Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost.nifl.gov [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id MAA09261; Tue, 11 Nov 1997 12:07:37 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 11 Nov 1997 12:07:37 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <346884F7.DBDA3860@panther.gsu.edu> Errors-To: lmann@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Daphne Greenberg <epedgg@panther.gsu.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:1496] Re: About multiple intelligences... X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.01 [en] (Win95; I) Status: RO Content-Length: 2196 Lines: 40 Multiple Intelligence Theory is a theory that Howard Gardner espouses. He developed this theory as a reaction to the fact that most definitions of intelligence are too narrow, specifically that they focus on academic intelligence. His multiple intelligences include 7 areas: linguistic (for example, best selling novelists), logical-mathematical (physicists), musical (pianists), spatial (painters), bodily-kinesthetic (gymnists), interpersonal (therapists), and intrapersonal (people who are highly self aware and reflective). Gardner and others are trying to develop assessment tools which measure these different areas. A few years ago I organized a fireside chat with Howard Gardner at the American Educational Research Association. He cautioned participants that his theory was only that-a theory, one that needed to be tested, retested, and fine-tuned. He implied that he was upset with the fact that many have acted without careful analysis and study of the theory itself. Apparently, when he originally espoused his theory, he never intended for it to take off the way it did and many educational organizations have misunderstood his theory and therefore created changes, mistakenly, in the name of his theory. Personally, I think that the greatest contribution of his theory is that it makes us think about our values and stirs up discussions on the meaning of intelligence. It makes us realize that star NBA basketball players are just as talented as Nobel prize winners; their intelligence is expressed in different ways. In terms of the adult literacy community, I think that we can help our learners value themselves and each other for the unique gifts that we all have. Many ESL learners, especially, may have low self-esteem, because they never went to school in their native country and sit side by side with ESL learners who have college degrees. I think that Gardners' theory helps us stir up discussion with our learners about "what does it mean to be smart" and to hopefully show that intelligence can be expressed in different areas, not just academic ones. Daphne Greenberg Center for the Study of Adult Literacy Georgia State University alcdgg@langate.gsu.edu
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