Howard Gardner’s:

Theory of
Multiple Intelligence
[Frames of Mind-1983]
What is Intelligence?
• Traditional Definition:
“Intelligence is a uniform cognitive
capacity people are born with. This
capacity can be easily measured by
short answer tests.
• Webster’s Definition:
“The Power of knowing, the ability to
understand and/or deal with new
situations.”
What is Multiple Intelligence?
• According to Howard Gardner, a
psychologist and professor at Harvard
University’s Graduate School of Education,
“An intelligence is the ability to solve
problems or to create products, that are
valued within one or more cultural
settings.”
• The question is not “How smart am I?” but
rather “How am I smart?”
Features of Multiple Intelligence
• He claims that human beings have multiple
intelligences.
• Each individual has 9 intelligences in varying
amounts
• These intelligences are located in different
areas of the brain.
• They either work independently or together.
• These MI can be nurtured and strengthened or
ignored & weakened.
• We can improve education by addressing these
multiple intelligences of our students.
How intelligences develop:

•Nature (Genetics)
•Nurture
(Environment)
•Culture (Values)
Gardner’s Multiple
Intelligences:
1. Verbal/ Linguistic
2. Visual/ Spatial
3. Logical/ Mathematical
4. Musical/ Rhythmic
5. Bodily / Kinesthetic
6. Interpersonal
7. Intrapersonal
8. Naturalistic
9. Existential
Linguistic
Intelligence
                                                    

                                                                            
 ~*Linguistic Intelligence*~
Gardner's Definition:
Linguistic Intelligence (Word Smart) is
the capacity to use language, your native
language, and perhaps other languages, to
express what's on your mind and to
understand other people.
•People with high linguistic
intelligence are good at reading,
writing, telling stories and
memorizing words with dates.
Linguistic intelligent people learn
best by:
• Book •Letter writing
reporting
• Telling jokes •Storytelling
• Writing •Discussing
words •Creative
• Reading
writing
• Journal
writing •Debating
• Speaking •Persuading
Career
s•Journalist •Philosopher
•Writer •Lawyer

•Poet •Politician
•Teacher •Orator
•Radio •Actor
Announcer
•Curator
•Translator
 Visual -
Spatial
Intelligence
What is spatial
intelligence?
• Spatial intelligence (Picture Smart) is the
capacity to think in images and pictures,
to visualize accurately and abstractly.
• People with high visual-spatial
intelligence have the ability to visualize
with mind’s eye.
• They have the potential to recognize and
use the patterns of wide space and more
confined area.
Spatial intelligent people
learn best by:
• Brochures • Painting
• Collages • Photography
• Designs • Posters
• Drawings
• Sculpting
• Flow Charts
• Mapping
• Visualizing
• Molding Clay • Idea Sketching
• Patterns • Labeling
 Careers
• Advertising • Interior Designer
• Architect • Inventor
• Cartographer(Map
Maker) • Painter
• Drafter • Photographer
• Engineer • Pilot
• Fine Artist • Sculptor
• Graphic Designer
• Surveyor
• Fashion Designer
• Urban Planner
Logical-Mathematical
Intelligence
Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
• Logical-mathematical intelligence (Logic
Smart) is the capacity to use numbers
effectively and reason well.
• People with this intelligence think by
reasoning, and they love experimenting,
questioning, figuring out logical puzzles,
and calculating.
• They are able to identify a problem and
solve it right there on the spot.
 Mathematical Intelligent
people learn best by:

• Analyzing •Reasoning
• Categorizing •Time Lines
• Formulas •Synthesis
• Logic Games •Sequencing
• Numbers •Rational Thinking
• Outlining •Scientific Thinking
•Venn Diagrams
• Patterns
•Statistics
• Problem Solving
 • Economist
Careers • Logicians
• Accountant • Mathematician
• Engineer
• Physicist
• Doctor
• Banker • Scientist
• Businessperson • Statistician
• Computer Analyst • Technician
• Computer Programmer
• Science/Math Teacher
What is Musical Intelligence?
• Musical • Musically
intelligence intelligent
(Music Smart) people are able
is the ability to to distinguish
create and the sounds
appreciate around and can
tunes and make their own
rhythm. melodies.
Musical Intelligent People learn
best by:
• Sing Ballads • Instrumental sounds
• Listening
• Create Chants • Lyrics
• Create Concept Songs • Mood Music
• Discographies (lists of • Music Composition or
musical selections to creation
enhance what you are • Musical concepts
learning or teaching.) • Musical Performance
• Environmental Sounds • Percussion and Raps
• Humming • Reproduce sounds and
• Illustrate With Sounds rhythms
• Rhythms • Singing and Songs
 Careers

