Theories of Intelligence

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Theories of Intelligence

There are many different perceptions of intelligence. The one that is, perhaps, most familiar to us is that intelligence is a single entity that can be measured through an intelligence test. However, there are many other theories about the nature of intelligence. The theory that we discuss most in Educational Psychology is Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

Gardner, a professor at Harvard University, proposes that people can be intelligent in different ways. Specifically, he has proposed eight major intelligences, as follows:

Linguistic Intelligence
Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
Spatial Intelligence
Musical Intelligence
Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
Interpersonal Intelligence
Intrapersonal Intelligence
Naturalist Intelligence

Another theory of intelligence that is of interest to educators is Sternberg's Triarchic Theory. Sternberg hypothesized that intelligence depends on the interplay of three factors, namely Environmental Context, Prior Experience, and Cognitive Processes.

QUESTIONS:

What are the implications of Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences and the research on learning styles for teaching and assessment?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of "intelligence-fair testing?"

Refer to the links below to learn more about your own learning style.

Multiple Intelligences/Howard Gardner Links

The Psi Cafe
http://www.psy.pdx.edu/PsiCafe/KeyTheorists/Gardner.htm
Conversations with Howard Gardner
http://www.ed.psu.edu/insys/ESD/gardner/menu.html
Multiple Intelligences and Education
http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm
Project Zero
http://www.pz.harvard.edu/PIs/HG.htm
Howard Gardner Topics
http://www.ed.psu.edu/insys/ESD/Gardner/menu.html
Thinkers
http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm

Multiple Intelligences Links

Multiple Intelligences
http://www.thomasarmstrong.com/multiple_intelligences.htm
New Horizons
http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/mi/front_mi.htm
Funderstanding
http://www.funderstanding.com/multiple_intelligence.cfm

Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire

Try out this fun online questionnaire for yourself to get a feel for how the learning styles of your learners may affect how they respond to and benefit from your instruction.

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