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Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences
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Eight ways of being smart
Music Intelligence: ‘Smart’ at singing, playing a musical instruments, composing music; and have sensitivity to rhythm, pitch, tone, melody and timbre.
Visual/Spatial Intelligence: ‘Smart’ with spatial judgment, the ability to visualize things in one’s mind; and have active imaginations and can express themselves very well by creating/drawing.
Language Intelligence: ‘Smart’ at reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Maths/Logic Intelligence:‘Smart’ with calculations, reasoning and critical thinking.
Physical Intelligence:‘Smart’ in physical activities and in making things.
Naturalist Intelligence:‘Smart’ about the natural world.
Interpersonal Intelligence:‘Smart’ in knowing how to interact and co-operate with others; and sensitivity to others’ moods, feelings, temperaments and motivations.
Intrapersonal Intelligence:‘Smart’ in recognising one’s feelings, special uniqueness, strengths and weakness; and in analyzing the effects of doing or not doing something.
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Theory widely used but often misunderstood
When Howard Gardner launched his theory of Multiple Intelligences, over 35 years ago, it was a revolutionary idea that challenged long-cherished beliefs.
At the time, psychologists were interested in general intelligence—a person’s ability to solve problems and apply logical reasoning across a wide range of disciplines. Popularised in part by the IQ test, which was originally developed in the early 1900s to assess a child’s ability to “understand, reason, and make judgments,” the idea of general intelligence helped explain why some students seemed to excel at many subjects. Gardner found the concept too limiting.