Remember Anything

Howard Gardner is an American psychologist. He was born in 1943 and graduated from Harvard University in 1961 with a major in social relations. He got his Ph.D from Harvard in 1971 and continued to work at Harvard after that. He is best known for his theory on multiple intelligences, which states that there are many different types of intelligences that exist in people. Gardner theorized that the traditional definition of intelligence does not fully include the variety of abilities that people display. Just because a child is better at something than another child does not mean that one is more intelligent than the other. The children may learn differently, or one may do better in a different task. Gardner’s theory sought to more accurately define the concept of intelligence and questioned the methods used to measure intelligence.

Gardner came up with eight categories of intelligence. Bodily-kinesthetic says that some people learn better by involving muscular movement. Interpersonal intelligence is about the interaction of people with others. Verbal-linguistic intelligence deals with the use of words. Logical-mathematical is the ability to use logic, abstraction, reasoning, and numbers. Naturalistic is the sensitivity to nature and one’s place in it. Intrapersonal intelligence is a self-reflective capacity. Visual-spatial intelligence is about visualizing and mentally manipulating objects. Musical intelligence has to do with rhythm, music, and learning. Gardner has looked at other intelligence that could be included on this list such as spiritual, existential, and moral intelligences, but these have been excluded for various reasons.

The eight categories of intelligence can be summed up as different kinds of smart. Linguistic intelligence is word smart. Logical-mathematical intelligence is number or reasoning smart. Spatial intelligence is picture smart. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence is body smart. Musical intelligence is music smart. Interpersonal intelligence is people smart. Intrapersonal intelligence is self smart. Naturalist intelligence is nature smart. Gardner used the studies of autistic savants to help support his theory. These cases showed that people could have severe mental disabilities but also show incredible intelligence in other areas. This helped show the idea of different categories of intelligence.

Gardner is a part of Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of education. Its mission is to understand and enhance learning, thinking, and creativity in the arts as well as humanistic and scientific disciplines at the individual and institutional levels. Some of the research programs are based upon his theory of multiple intelligences. Gardner’s theory says that the use of traditional intelligence tests do not take into account the different characteristics of a person’s intelligence and do not accurately gauge a person’s true intelligence. People who are labeled as underachievers may simply need to be taught differently in order for them to succeed. Through the understanding of multiple intelligences, educators can give their students a better chance at success.

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