MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES
TEN KINDS OF SMART. HOW ARE YOU SMART?
PART 2. How are you smart?
Einstein was smart. So are You.
(Second in a series of four articles on how to discover how smart you are.)
MISSED THE FIRST ONE?
Here it is.
Smart: ten ways. Part 1 How Smart Are You? How are You Smart?
SMART. In the first article in this four-part series on how smart you are we discussed how and why you might have missed becoming aware of how smart you are and in which ways. Today we discuss multiple intelligences.
Not everybody gets all the gravy in life.
God gave each of us gifts, talents and abilities but she didn’t give us them all.
The problem is, that before this century began, people decided how smart we were in grade school with inadequate methods and information and that meant we had a high probability of being sent on educational tracks to kinds of schools that didn’t suit us.They measured our I.Q (intelligence quotient) in restricted ways.
THE OLD WAY OF DETERMINING I.Q WAS SEVERELY LIMITED
That led to a lack of interest in school, frustration, attitude and behavior problems (“That kid doesn’t fit in.”) and in many cases, school dropouts.
And that led to lives of misery and a lack of fulfillment.
Emotional illness
If it didn’t happen to you, you know of people who suffered from this.
Sadly, it continues today at alarming rates.
That’s another story, but in some places up to 50% of kids don’t graduate from high school.
Of those who do graduate and go to college, most are not adequately prepared academically or personally and they drift, switch programs, or give up in other ways (drugs, gambling; self-harm and suicide).
The graduation rates from college are alarming in many places in North America.
The damage that is done to people is astounding.
And WHY does this happen? Because they never learned who they are and what they want out of life–they never learned what their special gifts and talents were. And that lack led to frustration, sadness, despair and it ruined their lives.T hey failed to even consider multiple intelligences.
If this happened to you, you are still unhappy about it.
Well, we can fix it.
- The first thing to do is realize it can be corrected.
- You can discover your talents and use them profitably.
- The second thing is to know we do it through self-knowledge.
HOWARD GARDNER: Multiple (TEN) INTELLIGENCES!
Prof. Howard Gardner of Harvard identified seven distinct intelligences in his book Frames of Mind in the 80s.
In 1999 he added the intelligence of the naturalist.He added two more recently (see below).
Howard Gardner.
Several researchers say some of the things he calls ‘intelligences’ are really ‘aptitudes.’
Who cares? We’re just trying to identify our strengths so we can develop them. We don’t much care what people call them although it is better to use the same language so we don’t get confused in discussion. But, in any case, most people agree with Gardner now and we’ll call them intelligences here.
According to his original theory, “we are all able to know the world through the following:
- language
- logical-mathematical analysis
- spatial representation
- music
- the use of the body to solve problems or to make things
- an understanding of other individuals
- an understanding of ourselves .” (Self-knowledge, in my terms). He later added these.
- naturalistic
- teaching-pedogogical
- existential or spiritua
FEELING BETTER, NOW?
Sarah Shahi, not feeling murderous on Person of Interest
He added naturalistic intelligence in 1999.
” If I were to rewrite Frames of Mind today, I would probably add an eighth intelligence – the intelligence of the naturalist. seems to me that the individual who is readily able to recognize flora and fauna, to make other consequential distinctions in the natural world, and to use this ability productively (in hunting, in farming, in biological science) is exercising an important intelligence and one that is not adequately encompassed in the current list.” Gardner, H. (1995). Reflections on multiple intelligences: Myths and messages. Phi Delta Kappan, 77, 200-209. (All this from Wikipedia)
He had more to say about all this.
- “On January 13, 2016, Gardner mentioned in an interview with BigThink that he is considering adding the teaching-pedagogical intelligence “which allows us to be able to teach successfully to other people.”
- In the same interview, he explicitly refused some other suggested intelligences like humour, cooking and sexual intelligence. (So forget that, you guys.)
- “These categories are not mutually exclusive and you can have several of them to varying degrees. Where individuals differ is in the varying strengths of these intelligences and in the ways in which we combine them to perform tasks and solve problems.”
We have to add (in theory) those three additional kinds off intelligence.
So I did.
THESE DIFFERENCES CHALLENGE EDUCATION
When educators fail to consider multiple intelligences they are wasting lives.
Gardner says that these differences “challenge an educational system that assumes that everyone can learn the same materials in the same way and that a uniform, universal measure suffices to test student learning.
“Indeed, as currently constituted, our educational system is heavily biased toward linguistic modes of instruction and assessment and, to a somewhat lesser degree, toward logical-quantitative modes as well,” Gardner says.
I agree.
You can see how schools that don’t use this theory can miss a lot of abilities that their students possess. You, maybe, for example.
Gardner argues “Students learn in ways that are identifiably distinctive… society as a whole would be better served if disciplines could be presented in a numbers of ways and learning could be assessed through a variety of means.”
The learning styles as described by Gardner (and agreed upon in general in the field) are as follows: See which learning styles appeal to you. This will help you determine your strengths on our journey to self-knowledge.
