How people learn

Multiple Intelligences Theory

of Howard Gardner

Why do some people seem smart at math while others are

great at sports or music?

• Multiple Intelligences are seven different ways to demonstrate intellectual ability.

• Usually people have one dominant ability with lesser abilities in other categories.

Visual/Spatial Intelligence

• Think in pictures

• Create vivid mental images to retain information

• Enjoy looking at maps, charts, pictures, videos, and movies

Skills and possible career interests

• Reading• Writing• Puzzle building• Painting • Creating visual

metaphors• Manipulating images• Fixing

• Navigator• Sculptor• Inventor• Architect• Interior designer• Mechanic• Engineer

Verbal/Linguistic

• Highly developed auditory skills

• Usually elegant speakers

• Think in words rather than pictures

Skills and possible career interests

• Listening• Speaking• Writing• Analyzing language

usage• Explaining• Using humor• Convincing someone

of their point of view

• Poet• Journalist• Writer• Teacher• Attorney• Politician• Translator

Logical/Mathematical

• Think conceptually in logical and numerical patterns making connections between pieces of information

• Curious about the world around them

• Ask lots of questions and do lots of experiments

Skills and possible career interests

• Problem solving• Classifying and

categorizing information• Working with abstract

concepts to figure out their relationships

• Doing controlled experiments

• Performing complex math calculations

• Scientists• Engineers• Computer programmers• Researchers• Accountants• Mathematicians

Bodily/Kinesthetic

• Express self through movement

• Good sense of balance and hand/eye coordination

• Through interacting with space around them, they are able to remember and process information

Skills and possible career interests

• Dancing• Physical coordination• Sports• Hands-on

experiments• Expressing emotions

through the body• Using body language

• Athlete• PE teacher• Dancer• Actor• Firefighter• Artisan

Musical/Rhythmic

• Think in sounds, rhythms, and patterns

• Immediately respond to music, either appreciatively or critically

• Many are sensitive to environmental sounds (e.g. crickets, bells, dripping faucets)

Skills and possible career interests

• Singing• Whistling• Playing musical

instruments• Remembering

melodies• Understanding the

structure and rhythm of music

• Musician• Disc jockey• Singer• Composer

Interpersonal

• Try to see things from other people’s point of view to understanding the feelings of others.

• Ability to sense feelings, emotions, and motivations.

• Try to maintain peace in group settings and encourage cooperation.

• Use verbal and body language to communicate with others.

Skills and possible career interests

• See things from other perspectives.

• Use empathy • Understand other

people’s moods and feelings

• Building trust• Peaceful conflict

resolution

• Counselor• Salesperson• Politician• Business person

Intrapersonal

• Try to understand their own inner feelings, dreams, relationships with others, and strengths and weaknesses.

Skills and possible career interests

• Recognizing own strengths and weaknesses

• Reflecting and analyzing themselves

• Understanding their role in relationship to others

• Researcher• Theorist• Philosopher