Tony Bott/T.Net - I do
highly recommend Dr. Gardner's latest book, Intelligence Reframed, to all
teachers. Many of the myths and realities of multiple intelligences, as
well as appropriate MI environments for children are illustrated and discussed
by Dr. Gardner. Undoubtedly, you will find this an essential tool in building
your understanding of how intelligences vary and be fostered in individuals.
Available in bookstores very soon, or you can check back with us at Teachers.Net...
Kathleen/CT - Teachers.Net
is honored to present Dr. Howard Gardner. Dr. Gardner is a professor of
education and co-director of Project
Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and adjunct professor
of neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine. Author of sixteen
books, Dr. Gardner has been honored with the MacArthur "Genius" award and
has been acclaimed as the most influential educational theorist since John
Dewey. Dr. Gardner's book, Intelligence
Reframed (November 1999) has been called a brilliant state-of-the-art
report on how the landmark theory of multiple intelligences is radically
changing our understanding of education and human development.
Kathleen - Moderator
is Dr. Anthony Bott, founder and co-director of the Teachers.Net family
of Internet resources for educators worldwide. After teaching for several
years in elementary school classrooms, Tony then began work toward his
doctoral degree at UCLA. He recently completed his dissertation, "Teacher
support through virtual communities" and received his doctorate degree
(June, 1999). Tony been a guest speaker at the White House Internet Summit
(1998) and plans to continue working on teacher support and teacher "networking."
Tony Bott/T.Net -
Greetings and welcome, Dr. Gardner. We are honored that you have joined
us this evening on Teachers.Net. Briefly, Teachers.Net is a virtual community
of teachers who utilize the Internet to develop themselves personally,
operationally, and intellectually. We appreciate your willingness to nurture
this discussion group and new technology.
Tony Bott/T.Net -
I would like to open with a question, if I may. Your new book, Intelligence
Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century, discusses
multiple intelligences in light of many of the myths and derivative educational
programs that have evolved over the years since you introduced the concept
years ago. I am interested in how Internet-based communities of teachers
can create effective learning environments for the sharing of MI strategies
and applications. Question: What role do you see the Internet playing in
the 1) proliferation, and 2) deeper understanding among teachers of the
appropriate application for the theory of multiple intelligences in schools?
howard gardner - Certainly
the internet is a great way for teachers to find out about new ideas and
to exchange specific plans. Ultimately, I think one needs to build real
as well as virtual communities closer to home. However the internet can
also help you to do that and to keep in touch as we are doing now.
Marisel - Dr. Gardner,
I am a student at Barry University in Miami, Fl. majoring in elementary
Education. What is the best piece of advice that you can give me? I would
like to add that I am really looking forward to becoming a teacher and
I feel that every child has the ability to learn.
howard gardner -
Never forget the motivation that led you into teaching. If you find your
motivation flagging, you need to revisit your original goals and passion.
If you cant reactivate them, then you should not be in the classroom any
more. Of course, there is much advice I could give about becoming a better
teacher but that is a longer conversation. BY the way, all of you in this
chat room should feel free to call me Howard.
connie - What are
your feelings about the use of IQ test in education to identify and label
students? I teach in Virginia and I am concerned about the testing and
labeling of our students using this test.
howard gardner -
I am surprised to learn that the IQ test is being routinely used in VA.
In many states you cant use it because it is thought to be prejudicial.
No child should be labeled on the basis of one test, and of course the
intelligence test is the most charged label of all. VA is at present a
test-crazy state, as are Texas and some others. This is unfortunate because
testing itself does not bring about changes However I think it will take
our country a long time to realize that the solution to our educational
problems are inseparable from the values of our wider society.
Lisa/3/MO - I am working
on my thesis paper for a masters in reading at Evangel University in Springfield,
Missouri. How do you see Multiple Intelligence Theory improving reading
instruction and learning in the classroom ... and how much research have
you done in the area of Multiple Intelligence Theory and Reading Instruction?
howard gardner -
MI theory has not been used extensively in the teaching of reading, so
I cant comment in detail. Certainly, children differ in how they attack
reading and the interventions from which they benefit. And in some cases,
approaching reading through another symbol system can be advantageous.
MI is now being used quite imaginatively in the teaching of reading to
adults. At Harvard we have the Adult
MI project., You can get further details by contacting julie viens
(julie@pz.harvard.edu)
Karin - Hi Howard.
I am honored to "meet" you. Our school has studied and worked to implement
ideas based upon MI theory since the early 90's. We were honored to have
Mindy K visit us 2 years ago! Thanks for giving us the research to support
our belief that all children are smart! Can you describe the existentialist
intelligence? Do you feel there are classroom ramifications/applications
for this latest intelligence?
howard gardner -
The existential intelligence is in limbo-- we are trying to find good biological
evidence for it. I have a chapter on this question in INTELLIGENCE
REFRAMED which should be in your book store any day now. Briefly,
existential intelligence draws on the human capacity to ask and try to
answer Very Big Questions. As far as I am concerned, all education should
begin with such Existential questions like Who are we, where do we come
from, why are we here, what is going to happen to us? When you get mired
in testing and long-distance standards, such existential issues necessarily
go by the boards.
Genie/GA/k - I am
working on my masters also. What is your definition of curriculum and how
does the MI theory impact instruction? In a k classroom, how do you identify
Multiple Intelligences in young children?
howard gardner -
The last part of your question is the easiest. We have developed methods
for tracing MI in children. You can read about them in the three Project
Spectrum books published by Teachers College Press. Curriculum
is simply the materials and methods that we want our children to master
in school. Curricula reflect our priorities and values (facts vs understanding,
for example). You can never get curriculum from MI. BUT once you know WHAT
you want to teach, then there are many methods of teaching that draw on
MI ideas. The best place to read further is in THE
DISCIPLINED MIND where I describe a curriculum based on the true,
the beautiful, and the good, and then show how it can be taught by energizing
the ensemble of human intelligences.
Karin - As a parent,
how has Mi theory affected how you regard your own child's education?
howard gardner -
good question. Parents are susceptible to positive and negative narcissism--
I want my child to be just like me, or I want my child to do the one thing
I could not do. Over time I have learned to spend more time trying to understand
what each child wants and is good at and how best to help him/her achieve
those goals.
Mim - I teach G/T
2-6 in PA. I thank you for your research and theory. I feel it has particular
importance to the fact that gifted children often feel they need to be
"perfect" in all areas. Have you done any research pertaining particularly
to MI and G/T stud
howard gardner -
my wife Ellen Winner is my informant about giftedness, See her book GIFTED
CHILDREN. While there are some kids who are omnibus gifted, most
are much stronger in one area than in others. When kids try to be perfect
in everything, that is a sign that someone has given them the idea that
they cant have an "uneven profile". And so parents and teachers need to
help them get some distance from their strengths AND weaknesses, or, unless
they are Leonardo da Vinci, they are destined to be unhappy for life.
CAZgirl - Greetings
from California.. I am concerned With the current concerns over test scores
and achievement test do you feel that we are becoming to fixated on numbers?
How does this focus affect using the MI theories in the classroom? We are
being pushed to teach children how to take test, bubble in the answer ect.
what are your feelings on this?
howard gardner -
I am very unsympathetic to a test-crazed society. You don't help a patient
recover by taking her temperature all the time. The best thing teachers
and administrators can do is to give lots of different kinds of feedback
to parents and politicians, so that the Single Number mentality does not
dominate. I recommend focussing on STUDENT WORK because that is the unambiguous
sign of student learning (or , alas, non learning in some cases)
Kim/NC - Good evening
Dr. Gardner. You have said that the theory of multiple intelligences may
be best understood when we know what it critiques. Will you explain this
further please?
howard gardner -
Sure. MI theory critiques the notion that there is a single intelligence,
that we are born with, that cant be changed, and that can be measured by
a single instrument. I disagree with each of these statements and think
that they are wrong scientifically and practically. And so I have developed
a theory of different intelligences, each of which can be molded and improved
by practice, and most of which cant be measured by a simple paper and pencil
test. All the rest is commentary!
kms - I am interested
in implementing MI in learning centers. What are you ideas on this and
will it work?
howard gardner -
I think that you mean using learning centers, which highlight different
intelligences. As you may know Bruce
Campbell from Seattle has written some books on this topic and
he is the best authority. With reference to any method, I always say "What
are you using it for" and "How do you know that it is working?" If you
can answer those questions about l.c. then you are in business!
jane - what role does
a sense of humor play in the MI. I have noticed that some of the giftedness
rating scales look at a child's understanding of humor
howard gardner -
I love humor and if you want to call it an intelligence informally, that
does not bother me. However, I have eight criteria for an intelligence
and humor does not qualify ... at least not yet. I think of humor as applying
logical intelligence to various spheres. In humor you negate or reverse
the usual state of affairs, which is a logical operation. To amuse others,
you have to be able to put yourself into their places, and that involves
interpersonal intelligence as well.
