• Multiple Intelligences



    GARDNER'S MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES

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          Over recent years there has been a shift from narrow definitions of
    giftedness to broader, more inclusive ones. One reason for this has been the
    work of Gardner who maintains that we all have not one but seven
    intelligences, which interact to give us our individual patterns of
    abilities. His seven intelligences are quite separate in that a person may
    have high ability (or potential) in any one, or more, of them without
    necessarily being good in other areas.
    Gardner's proposed intelligences are:
    • verbal/linguistic

    • logical/mathematical

    • visual/spatial

    • bodily/kinaesthetic

    • musical/rhythmic

    • interpersonal

    • intrapersonal. 
     

                According to Gardner we should be more interested in knowing how our children are smart and how we might encourage and develop their abilities. This does not mean that all children are gifted, but it does suggest that many more
    children have the potential to develop a talent than we have recognized
    previously. By providing variety with a choice of activities from all seven
    intelligences, parents or teachers are giving children a greater opportunity
    to experience success. Furthermore, a child's strength in one intelligence
    can be used to help her/him develop skills in weaker areas. For example, a
    child may learn spelling better by visualizing words as a whole
    (visual/spatial) rather than by sounding them out letter by letter (verbal/linguistic).
Last Modified on May 25, 2012