1. Multiple Intelligence (MI)
Education is not only the way to success and success is not when we get good job, salary and
position. I think success is to reach the place where your dreams are pointing to and when you
get what you really wanted. Success must be born in the mind of the one who really wants it and
it is measured by the attainment of real joy or happiness. I think our society is misguided about
success. They think academically sound person is only successful remaining are not. Our whole
education system is influenced by this traditional view. They think academically high achiever
students are only successful and intelligent remaining however intelligent can't do anything in
their life. They are labeled. History is evidence people those who are not academically sound are
successful in one or other way and have set examples in the world.
"All persons have the same qualitative make-up. We are born equal in this respect, as recognize
in this values of liberty, fraternity, equality, and all human being have same reflexes, instincts,
drives needs, capacities and rights. All have the same power of perception discrimination,
attentiveness, retentiveness, reasoning and so forth." (P. Shepherd, 2013). A classroom full of
students of same age group and are taught by a same teacher at the same time achieve different
scores why? It is because every student have different interest, different learning process and
different intelligence. "Intelligence is a person's capacity for goal-directed adaptive behavior"
(Robert Steinberg, and William Salter, 1982). Multiple Intelligence is a theory developed in 1983
by Howard Gardner, a cognitive psychologist working at Harvard University. The theory
challenges the idea that individuals have fixed general measurable capacity of learning called
intelligence which varies in quantities from person to person. Human beings have at least nine
intelligence and learners learn in their own different way.
Kinds of Intelligence
1. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence: It refers to the control of body movement and capacity to
handle object skillfully and enables us to express ourselves physically and play games. It can be
seen in such people as actors, dancers, etc. Those who have this type of intelligence are good in
dancing and sports. Potential career choices of these types of students are dancer, builder,
sculptor and actor. To teach these types of students, make them act out their learning as much as
possible, give them a simulative environment where things are within their sight and reach. By
giving students multiple boxes and set of balls around in the boxes to illustrate addition and
subtraction, bodily kinesthetic intelligence learners can be taught mathematics in more effective
way.
2. Musical-Rhythmic Intelligence: Those who possess high levels of musical or rhythmic
intelligence, constantly hear tones, rhythms, and musical patterns even in the environment and
human voice. And a form of intelligence that enables us to perceive, appreciate and produce
rhythm, pitch and music for example: musicians. If Student has musical Intelligence s/he can
enjoy changing formulae in their own lyrics and cheating them in own rhythmic pattern. This
process is more beneficial to them to learn multiplication table and mathematical formulae in
2. short period. To remember formula for area and circumference of circle the given example can
be useful.
You can see me spinning' on the car,
Circumference = 2πr
I roll with it, boy I’m not scared,
Area = πr2
3. Naturalist Intelligence: Naturalistic learners, much like kinesthetic learners, flourish from
being able to touch, feel, hold, and try practical hands-on experiences, but generally outdoors
within the environment, nature and animals. It refers to the capacity to organize and categorize
plants, minerals, and animals including rocks and grass and all varieties of flora and fauna.
Students enjoy playing out and going on trips to learn about the animals and the environment.
Potential career choices of these types of student are landscaper, gardener, archaeologist, farmer,
conservationist, biologist/marine biologist etc.
4. Verbal Linguistic Intelligence: The linguistic learning style involves the transformation of
information through writing, reading and listening to the spoken word, such as conversation,
discussions or debates. It refers to linguistic competence in general and the understanding of
sounds, rhythms and meanings of words in particular. Those who have verbal linguist
intelligence they might be a building artist or inventor, or have an interest in other craft like
sewing, pottery, Illustration, web designing, cartography, photography etc.
5. Mathematical-Logical Intelligence: Mathematical –logical intelligence leaners ask a lot of
question to teacher and they are good to solve puzzle. They also like to experiment and see
logical and numerical patterns in their work by making connections between pieces of
information. It refers to the ability to recognize numerical or logical patterns, to sort and to
analyze. This intelligence can be seen in such people as scientists. Those possessing the logical-
mathematical intelligence enjoy number games, problem solving, pattern games, and
experimenting. Potential career choices of these types of student are accountant, statistician,
researcher, computer game designer. web master, engineer etc.
