Topic > Development of the individual: theory of multiple intelligences

H. Gardner explained intelligence as the ability to find a solution or invent products that can be valuable. However, there is still a discussion about it. Some researchers have stated that it is a common potential while other researchers believe that it is a combination of different skills and talents. Dr. Gardner listed 8 bits of intelligence: visual-spatial, linguistic-verbal, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic. According to this theory, multiple intelligences allow us to know and understand the surrounding environment and ourselves with a different method. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The theory of multiple intelligences has had an effect on American education. Some schools have started to change the way they provide information and knowledge to students. Teachers are suggested to conduct lessons using videos, audio, images, interactive activities and more. (T. Armstrong, Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom, 4th edition, 2018) This will bring about a huge change in the traditional method of the teaching-learning process and will cause diversity between schools that have and have not changed the method of lessons. The current challenge is to convince more people, especially in education, to accept this theory and put it into practice. (T. Armstrong, In Their Own Way: Discovering and Encouraging Your Child's Multiple Intelligences, 2000) Everyone has their own intelligence, and this intelligence rarely works alone. Some people may have very significant intelligence and create the illusion that those people only have one kind of intelligence, but in reality they have more than one intelligence and should discover the other intelligence. Although some people have unusually high levels of ability in each intelligence and achieve high results, however, most ordinary people occupy some different parts of intelligence, and we must identify and use it fully so that it becomes our strengths. Multiple intelligences allow us to complete tasks much more effectively and efficiently. When we feel comfortable handling problems, it means we are using the intelligence we have developed. On the other hand, when we encounter problems or find it difficult to solve them, we may use less advanced intelligence. While multiple intelligences can help us in our daily lives, hands-on practice is also important for the intelligence to function more effectively. (Carol, Joyce, & Sarah, Keys to Success, p. 68) Most people have more than one intelligence, and everyone has a different unique combination with the levels. As for me, I have visual-spatial intelligence. I love to daydream, bewildered and tend to imagine a scene or image. It's easier for me to remember things I've seen than to hear or touch them. By knowing myself well and understanding my strength, I will clear my mind and turn things into a mental map so that I can easily see the overall situation and remember it by having the image in my mind. I will also try to avoid studying or understanding by exploiting my weaknesses such as logical-mathematical or musical ones. If I need to remember numbers or patterns that are challenging for me, I imagine it's a picture. For example, I need to memorize my student ID which is 89, I will picture a picture of a person with cross eyes and a big ear on the right. The cross-shaped eye indicates the horizontal number “8” while the large ear indicates the number “9”. Furthermore, the visual-spatial also gave me a good one.