Multiple Intelligence Institute :: Forum

Re: Dr. Howard Gardner's Welcome Note to the MI Network [by howardgard]

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:19:08 +1500

Ask Howard::Dr. Howard Gardner's Welcome Note to the MI Network

ngpeikai wrote:

Hi Professor Howard Gardner,

It was a great honor to hear you in person at the MI World Symposium held in Beijing this year. Although I have known of the multiple intelligences theory for a long time and thought I understood it well, I was still inspired by your opening speech and your views on the theory. It was also intriguing to hear about how other people have utilized the theory in their schools all around the world to achieve truly remarkable results.

I have been managing a chain of schools in Malaysia for 15 years. While we do not call ourselves an MI school, we have been incorporating the main tenets of the theory in our classrooms. I am wondering if you can share your views on what you think is the bold new future for education?

Best regards,

Ng Pei Kai

KL, Malaysia

A few years ago I wrote a book called FIVE MINDS FOR THE FUTURE. In it, I said that we need to cultivate five human capacities in education: 1) the capacity for disciplined inquiry; 2) the ability to synthesize vast amounts of information; 3) the courage to take risks and create something new; 4) respect for others, and especially those who have different backgrounds and values; 5) the ability to think and act ethically, as a worker and a citizen.

If I were to rewrite the book, I would spend much more time considering the effects of the new digital media: search engines, wikis, social networks, multi-user games, web 2.0, etc. In the future, much education will occur digitally, on devices that are new and may not yet have been invented. Unless educators master these media and figure out how best to use them and help young people to use them wisely as well as widely, schools will become an anachronism, a thing of the past.

I touch on some of these issues in a forthcoming book TRUTH BEAUTY AND GOODNESS REFRAMED. And I encourage people to visit our soon-to-be-launched new websites, goodworkproject.org and goodworktoolkit.org

Howard Gardner

Cambridge, Massachusetts

August 2010

Frequently Asked Question on MI [by MII]

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:57:01 +1500

Ask Howard::Frequently Asked Question on MI
We have decided to start a discussion on some of the most frequently asked questions. These questions are generally answered by our own staff. Please feel free to jump in and discuss whatever is on your mind.

Question:

Hello, I am curious if there is an online questionnaire to determine which 'intelligence' area a person has strengths in?

Response:

There are many surveys available online that at least purport to assess individual's intelligence strengths. Any of these must be taken with a huge grain of salt, as they are not really assessments but self-report surveys (Your 'strengths' as identified in the survey will be based on your own assessment of yourself, within the very limited confines of a questionnaire.) So, a better way is to do more extensive self-reflection, compiling all the things you do, are good at, in what contexts. THEN analyze all these activities for patterns -- do you bring a "spatial" perspective or approach to your activities; are you most able at spatially oriented tasks and activities, job?

One question to ask is whether identifying strengths will be useful. How will you use the information? Knowing interests and preferences -and analyzing that in terms of the intelligences is a lot more accurate and just as, if not more, useful unless you are assessing for entry into gifted programs or something like that.

MI 'reflections' rather than 'measurement' or 'assessment' are the best way to get a "thick description" of yourself-- additional insights from someone else adds to the richness of the description.

"Ask Howard" Forum Description [by MII]

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:14:45 +1500

Ask Howard::"Ask Howard" Forum Description
The “Ask Howard” forum is a vehicle for you to post your burning questions to Howard Gardner about MI theory and practice. We will post Dr. Gardner's responses to selected questions.

You're encouraged to respond to and discuss questions posted by your colleagues (or yourself). Regardless of Dr. Gardner's posts, we will all learn from your questions and the exchanges they engender.

We look forward to your questions...and responses!