Title: Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligence
Headings: Understanding Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligence
Understanding Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligence
We Contain Multitudes
Gardner's 8 Intelligence
Theory in Practice: Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom
Are There Limits to "Containing Multitudes"?

Content: Interpersonal learners learn through social interaction with others and enjoy group dynamics, collaboration, and encounters. Linguistic learners love language and words and enjoy learning through verbal expression. Logical-Mathematical learners think conceptually, logically, and mathematically about the world and enjoy exploring patterns and relationships. In the mid-1990s, Gardner added an eighth intelligence: Naturalistic learners have a sensitivity to the natural world and can easily relate to plant and animal life, enjoying patterns found in the environment. Theory in Practice: Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom
For many educators and parents working with learners who struggled in traditional classrooms, Gardner's theory came as a relief. While a learner's intelligence was previously questioned when he or she found it challenging to grasp concepts, the theory pushed educators to recognize that each student has myriad potential. Multiple intelligences served as a call to action to "differentiate" learning experiences in order to accommodate the multiple modalities in any given learning context. By modifying the content, process, and expectations for a final product, teachers and educators can reach learners who otherwise present as reluctant or incapable.