• Song Writer • Advertising Agent

• Performing • Conductor
Musician • Disc Jockey
• Piano Tuner • Film/Instrument
• Singer Maker
• Musical Theater • Composer
Actor/ Actress • Music Teacher
• Studio Engineer
• Sound Engineer
• Instrument
Manager
• Music Therapist
• Rapper
What is Bodily-Kinesthetic
Intelligence?
• Bodily-kinesthetic Intelligence (Body Smart) is
an expertise in using one’s whole body to
express ideas and feelings.
• It is the ability to control one’s body
movements and to handle objects
skillfully.
• People with high bodily-kinesthetic Intelligence
have total body control, sense of timing, a
clear sense of the goal of a physical action, an
ability to train responses to become reflexes.
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
Thinking through physical sensations

Love Need
 Dancing  Role play
 Running  Drama
 Jumping
 Movement
 Building
 Touching
 Things to build
 Gesturing  Sports and
physical games
 Tactile (touchable)
experiences
 Hands-on learning
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligent
People best learn by:
• Acting • Impersonations
• Charades • Inventing
• Collections • Martial Arts
• Demonstrations • Miming
• Experiments • Puppetry
• Field Trips • Visiting
• Gymnastics • Exercise
 Careers
• Actor • Surgeon
• Athlete • Mechanic
• Carpenter • Mime
• Choreographer • P.T. Teacher
• Craftsman • Physical
• Dancer Therapist
• Soldier
• Police Officer
• Forest Ranger
Interpersonal
Intelligence
Interpersonal Intelligence

• Interpersonal intelligence, (people

smart), is understanding other people.
• Capacity to detect and respond
appropriately to the moods, motivations
and desires of others.
• People with high inter-personal
intelligence tend to be extroverts,
sensitive to other’s moods, feelings,
temperaments and motivations. 
Interpersonally intelligent people
learn best by:
• Giving feedback to the teacher or to classmates
• Understanding other's feelings
• Person-to-person communication
• Cooperative learning strategies
• Receiving feedback
• Group projects
• Teaching someone else something new
• Learning from someone outside of school
• Other points of view
• Creating  group rules
• Acting in a play or simulation
• Conducting an interview
• Creating "phone buddies" for homework
• Sensing others’ motives
• Creating  group rules
 Careers
• Public Relations
• Administrator
• Salesperson
• Anthropologist
• School Principal
• Arbitrator
• Sociologist
• Counselor
• Therapist
• Manager
• Teacher
• Nurse
• Travel Agent
• Personnel Director
• Religious Leader
• Politician
• Psychologist
• Social Worker
•Capacity to be self-aware (Self Smart)
and in tune with inner feelings, values,
beliefs and thinking processes.
•This intelligence includes having an
accurate picture of oneself (one’s strengths
and weaknesses); awareness of inner moods,
intentions, motivations, temperaments, and
desires; and the capacity for self-discipline,
self-understanding, and self-esteem.
•Essentially, it’s how well you know yourself.
*Autobiography *Awareness of Personal Feelings
*Concentration *Expression of Feelings
*Focusing *Free-Choice Time
*Goal Setting *Higher-Order Thinking and Reasoning
*Independent Studies Projects *Mood Awareness and Shifting
*Personal Application * Personal Priorities
*Personal Projection *Sensing the Emotions of the Moment
*Self –Identification *Thinking Strategies
• Clergyman • Entrepreneur
• Program planner • Psychiatrist
• Psychology Teacher • Philosopher
• Theologian • Researcher
• Spiritual Counselor • Psychologist
Naturalistic Intelligence
• Ability to recognize and categorize
plants, animals and other objects in
nature.
• People with high naturalistic
intelligence (Nature Smart) are
extremely sensitive to nature,
nurturing and relating information to
one’s natural surrounding.
Naturalistic Intelligent people learn
best by:
• Relating to the environment
• Day to day experiences
• Working in open atmosphere
• Studying about nature and
environment
• Outdoor Exploration
• Science Experiments
• Field Trips
 Careers
• Naturalists
• Farmers
• Gardeners
• Environmentalists
• Biologists
• Environmental activists
• Anthropologists
• Geologists
Existential Intelligence
• Sensitivity and capacity to tackle
deep questions about human
existence such as the meaning
of life, why do we die and how
the world came into being(deep
question smart).
Caution for Educators !
• No intelligence is better than another
• Avoid categorizing students
• Don’t teach everything in all 8 ways
• Try to include each intelligence in each
unit
or group of lessons
• Adjust ways of assessing
Questions to Ponder:
• What does it mean to be a multiple
intelligence teacher?
• How can I do a better job at teaching
to diverse intelligences?
• What are my strongest and weakest
intelligences?
• What are my goals? Will this benefit
my students and how?
 Qualities of an
Effective MI Teacher:
• Communicative • Motivational
• Committed • Organized
• Compassionate • Positive
• Creative • Patient
• Dependable • Personable
• Ethical • Perceptive
• Flexible • Resourceful
• Knowledgeable • Sense of Humor
 Hope you had
an enjoyable learning experience!

Prepared By: NAJMA KAZI

Email: najmakazi@gmail.com