Howard Gardner and the Theory of Multiple Intelligences

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.martin/files/multiple_intelligences_diagram

By Patrick Gardner

The Plan

• Background information about Howard Gardner and MI theory

• A short clip of Howard Gardner discussing the theory of multiple intelligences

• Individual/group activity• Implications and criticism of the theory• Assessment

Howard Gardner• Born July 11, 1943 in Scranton,

Pennsylvania• Inspired by Jean Piaget to study

developmental psychology. • Almost all of his post-secondary

life has been spent at Harvard University.

• Developed his theory while working with both “gifted” children and those with severe brain injury.

• His theory was first articulated when he published his first book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple intelligences in 1983.

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Howard’s Definitions of Intelligence "Intelligence is the ability to find and solve

problems and create products of value in one's own culture.“

-Howard Gardner

Eight criteria for intelligence:1) Potential for brain isolation by brain damage.2) A place in evolutionary history.3) Presence of core operations.4) Susceptibility to encoding (symbolic expression)5) A distinct developmental progression6) The existence of savants, prodigies and other exceptional people.7) Support from experimental psychology8) Supported Psychometric Tasks (Gardner, 1983)

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The Theory

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Clip of Howard Gardnerdiscussing his theory

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2QtSbP4FRg&feature=player_detailpage

http://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.martin/files/multiple_intelligences_diagram

Implications

• Not readily accepted in the psychological community but very influential in education.

• Many teachers have adopted the idea of multiple intelligences as a way to meet all students’ needs.

• Entire Schools, such as the New City School in St. Louis, Missouri are using the theory as a framework for running their school.

• Howard’s work with Project Zero and the GoodWork project. http://www.newcityschool.org/Visit_13.aspx

Criticism

• MI theory is simply common sense and rather than intelligences they refer to a student’s abilities and strengths.

• The theory is not validated by research, particularly in the field of cognitive neuroscience (Kincheloe, 2007).

• Working memory is not taken into account (Eggen & Kauchak, 2013).

References:• Eggen, P., & Kauchak, D. (2013) “Educational

psychology: Windows into classrooms.” New York: Pearsons.

• Gardner, Howard. (1983) "Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences." New York: Basic Books.

• Gardner, Howard. (1999) "Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century." New York: Basic Books.

• Joe L. Kincheloe (ed.). (2007) Multiple Intelligences Reconsidered. New York: Peter Lang