Gardner's Theory Of Multiple Intelligences Quotes

By embracing Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory, educators become architects of personalized learning experiences that honour the unique talents and abilities of every student. Through tailored instruction and diverse assessment methods, classrooms become vibrant ecosystems where each intelligence is valued and cultivated.

Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences reframed our understanding of intelligence. He proposed that intelligence is not a single, static IQ score but rather a dynamic array of different types of intelligence, including interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence.

Acknowledging the principles of individual differences, such as Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences theory and the recognition of diverse learning styles, allows transformative teaching to cater to the varied strengths and preferences of students, fostering a more inclusive and effective learning environment.

By recognizing and accommodating individual differences in learning styles and preferences, transformative teaching ensures that every student has the opportunity to engage with the material in a way that resonates with them, leading to deeper understanding and retention of knowledge.

By integrating principles of multiple intelligences theory, transformative teaching acknowledges and celebrates the diverse talents and strengths of students, fostering a culture of appreciation for individual differences and promoting holistic development.

I readily admit that the theory (of multiple intelligences) is no longer current. Several fields of knowledge have advanced significantly since the early 1980s.

The Marland definition of giftedness (page 499) broadened the view of giftedness from one based strictly on IQ to one encompassing six areas of outstanding or potentially outstanding performance. The passage of Public Law 94–142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, in 1975 led to an increased interest in and awareness of individual differences and exceptionalities. PL 94–142, however, was a missed opportunity for gifted children, as there was no national mandate to serve them. Mandates to provide services for children and youth who are gifted and talented are the result of state rather than federal legislation. The 1980s and 1990s: The Field Matures and Provides Focus for School Reform Building on Guilford’s multifaceted view of intelligence, Howard Gardner and Robert Sternberg advanced their own theories of multiple intelligences in the 1980s. Gardner (1983) originally identified seven intelligences—linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, and intrapersonal (see Table 15.2). Describing these intelligences as relatively independent of one another, he later added naturalistic as an eighth intelligence (Gardner, 1993). Sternberg (1985) presented a triarchic view of “successful intelligence,” encompassing practical, creative, and executive intelligences. Using these models, the field of gifted education has expanded its understanding of intelligence while not abandoning IQ as a criterion for identifying intellectually gifted children. A Nation at Risk (National Commission on Excellence in Education, 1983) described the state of education in U.S. schools as abysmal. The report made a connection between the education of children who are gifted and our country’s future. This commission found that 50 percent of the school-age gifted population was not performing to full potential and that mathematics and science were in deplorable conditions in the schools. The message in this report percolated across the country and was responsible for a renewed interest in gifted education as well as in massive education reform that occurred nationally and state by state.