Week 9: Reflections: Multiple Intelligences Exist in Every Class

Dear Donna and other e-participants,

What I learnt?
This week I got the opportunity to broaden my knowledge on Multiple Intelligence and learning styles. As Gardner states, intelligence is the ability to find and solve problems and create products of value in one’s own culture. Gardner and others talk about different types of intelligence. They are verbal/linguistic intelligence, mathematical/logical intelligence,

visual/spatial intelligence, bodily/kinesthetic intelligence, musical/rhythmic intelligence, interpersonal intelligence and intrapersonal intelligence, naturalist and existentialist intelligence. They claim that every individual is equipped with these intelligences. However, the degree of intelligences in different individuals is different. This shows that a class is just like a miniature society. There exists individual differences and the crucial matter is teaching learning process cannot be successful if such differences are not addressed. Again, the problem that occurs is how to address individual intelligence if the class consists of a large number of students.

Technology should be incorporated while addressing multiple intelligences of the learners in the classroom. Different programs and activities should be designed to enhance an individual learner and his/ her intelligence(s). Regarding the importance of computers for addressing learning styles, Davis (1991) puts, ‘computers can be a valuable and vital tool when combined with Gardener’s seven Multiple Intelligences to enable educators to reach students with a variety of learning styles.’ As given in the reading materials, learners who have verbal intelligence can be encouraged to use email, blog, chats, writing, rewriting and so on. Learners who have mathematical or logical intelligence can be engaged with the activities related to calculation, online calculation tools, math and science soft ware and so on. Similarly, the learners having musical intelligence should be engaged in singing chants, rhymes, songs, playing musical instruments and so on. For the learners, having interpersonal intelligences should be engaged with the activities like blogging, chatting and so on.


Another very important article I went through is the one written by Richard M. Fielder and Barbara A. Soloman. It basically talks about different types of learners in terms of the learning styles they use while learning. They have talked about active learners and reflective learners, intuitive and sensing learners, visual and verbal learners and sequential and global learners. Like Gardner, they have also focused their attention on individual differences in learning. For example, for sensing learners, we should design the activities that demand facts whereas for intuitive ones we should design the activities related to discovery and problem solving. Similarly, for visual learners, we should have pictures, diagrams, charts, and films and so on whereas for verbal learners we should design the activities that demand spoken and written explanation. Sequential learners tend to learn the content in sequence of linear steps whereas global ones tend to learn the content randomly without seeing connections.
How I apply in my class?
Multiple Intelligences exist in my class too. So I will try to identify the learners and their dominant intelligences. I may not be able to address the individual learners. For the students of small class where there are no more than 15 students, I will try my best to address the learners individually. For the large class, I will find out the common trends among the learners and group them for different activities. I design the activities suit for them. I will try my best to incorporate technology in my class too.


Thank you.
Kamal