Grace - VAKT theory
has been around the reading field for over 50 years. Others have added
music to reading instruction. How does all of this fit into your MI theories?
howard gardner -
You are going beyond my expertise. I think that often the material of one
intelligence (like music) can aid you in learning something else, but only
in a very generic way. To be able to read you have to be able to match
sounds with graphemes, and the process does not work the same with musical
scores as with alphabetical texts. So music can help you get started but
in the end it cannot substitute for phomene-graphic matches
Just/RI - Good Evening
Dr. Gardner, I am curious about the types of system support classroom teachers
can avail themselves of if they are interested in beginning to use the
MI approach in their classrooms. Is there support available to local school
systems.
howard gardner -
I suggest that you read Tom Hoerr's books from the New
City School in ST Louis. It shows how to start MI schools.
Maggie in Canada -
Is either gender more or less likely to possess any particular intelligence/s?
howard gardner -
Maggie, probably women are stronger on the average in language, and men
in spatial, but these strengths can be shifted by tutelage
Maria? - How does
MI work in the work place?
howard gardner -
Maria, I have a whole chapter on MI in the workplace in my new book Intelligence
Reframed
Katydid - What is
your opinion of the work of Marie Clay, what implications does this have
for us as teachers, especially in response to single modality programs
such as an Open Court program?
howard gardner -
I know of Marie Clay from Reading Recovery. Everything I know about this
approach is that it is an excellent one, though it requires considerable
resources. Single Modality programs sound self limiting but I am not sure
I know what they are !
Halima - How can we
implement the theory of multiple intelligence in the classroom. Please
give examples (in Physics high school level) as mentioned in your book's
review
howard gardner -
You should look, Halima, at THE
DISCIPLINED MIND and THE
UNSCHOOLED MIND. In the latter book I talk about problems that
kids have in mastering the discipline of physics. In the DISCIPLINED
MIND I show how you can use MI as entry points, powerful analogies,
and different model languages, all of which can help with subjects like
physics
Maria? - Hello from
Argentina, people do not understand how the spiritual and naturalistic
intelligences can be recognized
howard gardner -
Naturalist intelligence shows itself when children (or anyone) is good
in recognizing members of a class of natural objects (like plants, animals,
clouds etc.)., Since I don't think that there is such a thing as spiritual
intelligence, I cant tell you how to identify it! See my two chapters in
INTELLIGENCE
REFRAMED, where I discuss the problems with spiritual intelligence.
Addie k/mo - There
is also an emphasis on healthy self esteem and good self concept. How does
the implementation of MI theory contribute to a healthy self esteem?
howard gardner -
I think that MI theory is quite relevant to self esteem. S-E in itself
is meaningless- it can be delusional as well as efficacious. But if you
feel good about yourself because you are able to accomplish something that
you thought you could not, that is very important. Many kids feel ineffective
because they cant handle school as well as others. For these kids it is
especially important to identify realms where they are competent. And sometimes
that can spill over into school work, though I don't believe in miracles
in this regard,,, or others!
HarrietH - Our school
of 750 students of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders is considering organizing
enrichment activities based on your theory of multiple intelligence. Do
you see this as being successful and beneficial l? If so, what instrument
would be most practical to use to identify the intelligence of each student?
howard gardner -
I think that it is a great idea to organize enrichment around MI. I don't
think that you need a fancy instrument to measure intelligences. Ask kids
what they are good in, and what they like to do, pose the same questions
to parents and teachers, and so long as they agree, then you have a good
rough and ready measure of intelligences. For younger kids, the Spectrum
methods that I mentioned earlier are a good way to identify intelligences.
Kathleen/CT - Dr.
Gardner, we deeply appreciate your time here.
Tony Bott/T.Net -
Look forward to further discussions of Multiple Intelligences as we develop
resources for those interested in continued discussion of MI applications
and strategies for students.
Bob Reap - A warm
thanks to you Howard, and to all a good night!
Tony Bott/T.Net -
Remember, get a copy of Intelligence Reframed as soon as it is available!
This is an excellent read, an intelligent discussion of the development
of multiple intelligences. New intelligences are discussed, and a revised
description of MI's applying to assessment and school design will inform
educators of all ages.
Tony Bott/T.Net -
G'nite everybody!!! Thanks again.
To view a listing of other books by Dr. Gardner,
visit Teachers.Net's
Bookshelf
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