∙What does it mean to be intelligent in our society?

∙What abilities do schools value and promote?

∙ How do we measure a person’s intelligence?

Howard Gardiner's Multiple Intelligences

Title: Dec 13 ­ 9:21 AM (1 of 13)

Quickly read the following statements and check each statement that applies to you.1. I easily remember memorable quotes or "sayings" and use them well in my conversation with others.

2. My library of books is among my most precious possessions.

3. I can hear words in my head before I read, speak, or write them down.

4. I get more out of listening to news on the radio and hearing books on cassette than I do from watching TV.

5. I am a master when it comes to word games like Scrabble, or Password.

6. I enjoy entertaining others with tongue twisters, nonsense, rhymes or puns.

7. Other people sometimes have to stop and ask me to explain the meaning of words I use in my writing and speaking.

8. English, social studies, and history are easier for me in school that math and science.

9. When I am traveling down a highway, I pay more attention to the words written on billboards than to the scenery.

10. I have written something recently that I was particularly proud of or that earned me special recognition by others.

11. I note other people's errors in using words or grammar, even if I don't correct them.

12. I am fascinated by scientific and philosophical questions like "When did time begin?"

13. I can easily double or triple a measurement, formula or recipe without having to put it all down on paper.

14. Math and science are among my favorite subjects in school.

15. I frequently beat my friends in chess, checkers, Go, or other strategy games.

16. I like to set up little "what if experiments (e.g., what would happen if I double the amount of plant food that I feed to my plants at home?)17. People sometimes tell me that I have a very computer­like mind.

18. I organize things in my bedroom, study, and at my desk according to categories and in patterns.

19. I believe that almost everything has a rational explanation.

20. I wonder a lot about how certain things work.

21. I like finding logical flaws in the things that people say and do at home and work.

22. I feel more comfortable when something has been measured, categorized, analyzed or quantified.

23. I enjoy music and have favorite performers.

24. People say that I have a pleasant singing voice.

Title: Dec 13 ­ 1:33 PM (2 of 13)

25. I can tell when a musical note is off­key.

26. My collection of cassettes and compact discs is among my most treasured possessions.

27. I play a musical instrument.

28. I catch myself sometimes walking down the street with a television jingle or other tune running obsessively through my mind.

29. I can easily keep time to a piece of music with a simple percussion instrument.

30. I know the tunes to many different songs or musical pieces.

31. If I hear a musical selection once or twice, I am usually able to sing it back fairly accurately.

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

33. I sometimes enjoy different sounds in my environment.

34. I can remember in detail the layout and landmarks of places I've visited on vacations.

35. I often see clear visual images when I close my eyes.

36. I am usually sensitive to color.

37. I have a camera or camcorder that I use to record what I see around me.

38. I can easily solve jigsaw puzzles, mazes and other visual puzzles.

39. I sometimes have vivid dreams at night.

40. I can easily find my way around unfamiliar territory.

41. People praise me for the drawings or doodles I create.

42. Geometry is easier for me than algebra in school.

43. I can comfortably imagine how something might appear is it were looked down upon from directly above in a birds eye view.

44. I prefer looking at reading material that is heavily illustrated.

45. I regularly engage in at least one sport or physical activity.

46. I can master new sports easily.

47. I find it difficult to sit still for long periods of time.

48. I like working with my hands at some concrete activity such as sewing, weaving, carving, carpentry, or model­building.

49. My best ideas often come to me when I'm out for a long walk or jog.

50. I like to spend my free time outdoors.

Title: Dec 13 ­ 1:36 PM (3 of 13)

51. I frequently use hand gestures or other forms of body language when conversing with someone.

52. I need to touch things in order to learn more about them.

53. I enjoy scary movies, dare devil amusement rides, or similarly thrilling experiences.

54. I need to practice a new skill by doing it rather than simply reading about it or seeing a video that describes it.

55. I often can figure out how something works or how to fix something that's broken, without asking for help.

56. When I meet new people, I often make connections between their characteristics and those of other acquaintances.

57. I'm considered the local Dear Abby in my neighborhood and people often come to see me for help and advice.

58. I can sense quickly how other people are feeling about things and themselves.

59. I prefer group sports like badminton, volleyball, or softball to solo sports such as swimming and jogging.

60. When I have a problem, I'm more likely to seek out another person for help rather than attempt to work it out on my own. 61. I have at least three close friends.

62. I prefer social pastimes like Monopoly or other group games to individual recreations such as video games or solitaire.63. I enjoy the challenge of teaching another person what I know how to do.

64. I feel comfortable in the middle of a crowd.

65. I like to get involved in social activities connected with my school, church, or community.

66. I would rather spend my evenings at a lively party than at home alone.

67. I regularly spend time alone to meditate, reflect, or think about important life questions.

68. I think about what I want from life and what I want to accomplish when I am grown up.

69. I have some important goals for myself that I think about on a regular basis.

70. I have intuitions about things that turn out to be true.

71. People tend to see me as a loner.

72. I have a special hobby or interest that I keep pretty much to myself.

73. I prefer to spend a weekend alone in a cabin in the woods rather than go to a fancy resort with lots of people around.

74. I have participated in groups or counseling sessions to learn more about myself.

75. I usually know how I feel about something or about my feelings.

76. I keep a personal diary or journal to record the events of my inner life.

77. Someday I would like to start my own business.

Title: Dec 13 ­ 1:37 PM (4 of 13)

Youth version ­­ 11 items per intelligence.