Multiple intelligence examples.
- Linguistic – You use words effectively. You have highly developed auditory skills and often think in words. You like reading, playing word games, making up poetry or stories. You like learning by saying and seeing words and reading books. Tools you like to use include computers, games, multimedia, books, tape recorders, podcasts, and lectures.
- Logical -Mathematical – You are good at reasoning and calculating. You think conceptually, abstractly, and are able to see and explore patterns and relationships. You like to experiment, solve puzzles, ask cosmic questions. You like learning logic games, investigations and mysteries. You need to learn and form concepts before you can deal with details.
- Visual-Spatial – You think in terms of physical space, as do architects and sailors. You are aware of your environment. You like to draw, do jigsaw puzzles, read maps and daydream. You learn through drawings, verbal and physical imagery. Tools you like include models, graphics, charts, photographs, drawings, 3-D modeling, video, videoconferencing, television, multimedia, texts with pictures/charts/graphs.
- Musical – You show sensitivity to rhythm and sound. You love music, but you are also sensitive to sounds. You might study better with music in the background. You like learning by turning lessons into lyrics, speaking rhythmically, tapping out time, rapping. Tools you like include musical instruments, radio, stereo, CD-ROM, multimedia. TV, video, and video games.
- Bodily-kinesthetic – You use your body effectively, like a dancer or a surgeon. You have a keen sense of body awareness. You like movement, making things, touching. You communicate well through body language and learn through physical activity, hands-on learning, acting out, and role-playing. Favorite tools include equipment and physical objects.
- Interpersonal – You love understanding people, (and are good at it) and interacting with others. You learn through interaction. You have many friends, empathy for others, street smarts. You like learning through group activities, seminars and dialogues. Special tools for you include the telephone, audio and video conferencing, webinars, tele-seminars, time and attention from the instructor, writing, computer conferencing, E-mail, social media, etc.
- Intrapersonal – You understand your own interests and goals. You tend to shy away from others. You’re in tune with your inner feelings; you have wisdom, intuition and motivation, as well as a strong will, confidence and opinions. You like to learn through independent study and introspection. Tools include books, creative materials, diaries, privacy and time. You are the most independent of learners. You probably have the most highly developed self-knowledge.
- Naturalistic “If I were to rewrite Frames of Mind today,(he writes) I would probably add an eighth intelligence – the intelligence of the naturalist. seems to me that the individual who is readily able to recognize flora and fauna, to make other consequential distinctions in the natural world, and to use this ability productively (in hunting, in farming, in biological science) is exercising an important intelligence and one that is not adequately encompassed in the current list.” Gardner, H. (1995). Reflections on multiple intelligences: Myths and messages. Phi Delta Kappan, 77, 200-209.This area has to do with nurturing and relating information to one’s natural surroundings.[8] Examples include classifying natural forms such as animal and plant species and rocks and mountain types. This ability was clearly of value in our evolutionary past as hunters, gatherers, and farmers; it continues to be central in such roles as botanist or chef.[7] This sort of ecological receptiveness is deeply rooted in a “sensitive, ethical, and holistic understanding” of the world and its complexities–including the role of humanity within the greater ecosphere.[15](Wikipedia)
- Teaching-pedagogical intelligence. You are a good analyst; you are perceptive, want to help people; can synthesize well.
- Existential Gardner did not want to commit to a spiritual intelligence, but suggested that an ‘existential” intelligence may be a useful construct, also proposed after the original 7 in his 1999 book. The hypothesis of an existential intelligence’ has been further explored by educational researchers.” (Wikipedia)
Are you with me here? There are more intelligences than people used to think.
They were always there, of course, but nobody considered them as “intelligence.”
Thats OK, for our purposes, they show us that we, you and I, are intelligent.
We just have to identify which of these multiple intelligences we possess.
(You can have more than one!)
Hang on–this is going to be fun!
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?
You probably have some of several of these qualities, a combination of them. Finding out which ones and to what degrees is part of the excitement and fun of learning about yourself.
(We’ll discuss Learning Styles in another place; that’s how many refer to these kinds of learning. But here’s a primer.
You know how you learn best—at least most of the time. And you can also learn to love other methods if the right teacher presents them in the right way, at the right time.
OK, you have some ways now of determining what your learning styles are.
FEEL DISCOUNTED?
- If you feel you have been discounted regarding your talents, gifts and abilities
- If people told you you weren’t smart enough to…do whatever!
- Maybe it’s time you got that sorted out. Because you can.
You are smart and I can prove it.
I can show you how to be more successful in your personal and professional life on your own terms.
Join me at Self-Knowledge College
When you do , you’ll get a short book called Four Questions to Change Your Life!
After you read it you will know whether you want more from me or not. Pretty simple.
I’m not going to sell you anything. You will either want this material or you don’t need it.
Or email me for a free chat about you and your possibilities.
That would be smart!
Stand by for part three in this short series on how smart you are and how you are smart!
It comes soon.
Frank
P.S. Gardner, in his book Frames of Mind explains his theory. There’s a new edition.
