Multiple Intelligences
The following web addresses will be useful to anyone interested in Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences (MI) Theory. Although most of the information is for teachers or education student’s parents can glean relevant knowledge that can be applied or considered for personal knowledge or educational research. Carolanne Lunan |
Howard Gardner developed the theory on Multiple Intelligence’s (MI) in 1983. Many sites refer to seven intelligences, but recently Howard Gardner has documented an eighth intelligence. This web page is up to date, and provides a brief overview of the MI theory, and who Howard Gardner is. It also provides contacts and links to information about Project Zero, which is the parent project of many sub-projects and studies involving the MI Theory.
Project Zero resides at Harvard University, and is home to Howard Gardner’s research. From this web page you can find out more about Project Zero by clicking on the home page link or go directly to: http://pzweb.harvard.edu/ . You can check out the history of Project Zero, current and past research projects (there are a lot), future projects and publications, and products and services that have resulted from the research done within Project Zero. A neat feature of this web site is the fact that you can e-mail the webmaster or Project Zero with questions (the links work). Also there is a search tool similar to "search engines", so you are able to search for specific information. It is a well-designed site, and is full of useful information on Project Zero and the MI Theory.
Recommended Audience: Teachers or Students interested in or researching the MI Theory.
The eighth intelligence was added to the original seven intelligences in 1996. Although there is a lot on the Internet about the MI Theory, very little has been written on the newest intelligence. This site provides a brief overview regarding the significance of the latest intelligence; as well it provides some suggestions for instructional strategies, subject areas and resources. The author of the site is Bruce Campbell, and he is a classroom teacher. He is also the author of several books and articles on Multiple Intelligence.
Recommended Audience: Teachers or Students interested in or researching the MI Theory.
This site provides a wealth of information on the MI theory. It provides a more detailed description on the MI theory, as well it provides a detailed description on the first seven intelligences: Musical Intelligence, Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence, Logical-Mathematical Intelligence, Linguistic Intelligence, Spatial Intelligence, Interpersonal Intelligence, and Intrapersonal Intelligence. The site introduces the eighth intelligence, and hints of the possibility that other intelligences may soon be identified (e.g. a ninth intelligence – possibly existential intelligence).
The most useful information on this site is the background information regarding how intelligence has been viewed in the past, and the impact of the MI theory including the impact on traditional education. Some related information and other links that are worth checking out are: What about Other Reforms, and What’s so Bad about Traditional Evaluation. There are several other links e.g. Moving into the Future, and The Role of the MI theory that indicate promise, although they are currently under construction. I sent an e-mail to question when construction is expected to be completed, but to date have not received a reply.
One last postscript on this site; it is an off chute of a larger educational site that is a wonderful resource for teachers wanting to explore issues surrounding computers and the classroom, so check out the home page. The dictionary is also a wonderful computer classroom resource.
Recommended Audience: Teachers or Students interested in or researching the MI Theory.
This link is an interview on the Eighth Multiple Intelligence. Ronnie Durie, editor of Mindshift Connection interviewed Howard Gardner in April 1997 and titled the interview Mindshift Connection: Multiple Intelligences. Although the focus of the interview is the eighth intelligence Howard Gardner provides sound advice throughout the interview regarding the MI Theory as a whole.
Recommended Audience: Teachers or Students interested in or researching the MI Theory.
This site is sponsored by Project Read and was developed to provide information on Multiple Intelligence for adult literacy and education. The project explored innovative ways to apply the MI theory and documents both theory, and teaching tips. Additional information on the project goals and history can also be found on this site.
The following topics are addressed: How We Learn, What Is Intelligence, We Have Multiple Intelligences, Integrated Learning, and Assessment. All worth the read! There are teaching tips broken down by Multiple Intelligence (first seven only) which provide ideas for applying the theory in the classroom.
Recommended Audience: Teachers or Students interested in or researching the MI Theory.
This is an article entitled Intelligence in Seven Steps by Howard Gardner, Ph.D. If you haven’t read any of Gardner’s books this article is an excellent introduction to his ideas surrounding intelligence and how his MI Theory emerged.
