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Does the idea of multiple intelligences surprise you? It does many people because of our indoctrination to think IQ - not IQs. IQ means “Intelligence Quotient” which is a score obtained from a test purported to measure intelligence. The traditional definition of intelligence is: the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience. People with high IQ’s are believed to be “smart” and those with low IQ’s are believed to be sub-average.
 The theory of Multiple Intelligences, created by Dr. Howard Gardner, promotes the concept of nine intelligences with individuals exhibiting a combination of these intelligences. Gardner’s definition of intelligence is “the capacity to solve problems or to fashion products that are valued in one or more cultural setting.”
The theory of multiple intelligences
encompasses the following:
 1. Visual / Spatial Intelligence is a student’s ability to recognize or “see in their mind’s eye.” Students have the propensity to think in pictures and are most successful when encouraged to create vibrant mental images to help them remember information.
You will find students, who excel in this kind of intelligence, having advanced skills in puzzle solving, reading and writing, comprehension of charts, maps and graphs. They are the students who always know how to get somewhere and have an uncanny sense of direction. Their good visual spatial skills allow them to be good at artistic endeavours and they can create visual metaphors and analogies.
2. Verbal / Linguistic Intelligence is a student’s ability to use words and language. These students have excellent auditory skills and are typically well spoken. They naturally think in words rather than pictures.
Students who excel in verbal/linguistic intelligence are good listeners and speak and write well. They are story tellers and can explain things in a way that helps everyone understand. They are often natural teachers. They have a good sense of humour and their understanding of syntax and meaning of words helps them communicate effectively and creatively.
3. Logical / Mathematical Intelligence is associated with the ability to use reason, logic and numbers. Students think conceptually in logical and numerical patterns. This allows them to quickly make connections between pieces of information. These students are perpetually curious about the world and they are constantly asking questions and enjoy doing experiments.
Their particular innate intelligence gives them the ability to be problem solvers. They naturally classify and categorize information and love to work with abstract concepts trying to find the relationships between them.
4. Bodily / Kinesthetic Intelligence is the ability to control body movements and handle objects skillfully. Students are able to express themselves through movement. They excel in their sense of balance and eye-hand co-ordination. They make meaning from interacting with the space around them and this facilitates how they remember and process information.
Students who excel in bodily/kinesthetic intelligence are naturals in the areas of dancing, physical co-ordination and sports. They are good at hands on experimentation as well as body language.
5. Musical / Rhythmic Intelligence is the ability to produce and appreciate music. Students are musically inclined and think in sounds, rhythms and patterns. When these students hear music, there is an immediate response of either liking it or disliking it. These learners are very reactive to environmental sounds.
Students who excel in musical/rhythmic intelligence are natural singers and musicians. They play musical instruments and recognize tonal patterns. They love to compose music and they are adept at remembering melodies and understanding the structure and rhythm of music.
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6. Interpersonal Intelligence is the ability to relate and understand others. Students are skillful at seeing other people's point of view and translating this into understanding about how others think and feel. These students are good at organizing and may resort to manipulation to get their way. Typically these students facilitate the maintenance of peace in groups and promote cooperation.
Students who excel in interpersonal intelligence are naturals at seeing both sides of a situation and using their good listening skills to be empathic about understanding other people's moods and feelings. They are people who others trust easily.
7. Intrapersonal Intelligence is the ability to be self-reflective and creating an awareness of one's inner state of being. Students understand the value of being in touch and understanding their feelings and dreams as well as their relationships with others.
Students who excel in intrapersonal intelligence know their strengths and limitations because they are reflective in analyzing themselves. They are particularly adept at evaluating their thinking patterns and reasoning with themselves. They are excellent at understanding their role in relationship to others.
8. Naturalist Intelligence is the ability to recognize, categorize and draw upon certain features of the environment. This intelligence has to do with observing, understanding and organizing patterns in the natural environment. A naturalist is someone who shows expertise in the recognition and classification of plants and animals.
Student’s who excel in naturalist intelligence love to be outdoors and choose to read about and watch programs about animals and ecosystems. They have a natural ability to nurture plants and animals. They recognize patterns, colours and classifications and are careful, patient observers of nature. They often collect rocks, minerals leaves etc. They prefer music that is related to nature.
9. Existential Intelligence is being considered for inclusion as one of the multiple intelligences by Dr. Gardner. Many professionals and educational personnel already accept its value and provide students, who exhibit existential intelligence, with support and guidance.
Existential Intelligence is the ability to be sensitive to, or have the interest in asking questions about, human existence including: what is the meaning of life, why are we born, why do we die, what is consciousness, or how did we get here etc. Students who have well developed existential intelligence are often referred to as having what is called a “sixth sense.”
This article has explored the traditional concept of intelligence, or IQ, and the theory of multiple intelligences. Parents and educators who understand the premise of multiple intelligences are able to create appropriately enhanced learning environments for children.
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