Lawrence Park Collegiate 125 Chatsworth Drive

Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1S1

Phone: 416-393-9500

E-Mail: LawrencePark@tdsb.on.ca

Web: www.tdbs.on.ca/lawrenceparkci

Multiple Intelligences

L.P.C.I. BUDDIES

2015/2016

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES 1

Multiple Intelligences The fact is that we are all intelligent in different ways and everyone has different learning strengths! This guide seeks to help you identify and understand your intellectual assets and learning strengths. As you read through this guide you will encounter:

People possess a set of intelligences - not just one type and level of intelligence

The Seven Multiple Intelligences at a Glance

Intelligence Type Capability and Perception

Visual/Spatial Images and space

Verbal/Auditory Words and language

Mathematical/Logical Logical and numbers

Musical/Rhythmic Music, sound, rhythm

Body/Kinesthetic Body movement control

Self/Intrapersonal Self-awareness

Social/Interpersonal Other people’s feelings

Intelligence is a mixture of several abilities that are all of great value in life. Nobody is good at them all. In life we need people who collectively, are good at different things. A well-balanced world, and well-balanced organizations and teams, are necessarily comprised of people who possess different mixtures of intelligences. This gives the group a fuller collective capability than a group of people who possess identical intelligences.

People have abilities and potential that extend far beyond traditional methods of assessment, and actually far beyond the seven intelligences listed here.

Each one of us has a unique and different mix of intelligence types and we all possess enormous talent – it may be unknown and under-developed but it is exceptional nonetheless!

An introduction/review

of Multiple Intelligences

A personal learning profile to determine

your preferred learning style

Personal reflections. What does this all

mean?

*It should be noted that that multiple intelligences are not limited to the seven discussed in this guide. Additional intelligences that have been proposed by various theorists include a naturalist intelligence, spiritual/existential

intelligence and moral intelligence

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES 2

Gardner’s Seven Intelligences

Multiple Intelligences Description of Learner

Visual/Spatial Transfer abstract ideas into concrete images in their minds and on paper so that they can express their understanding

Need to SEE it to understand it

Students learn best from: mind maps/flow charts, art work/photos/videos/collages, posters/graphs

Verbal/Auditory/Linguistic

Use language and oral communication to demonstrate their ideas and express their understanding

Need to DISCUSS it to understand it

Students learn best from: story telling, verbal reports/speeches, interviews/debates, rhymes/riddles/jokes

Mathematical/Logical

Use patterns, relationship and sequencing to demonstrate their ideas and express their understanding

Need to PUT IT IN ORDER to understand it

Students learn best from: charts/graphs/diagrams, lists/catalogues, identifying patters/steps/procedures, create rules, invent games

Musical/Rhythmic

Uses rhymes, rhythms and sound sensitivity to demonstrate their ideas and express their understanding

Need to include SOUND and/or RHYTHM in their learning

Students learn best from: original music/lyrics, changing old lyrics, identifying rhythmic patterns, use music/sound as a backdrop

Body/Kinesthetic

Uses their bodies to solve problems, demonstrate their ideas and express their understanding

Need MOVEMENT to be incorporated into their learning

Students learn best from: circuits/learning centres/stations, crating models/sculptures, performances, creating sports games

Self/Intrapersonal Use personal experiences and self-awareness to demonstrate their ideas and express their understanding

Need to RELATE to what they learn and make connections

Students learn best from: journal/diary reflections, select topics of personal interest, autobiographical report, sharing opinions/feelings

Social/Interpersonal Use their connection with others as a vehicle to demonstrate their ideas and express their understanding

Need to COLLABORATE

Students learn best from: working with a partner/in groups, brainstorming, debating, teaching others, becoming a team/group leader

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES 3

Multiple Intelligences Survey: How Am I Smart?

There are seven sections to be completed; each section represents a particular learning strength.

Part A: Place a check mark beside each statement which you consider to be true for yourself, leave the space blank if you don’t identify with the statement. Tally the number of check marks in each section and write the total in the bottom right hand corner.

Section 1 ☐ I regularly participated in at least one sport or physical activity ☐ I can master new sports easily ☐ I find it difficult to remain seated for long periods of time ☐ I enjoy working with my hands at manipulative activities such as sewing, weaving, ☐ I am often inspired with great ideas when I am out for a long walk or jog ☐ I like to spend my free time outdoors ☐ I often use hand gestures or other forms of body langue when communicating with others ☐ I would describe myself as well coordinated ☐ I need to practice a new skill by doing it rather than simply reading about it or watching an

instructional video ☐ I can often figure out how to fix something or determine how it works without asking for

assistance

Section 2 ☐ I enjoy music and have a list of favourite performers ☐ I can distinguish when a musical note is off key ☐ My music collection is one of my most treasured possessions ☐ I play a musical instrument ☐ Sometimes I catch myself walking down the street with a television jingle or other tune

running obsessively through my mind ☐ I recognize the tunes to many different songs or musical pieces ☐ If I hear a musical selection once or twice, I am usually able to sing or hum it back fairly

accurately. ☐ I often make tapping sounds or sing melodies while working, studying or learning something new