The article was written in the early 1990’s s the eighth intelligence was not mentioned, but it is still a worthy read. Dr. Gardner addresses seven main topics: Lay Conceptions, The Scientific Turn, Pluralization of Intelligence, Contextualization, Intelligence As Distributed, Nurturance of Intelligence, and Humanizing Intelligence. At the end of the article there is a detailed biography (1990) on Howard Gardner.
Recommended Audience: Teachers or Students interested in or researching the MI Theory.
This site has five lesson plans that highlight how MI can be integrated into a lesson. The plans are primarily for intermediate and high school classes, and do not fit with the BC IRP’s, but they are excellent templates that can be used when developing other lesson plans. They were written by students of Leslie Owen Wilson, Ph.D., and can be used if the original authors are acknowledged. There are also several links to other useful information regarding the MI theory that are worth checking out.
** The lesson plans are difficult to read due to the backgrounds, and text color chosen. It is also a bit difficult to move between the plans (other than to go forward to next plan or back to previous plan); persevere they are good examples!
The home page for this site is: http://www.uwsp.edu/acad/educ/lwilson/Index.htm. It is definitely a site education students and teachers could use to glean a lot of useful information (including the MI theory). The site is developed by Leslie Owen Wilson, and was initiated with grant funding from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. It was "established for the explicit purpose of increasing the uses of technology resources as these relate to teaching and learning. This particular site includes a wide variety of materials dealing with education, educational reform and issues which pertain to topical areas in curriculum development, creativity, theories of learning, and educational psychology." Leslie Owen Wilson is an associate professor in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point where she teaches courses in educational psychology, theories of learning, curriculum, and creativity.
This site has a list of activities for each of the first seven intelligences. It is a great checklist for teachers to ensure their lesson plans are balanced. At the end of the document there is a MI activity that can be used once you have introduced and explained each of the Multiple Intelligences to students; it can be used for any age student (K-University). It goes without saying that you would expand the activity to include the Nature Intelligence.
Recommended Audience: Teachers and Education students who want to ensure all the MI are integrated into their classroom.
Although this lesson plan does not fit with the BC IRP, it is an excellent example of how easy it is to integrate the MI theory into lesson plans. Many of the plans you have already developed utilize one or more intelligences, without purposely planning. In this particular lesson plan only six of the intelligences are represented, but any one lesson does not need to include every intelligence. The point is to be aware that all the intelligences are being addressed in your classroom (should you wish to integrate MI Theory into your personal teaching philosophy).
The links on this site, although not specifically connected to MI, are very useful for teachers!
Recommended Audience: Teachers and Education students who want to develop or adapt lesson plans utilizing the MI theory.
Another Canadian Score! This site summarizes the Seven MI and documents activities for each intelligence that can be integrated into a unit on light. The unit was developed for Grade 4 students, and fits perfectly with the Science IRP (Grade 4 – Science & other subject learning outcomes). Other links for this unit are: Introduction, Sample Lesson, Eye Activity, Other Sites, and Start of Light Unit.
The site was developed by Banded Peak Elementary School in Bragg Creek, Alberta. Go to the home page and check out some of the other links. There are other unit plans, and great links for students and teachers; well worth surfing!
** One frustrating aspect regarding the design of this site; you have to go to the bottom of the page to get to another link (the bottom is sometimes a long way down). Also, the Kids link is a bit difficult to read because of the background that was used. Don’t let these minor details keep you from checking out all the great Canadian content and useful teacher information available.
Recommended Audience: Teachers and Education students who want to develop or adapt lesson plans utilizing the MI theory.
This article Multiple Ways of Knowing Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences: Extend and Enhance Student Learning was written by Dr. Beckman who is a professor at Edinboro University of PA. She is involved in research that uses Howard Gardner’s MI Theory as a framework for classroom curriculum. Although the article summarizes and synthesizes her learning there is also reference to her experiences applying the theory. In two sections in particular: Centers for Success, and Celebrations Dr. Beckman shares some of the how she has incorporated the MI Theory in a Gr. 2/3 classroom.
The home page for site is: http://www.earlychildhood.com/index.htm and contains a link to other educationally significant articles, arts & crafts that can be very useful Visual/Spatial (Art Smart) MI, and links to other educational sites.
Recommended Audience: Teachers and Education Students who want to develop or adapt lesson plans utilizing the MI theory.
This site is an on-line comic book created for children. It could be used with the IRP when learning about the brain, or integrated into understanding how we learn (MI Theory). At the end of the comic students go to the library and learn about the different parts of the brain and some interesting facts about the brain. Students need to know how to read and the language is at a higher-grade level, yet the educational material is not detailed. I would suggest students should be in Gr.4-6, and that it could be used as an extension or a fun activity that would integrate language arts, science and computer skills.
- Recommended Audience: Teacher/Students Gr. 4
Books & Other Resources to Order: The following are sites where MI books, videos, posters, and other classroom materials can be ordered. Most of the sites will be of interest to classroom teachers, although some parents or students may be interested in developing their knowledge or understanding of the MI Theory.
Zephyrpress is an education publisher that was established in 1979, in Tucson AZ. Their mission is: "to delight, inspire, enable, and empower both students and teachers in knowledge and skills that promote life-long learning." This particular site is dedicated to MI Theory resources. You can buy posters, lesson plans, and materials that will assist you in integrating the MI theory into your classroom. Each resource has a brief description of what the product is, and the cost (U.S. $’s). There is a 1-800 number, if you’d prefer not to order materials over the Internet.
From the Zehpyrpress Home Page you can submit your outline of an idea or a manuscript you would like published. There are also many other resources that are not specifically related to the MI Theory that you may like to check out. The site, instructions and guidelines are quite detailed, making it an easy site to use without getting lost or confused!
Recommended Audience: Teachers
Dr. Kagan has been involved in educational research since 1968. (Read the link "Who We Are" for additional information about his research.) The MI Theory fits perfectly with his constructive learning strategies. Dr. Kagan, and his wife lead seminars and training sessions for teachers all over U.S.A. and internationally; he will come to Canada upon request. The dates, places and costs of seminars are posted under the "Training" icon. This site also offers their books, videos, and lesson plans that can be purchased from the on-line catalogue or by calling the 1-800 number provided. The catalogue provides a detailed description of each resource including the number of pages.
In June of 1998 the site started posting an on-line newsletter. There is a place to subscribe, but you can view the text on-line. I read through all the newsletters, and they are improving. There are some useful tips, and "free" ideas for classroom application of the MI Theory.
Another important aspect of this site is the discussion forum. You can post questions regarding the MI theory, or MI resources. Dr. Kagan has answered many of the questions himself. His response to a graduate student’s question on spelling was personal and provided a lot of helpful information. Definitely worth the read!
One other point worth mentioning is that the site and materials are up to date. Every link worked, and many of the materials included references to the eighth MI which is missing from many web sites.
Recommended Audience: Teachers or Education Students
Mark Wahl has been a mathematics learning specialist for over 30 years. He is a teacher, writer, teacher trainer and consultant. This site reviews the book Math for Humans. Although Mark Wahl has written several math books that look interesting this particular book incorporates seven of Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences. The book content is developed for use with Grades 3-8. The book can be ordered by mail, Internet, or telephone. Canadian prices are not listed.
From this site you can also link to Mark Wahls home page: http://www.whidbeynet.net/mathman/Default.asp which includes interesting facts about math, information regarding seminars that he teaches, and links to other educational math sites. I checked out several of the sites and found many of the links to be very interesting and useful. I found math games, lesson plans, and theory that would be of interest to teachers and parents. Many of the links will be useful in applying the MI Theory and developing math lesson plans and activities; some of the links can be enjoyed by students as classroom activities or extensions.
Recommended Audience: Teachers or Education Students (Parents may also be interested). The home page does have links that children would enjoy.