Blog #7

Howard Gardner’s study of multiple intelligences has played a key role in education for decades. Gardner believes that there is more than one way to get students to learn in the classroom. In order for students to be productive and reach their high point in their academics, Gardner believes that teachers must identify how a student learns through the use of his multiple intelligence theory.
In 1983 Howard Garner developed his theory of multiple intelligences. Dr. Gardner was a Professor at Harvard University, he believed that students IQ’s could be assessed more than just the traditional way of testing a students IQ. Howard Gardner felt that there was more than one way to associate how students can learn. Gardner believed that students could learn through linguistic intelligence, logical-mathematical intelligence, spatial intelligence, body-kinesthetic intelligence, musical intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, natural intelligence.
Gardner believes that if a student is “word smart” then they will use their linguistic intelligence, if a student is good with numbers, they will display their logical-mathematical intelligence, if students can remember key terms by using pictures, than they will utilize their spatial intelligence. Students who are good at health and science are known to use their bodily-kinesthetic intelligence; students who enjoy music and are musically talented rely on their music intelligence. Students, who possess strong people skills, rely on their interpersonal intelligences; students who are self-smart are known to use their Intrapersonal intelligence. Students who like to learn from nature are utilizing their naturalist intelligence.
Students today are no longer motivated by the teacher directed instruction. Today, students have grown up as the “technological babies”; which means that most of the students that are taught in today’s classroom have grown up using some type of technology device. Students today are unfamiliar with the terms of “ditto machine”, “boom box”, and “typewriter”. The technology babies have grown up with terms such as “email”, “ipod”, “Twitter” and “blogging”.
With the increase of technology and the emphasis being placed on teachers teacher’s to differentiate their instruction, Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory comes alive through the increased use of technology. Teachers across the county are implementing Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory through the use of technology. Due to the different styles of learning that there is in the classrooms, teacher and instructors have had to rely on Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory to get their students to achieve in the classroom.
Teachers and instructors need to spend more time identifying what motivates their students to learn. Teachers and instructors can do an interest survey that will assist in identifying which multiple intelligence theory they use to motivate them to learn, once that is identified, the teacher/instructor can make an education plan based on the multiple intelligence theory that was identified.