☐ My favourite T.V. programs are those which showcase people’s musical talents

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES 4

Section 5 ☐ I am fascinated by scientific/philosophical questions i.e. “When did time begin?” ☐ I can double or triple a recipe or measurement without having to write it down on paper ☐ I am often the winner in games like chess, checkers or other strategy games ☐ I have been told that I have a computer-like mind ☐ I organize things in my home, school and/or at work according to categories or patterns ☐ I believe that almost everything has a rational explanation ☐ I like to think about what makes things work ☐ I enjoy finding logical errors in the things people say/do at home and at school ☐ I feel more comfortable when something is measured/categorized/analyzed ☐ When I go out with my friends, I like things to be well-planned and organized in advance

Section 4 ☐ I can remember in detail, the layout and landmarks of places I have visited ☐ I often see clear visual images when I close my eyes ☐ I consider myself to have a keen eye for colour coordination ☐ I can easily solve jigsaw puzzles, mazes and other visual puzzles ☐ I often have vivid dreams at night ☐ I find my way by “land marking” familiar sites and locations ☐ People praise me for the drawings or doodles I create ☐ When I visit a restaurant, I pay close attention to the interior design

☐ I can comfortably imagine how something might appear from a bird’s eye view

Section 3 ☐ I regularly spend time alone to meditate, reflect or think about important life questions ☐ I often reflect on what I want from life and how I will accomplish it ☐ I love working on projects that allow me to learn more about myself ☐ I have a special hobby or interest that I keep mostly to myself ☐ I consider myself to be in touch with my feelings ☐ When I read a story or article about someone else, I often find myself imagining how I

would feel if I were in that person’s situation ☐ I keep a personal diary or journal to record the events of my life ☐ I think I would enjoy being self-employed or starting my own business ☐ I would prefer to spend my evening at home than at a lively party

☐ I am more comfortable working independently that in a group setting

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES 5

Section 7 ☐ When I meet new people, I often relate their personality/characteristics to those of my

other friends/family members ☐ I consider myself to be in tune with the way my family/friends are feeling ☐ I prefer group sports like hockey/soccer to solo sports such as swimming ☐ I often seek out others for help when I have a problem as opposed to working it out on my

own ☐ I have at least three close friends ☐ I enjoy the challenge of teaching, coaching or helping others ☐ I have been described as a natural leader ☐ I feel comfortable when I am in a crowd ☐ I enjoy being involved in social activities connected with my school, religious/spiritual

organization, or community ☐ I would prefer to spend my evenings at a lively party rather than be at home alone

Section 6 ☐ I can easily remember phrases or memorable quotes and I use them in conversation with

others

☐ My collection of books is one of my most precious possessions

☐ I get more out of listening to news on the radio and hearing audio books than I do from

watching TV

☐ I am a master when it comes to word games like Scrabble, or Anagrams

☐I enjoy completing crosswords and feel frustrated when someone else fills in a word from

my puzzle

☐ When I am in a car or bus, I pay more attention to the words on billboards or signs than to

the scenery

☐ I often refer to books or articles I have read when I am in conversation with others

☐ I have recently written something of which I am particularly proud or that has earned me

the recognition of others

☐ I notice other people’s errors in using words or grammar, even if I don’t correct them

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES 6

Part B: Looking at each of the seven sections you completed in Part A, plot your scores from each section on the graph below. It is okay if you have the same score in multiple sections. Sections with the highest scores represent your preferred learning styles.

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4

Section 5 Section 6 Section 7

What are your top three intelligences? 1. 2.

3.

Legend:Section 1 – Body/Kinesthetic Section 2 – Musical/Rhythmic Section 3 – Self/Intrapersonal Section 4 – Visual/Spatial Section 5 – Mathematical/Logical Section 6 – Verbal/Auditory/Linguistic

Section 7 – Social/Interpersonal

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES 7

What Does This All Mean? What are the implications of identifying your learning strengths?

Increased self-awareness

Provides an in-depth understanding of leaning strengths as well as other intellectual abilities

Encourages students to become leaders in their own education and promotes self-advocacy

Promotes critical self reflection to help make sense of and appreciate individual differences Ideally, this guide helped you identify your multiple intelligences, intellectual abilities, and your natural strengths. The types of intelligence that you possess (recognizing that you may be strong in multiple intelligences) indicates not only personal capabilities, but also the manner or method in which you prefer to learn and develop your strengths - and also to develop your weaknesses. For example:

If you have strong musical skills but are weak numerically you will be more likely to develop

numerical and logical skills through music, and not by being bombarded by numbers alone.

If you have poor hand-to-eye coordination and endurance but you are strong numerically,

you might best be encouraged to increase your physical activity by learning about the

mathematical and scientific relationships between exercise, diet and health, rather than

merely playing baseball.

Reflection Questions to Consider:

What are the major skills and assets I possess according to my multiple intelligences? For example:

o Linguistic intelligence: I can effectively use language to express myself. o Intrapersonal intelligence: I can easily understand and interpret my emotions. o Mathematical/logical intelligence: I am easily able to analyze problems and logically

find solutions to those problems. o Musical intelligence: I have the ability to discern pitch, rhythm and tone. o Interpersonal intelligence: I can see situations from other people’s perspective.

How can I use the assets I already possess to be successful in academic/social life?

How can I use my intellectual assets, or multiple intelligences, to help me this year and for the years to come?

Are there particular study habits/strategies I could implement to help me better complete assignments or study for tests which connect to my strengths?

What are some possible career options that might link well with my learning strengths?

* This guide was developed using the work of T. Ciancio & C. Mahon, M.I. LEAD: Multiple Intelligences & Personal

Leadership Program in conjunction with H. Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences