Frames Of Mind By Howard Gardner

What is Intelligence?

Intelligence is describes as a person’s capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity. It is a word commonly used to refer to a person’s general knowledge and ability. Howard Gardner had a problem with this definition. In his book, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, he proposed the idea of multiple intelligence. He believed that intelligence is not limited to mathematical and linguistic ability, but is rather diverse and differs from person to person. He theorised that there was more than one type of intelligence, initially stating the number as seven. Gardner’s seven intelligences were: Musical, Visual–Spatial, Linguistic, Logical–Mathematical, Bodily–Kinaesthetic,

It also measures one’s reading ability and the ability to memorise words and even dates, and the ability to analyse them.

Logical-Mathematic Intelligence is a measure of one’s capacity to critically think, reason, calculate and work with numbers. This type of intelligence is what is referred to as general intelligence.

Bodily-Kinaesthetic Intelligence is a measure of the awareness of one’s body, enabling one to use it effectively. It also measure capacity to handle objects skilfully and understand the goal of physical actions. Gardner also includes a sense of timing as a trait in kinaesthetic intelligence.

Interpersonal Intelligence is a measure of one’s sensitivity to other people’s emotions as well as the ability to work well with or interact with a group of people. Whereas, Intrapersonal Intelligence is a measure of one’s understanding of one’s strengths, weaknesses, emotions, interests and goal. It refers to one’s introspective

Today we have a total of 9 types of intelligences, showing just how different every individual is. These different intelligences, posed the question of learning styles. How do people with these different intelligences learn best? Your learning style determines the way you learn, recall, and remember experiences and even the words you use.

Musical people use rhyme and music to represent information which they can therefore better recall. They also use sound recordings and often have music playing in the background. Mnemonics and acrostics often have a musical quality i.e. rhyme or jingles. Music reinforces their mood, so empowering songs make them work significantly harder.

Visual–Spatial people use images, pictures and colour to help them learn. They also use layout and spatial organisation to understand and remember the relationship between bits of information. They highlight a lot, use mind-maps and replace words with pictures and colour.

Linguistic people use word-based study techniques. They read notes out loud to themselves using expression, they summarise and script and they record notes and play them back. They role-play with others in order to remember interactions like negotiations, radio calls, sale