by Russ Collett, Tygarts Valley Middle/High School
Michelle Foster, Hickman Mills High School
Anna Mead, Conifer High School
Katherine Trueman, Seoul International School
Teacher Introduction
We all express ourselves in many different, wonderful ways and so do our students. Multiple Intelligence lessons reflect the "real world" where students are active and more envolved learners. Teaching for understanding is what we all strive for, so, let us begin learning or refreshing our memories of MI!
You may begin by introducing or reviewing the thoughts of Howard Gardner's theories concerning Multiple Intelligences.
Do not forget that it is a theory in progress and he continues to consider new intelligences.
BELOW IS THE TEXT YOUR STUDENTS WILL READ IN THEIR INTRODUCTION TO MI THEORY:
"I want my children to understand the world, but not just because the world is fascinating and the human mind is curious. I want them to understand it so that they will be positioned to make it a better place."
Howard Gardner's MI has had a considerable impact on North American education since it was first introduced in 1983 in the book "Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. His theory is that people have eight different types of intelligences: linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, body-kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and the final and newest intelligence is naturalist.
Traditionally education has focused and, indeed, values the first two intelligences: linguistic and logical-mathematical and students who are talented or "intelligence" in other areas may be recognized in school but not in the teacher's grade book. Gardner and countless other educators believe that by applying the multiple intelligences to classroom work and activities, educator will encourage a variety of acceptable understanding and the student will be experiential rather than passive.