learning style are: counselors, sales people, politicians, philosopher, trainers, mediators, therapists, counselor, human resource providers, health providers, educators, psychologists, advertising professionals, car givers, coaches and mentors, teachers, and therapists. Intrapersonal Intelligence is the capability to understand oneself more fully, to understand personal cognizance, personal objectivity, one’s relationship to others in the world, and one’s own needs or reaction to change, or ability to deal with changes in the workplace. Simply, this intelligence is known as “self smart”. This is the ability to know what you want, or don’t want. They tend to know their abilities and their limitations. They are not reckless people. They are level headed, realistic, dependable, and cool under pressure. They are good at solving self-conflicts. They only get into situations they know they can handle. They are sometimes considered introverted since they prefer to work alone. These students should not be forced into group work. However, this can be a problem as they can be reclusive if left alone too much. They tend to be self-motivated, since they know what they want. Sometimes these learners will be perfectionists. Tasks or activities that might be best asked of a child with this intelligence would be: making lists of what they can do well, setting goals and personal changes, allow computer or other similar devices to be used independently. Appropriate professions for this type of learning style are: leaders, writers, scientists, psychologists, and philosophers. |
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