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Multiple Intelligences

What Is It?

Multiple intelligences refers to a theory of intelligence developed in 1983 by Howard Gardner, a professor of education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Howard Gardner defines intelligence as the ability to solve problems, fashion products, or provide services that are valued in a culture. Based on that definition, he has identified at least eight different intelligences. They are:

• linguistic
• logical-mathematical
• musical
• spatial
• bodily-kinesthetic
• interpersonal
• intrapersonal
• naturalist

Explore It

To learn more about Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, explore the following Web sites:

• Multiple Intelligences
• The Multiple Intelligences Theory
• Walter McKenzie's Multiple Intelligence Pages

Use It!

Teachers who use multiple intelligence strategies in their classrooms address the dominant intelligences of all their students by presenting subject matter in ways that use language, numbers, physical surroundings, sound, the body, and social skills. The assessment tools below will help you determine the strengths and learning styles of your students to help you better direct and structure your lessons.

Students can take the following interactive tests online and immediately learn the results:

• Find Your Strengths
• What's Your Learning Style?
• Multiple Intelligence Assessment
• Multiple Intelligences Test. This version also includes an audio version in six languages -- Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, Somali, and Urdu.

The assessments below can be printed and distributed to students:

• Multiple Intelligence Self Assessment
• Student Questionnaire

Learn More About It

Visit the following Web sites to extend your understanding of Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences:

• The Diary of Anne Frank: A Multiple-Intelligences/Essential Questions Unit
• Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory
• howard gardner, multiple intelligences and education
• Multiple Intelligence
• Multiple Intelligence After Twenty Years
• Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom

Article by Linda Starr
Education World®
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