6. Visual-Spatial Intelligence: Visual-Spatial involves a high capacity of perceiving, creating
and recreating pictures and images. It is the form of intelligence that enables us to perceive the
visual world accurately. Learners having these types of intelligence can learn very fast by
observing, looking and watching objects. These include pictures, diagrams, demonstrations,
displays, handouts, films, flash cards and flip-charts etc. These learners have pretty vivid
imagination and they often remember things by seeing images or drawing mind maps. Potential
career choices of these types of student are sailor, architect, inventor, cartoonist, surgeon, pilot,
landscaper, and an engineer etc.
7. Spiritual/ Existential Intelligence: It refers to the process of learning in the context of where
human kind stands in the 'big picture' of existence. Existential intelligence is described as
“capturing and pondering the fundamental questions of existence” (Gardener, 1999a, p. 22).
3. Those with spiritual existential intelligence wonder about human existence and purpose. They
are cosmic and metaphysically smart. They express their wonder on "Why are we (human being)
here? "What is our role in the world?" These learners are sensitive about their identity in the
world interested in philosophy sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about human
existence, such as the meaning of life, why do we die, and how did we get here.
8. Intrapersonal Intelligence: A sense of self-awareness is used to guide individual behavior.
Those possessing the intrapersonal intelligence like to work independently. They are self-
motivated and self- aware. Intrapersonal people are particularly determined and can work well
with personal deadlines and goals. They may sometime shy away from others and find it easier
to work alone and quietly, but it is likely that they are strong in one or two more intelligence. If a
learner has intrapersonal intelligence then he might be really well at comprehending how he react
to certain situations in the near future. Potential career choices of these types of student are social
worker, philosopher, theorist, planner, biographer, researcher, and psychologist.
9. Interpersonal Intelligence: Interpersonal learners benefit from being able to see things from
others point of view. i.e. to re-enact the movement of an animal or consider how an individual
may have been feeling at the time and place of an historic event. People-Smart people,
(Interpersonal intelligence) enjoy working, learning, helping and being around other people. If
learner has interpersonal intelligence then he might be pretty considerate person and enjoy
mixing with lots of friends. Probably he will be member of numerous clubs, enjoy playing team
games and like to share things. They have a good ability to tell how others are feeling by their
tone of voice or body language and people often come to them for support or advice. Potential
career choices of these types of student are teacher, actor, manager, interviewer, team leader etc.
Now days to teach students especially in school level,
MI (Multiple Intelligence) theory is important for teacher. Because each child comes into the
classroom with his/her own unique set of intellectual strengths and weaknesses. A number of
schools in North America have looked to structure curricula according to the intelligences, and to
design classrooms and even whole schools to reflect the understandings that Howard Gardner
develops. These sets determine how easy (or difficult) it is for a student to learn information
when it is presented in a particular manner. For example: a musically intelligent student may
learn better through a number pattern recognition when that pattern is translated to piano keys or
rhythms, and a spatially intelligent student may understand from a lively diagram, mind map.
Multiple intelligences in classrooms is about looking at the various methods in which a topic can
be taught differently in classrooms. Subjects can be taught in various forms to get students
interested in the learning process. For instance, the teacher can explain, enact or draw a concept.
If any student is low achiever then we can help that student through multiple intelligence. At first
teacher need to identify the intelligence of particular student and then he should treat the student
according to his intelligence. There are more than one intelligence we can get in a single student.
4. The educator should recognize and teach to a broader range of talents and skill, plan their lesson
around one or more intelligence and try to cover a good range and bring balance. They should
show students how to use their more developed intelligences to assist in the understanding of a
subject which normally employs their weaker intelligences.
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L.R.I School Kalanki, Kathmandu
Surendra Singh Thaunna
Maths Teacher
Reference
P.Shepherd.(2013). Arewe born equal.