1­11 linguistic12­22 math23­33 music34­44 spatial45­55 kinesthetic56­66 interpersonal67­77 intrapersonal

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Title: Dec 13 ­ 1:39 PM (5 of 13)

Title: Jan 5 ­ 11:15 AM (6 of 13)

Classroom Activity Sheet: Multiple Intelligences

Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple IntelligencesName:In 1983 Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner published his theory of multipleintelligences in his book Frames of Mind. Gardner identified eight separate intelligences.He defines intelligences as independent mental abilities characterized by core operations.For example, musical intelligence focuses on the core operations of recognizing pitchand rhythm. Gardner states that most people have at least seven of these intelligences,but that in some people one intelligence may dominate, and in other people the intelligencesblend. Below are descriptions of Gardner’s eight intelligences.Linguistic intelligence: the ability to use language to express one's thoughts and tounderstand other people orally or in writingMusical intelligence: the ability to hear music in one's head, and to hear tones, rhythms,and larger musical patternsLogical­mathematical intelligence: the ability to manipulate numbers, quantities, andoperations accompanied by a love of dealing with abstractionSpatial intelligence: the ability to represent the spatial world visually in one's mindBodily kinesthetic intelligence: the ability to use the whole body or parts of the bodyto solve a problem, create a product, or put on some kind of production.Intrapersonal intelligence: the ability to know and understand one's self, includinggoals, tendencies, talents, limitationsInterpersonal intelligence: the ability to notice and make distinctions among otherindividuals; a strong understanding of other peopleNaturalist intelligence: the ability to discriminate among living things and to seepatterns; also, a sensitivity to features of the natural world

Title: Dec 13 ­ 9:21 AM (7 of 13)

Short Biographies of Eminent People

For each of the following people, explain how you would consider them to be intelligent using Gardner’s eight intelligences. You may find that some of these people display more than one type.

Michael Jordan, former basketball player, Chicago BullsThe greatest player in the history of the National Basketball Association, Michael Jordan possessed an intellectual understanding of the game of basketball. In addition to his jumping, shooting, running, passing, and guarding skills, Jordan had an uncanny ability to sense what other players would do before they did it, and adjust accordingly, even after leaving the ground. His predictions were based on his understanding of other players’ skills, tendencies, and personalities. Jordan could also visualize the geometry of the game, anticipating with great accuracy where a ball would bounce, how high he would have to jump, and how fast other players could move into position. Jordan’s long career required that he re­create himself as his physical abilities changed with age. As an older player, he couldn’t jump as high, so he developed a mid­range jump shot to get to the basket past younger players.

Title: Dec 13 ­ 1:27 PM (8 of 13)

Mohandas Gandhi, political and religious leader in IndiaMohandas Gandhi’s life was guided by his search for truth. He believed one could find truth only through tolerance and concern for others. As a teacher, he taught others to master fear and to practice nonviolent solutions to problems. Gandhi developed a method of direct social action based on nonviolence and truth that reflected his belief that how one behaves is more important than what one achieves. Gandhi’s teachings enjoyed widespread following, ultimately leading to India's independence from Great Britain and the beginning of social change.

Title: Dec 13 ­ 12:50 PM (9 of 13)

Charles Darwin, naturalist and writerAfter Charles Darwin received a bachelor’s degree in theology from Cambridge University, he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. In 1836 he was a naturalist aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, an English science vessel that traveled throughout the world. On that expedition, Darwin found fossils of extinct animals that closely resembled modern species. On the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean, he discovered variations among plants and animals of the same general type. Back in England studying his specimens, Darwin noted each organism's inherited combination of traits. From this work, he developed his theory of evolution and the idea of natural selection as a way to explain why some species disappeared and others changed and survived.

Title: Jan 5 ­ 9:53 AM (10 of 13)

Oprah Winfrey, TV talk show host, actor, producer, educator, philanthropistOprah Winfrey is best known as host and producer of her own show, seen by 22 million viewers a week in the United States and aired in 113 countries. She has won prestigious awards in broadcasting, as well as the National Book Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Gold Medal for her influential contribution to reading and books through her Oprah Book Club. Viewers trust Oprah's judgment and suggestions, appreciate the skill with which she engages others in discussion, and admire her forthright candor about her own life and struggles.

Title: Dec 13 ­ 1:29 PM (11 of 13)

Discussion Questions:

1. Traditionally, people have defined someone who is intelligent as an individual who can solve problems, use logic to answer questions, and think critically. But psychologist Howard Gardner has a much broader definition of intelligence. Compare the traditional idea about intelligence with Gardner's. How have his ideas changed the way we assess the strengths and weaknesses of people?2. Why are linguistic intelligence, emphasizing sensitivity to the meaning and order of words, and logical­mathematical intelligence, stressing ability in mathematics and other complex logical systems, more valued than other intelligences? Are they really more important forms of intelligence?3. One criticism of Gardner's theory is that he classifies talents as a type of intelligence. Critics might say that a talented dancer or chess player is not necessarily smart. How would you reply to this criticism?4. Does it matter if we call special abilities “talents” or “intelligences”?5. Gardner suggests that schools must develop assessments that better represent what people will have to do to survive in society. For example, rather than writing an essay about urban development, students studying structures might be assessed in their group work determining what kind of building is most appropriate for an urban, residential area. Give an example of an assessment that could be used to evaluate what students learn about the civil rights movement or the deforestation of rain forests.6. How does an understanding of multiple intelligences change how you view your own abilities?

Title: Dec 13 ­ 1:29 PM (12 of 13)

A Personal Look at Multiple Intelligences

Consider the personal application of Gardner’s theory by responding to the questionsbelow.1. In which of Gardner’s intelligences do you believe that you excel? What evidence canyou show?2. How does this affect the way you currently approach learning and school assignments?3. How might the theory of multiple intelligences affect your thinking about your future?

Title: Jan 5 ­ 10:41 AM (13 of 13)