Individual’s Development: Theory of Multiple Intelligences

H. Gardner explained intelligence as the capability to find a solution or invent products that can be valuable. However, there is still an argument about it. Some researcher said that it is a common potential while some researcher believes that it is a combination of different skills and talents. Dr. Gardner listed 8 bits of intelligence included visual-spatial, linguistic-verbal, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic. According to this theory, multiple intelligences allow us to know and understand the surroundings and ourselves by a different method.

The theory of multiple intelligences has caused an effect on American education. Some schools started to switch their way of delivering information and knowledge to students. Teachers are suggested to conduct their lessons by using videos, audio, pictures, interactive activities, and plenty more. (T. Armstrong, Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom, 4th Edition, 2018) This will have a tremendous change in the traditional method of teaching-learning process and cause diversities between schools that have and haven’t changed the lecture method. The current challenge is to get more people especially people in the education field to accept this theory and put it into practice. (T. Armstrong, In Their Own Way: Discovering and Encouraging Your Child’s Multiple Intelligences, 2000)

Everyone has their own intelligence and this intelligence rarely function alone. Some people may have very significant intelligence and cause the illusion that those people have only one type of intelligence, but, they actually got more than one intelligence and they should find out the other intelligence. Although, some people are having unusually high levels of ability in each intelligence and having high achievements, however, most ordinary people occupy some different bits of intelligence and we need to identify it and fully utilize it so that it will become our strengths.

Multiple intelligences allow us to complete tasks in a much more effective and efficient way. When we feel easy while handling problems, it indicates that we are using the intelligence that we have developed. On the other hand, when we meet troubles or find it difficult to solve problems, we may be using intelligence that is less progressed. Though multiple intelligences can help us in our daily lives, hands-on practice is also important for intelligence to function more effectively. (Carol, Joyce, & Sarah, Keys to Success, p. 68)

Most people have more than one intelligence and everyone has a different unique combination with levels. As for me, I have the intelligence of visual-spatial. I love daydreaming, puzzling, and tend to imagine a scene or an image. It is easier for me to remember things that I’ve seen rather than hearing or touching. Knowing myself well and understanding my own strength, I will clear up my mind and make things into a mind map that I can easily see the overall situation and remember it by having the picture in my mind. I’ll also try to avoid studying or understanding using my weakness such as logical-mathematical or music. If I need to remember numbers or patterns which is challenging for me, I will imagine it to be a picture. For example, I need to memorize my student id which is 89, I will imagine a picture of a person with a cross-eye and a big ear on the right. The Cross eye indicates the horizontal number “8” while the big ear indicates the number “9”. In addition, visual-spatial also gave me a good sense of direction. I love to check on the map whenever I want to find out places and it never disappoints me to gain a lot of information from the map. I’m also good at recognizing routes since I’m young. I always have my way to remember it no matter by identifying buildings or plants or anything extraordinary.

Besides, Interpersonal are also one strength of mine. I enjoy social events, teaching, and knowing new friends. I can notify others' moods and know what should I do to enliven the atmosphere or resolving conflicts between friends. This intelligence enables me to know more people, expand my network, and willing to contribute to society. I enjoy the moment when I get to help others, I feel relief and happiness that I’ve done a good deed. Other than that, I also have the equal ability of intrapersonal intelligence. I’m aware of my own feelings, emotions, and like to spend time alone. I write diaries and make records of my daily life so that I am conscious of as well as in charge of my life. Self-reflection allows me to know what I’m weak in and how should I improve. It also helps me to notice where I’m wrong and what should I do to avoid mistakes. It may sound weird to have interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence appearing together because it occupies two totally different characteristics. However, it is practical to apply these two bits of intelligence together and make their respective advantages complementary to each other. When we are receiving lectures in class, we are applying interpersonal intelligence. But we can also apply intrapersonal intelligence at the same time. When our mind is processing the information while listening, we can also ask a question to ourselves in our mind. This is a significant example of interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligence working together for a more productive outcome.

Garder suggested that all intelligence has the same importance and essential to an individual’s development. Although intelligence is different, they usually work together. Consequently, development in one area often increases the ability of another. (Gardner, 1983) Teachers need to understand the theory of multiple intelligence and accept it with an open-minded. Apply it and make changes while teaching so that it can benefit students.