Why Teachers Should Embrace Multiple Intelligences

In a recent Huffington Post article, founding editor of Future Kerala Dipin Damodharan made the case for teachers to utilize Multiple Intelligences in the classroom. In "alternative" education, educators believe that the goals of education should be knowledge and growth. This view of education is in conflict with the idea that education is simply a means to land lucrative careers. As Mr. Damodharan states, MI can be used in "alternative" education settings as a tool to encourage students to gain a deeper understanding of the curriculum they're being taught and to become global citizens. By utilizing two key components from MI theory, individuation and pluralization, teachers can tailor make their modules to play to their students' strengths, improve upon their weaknesses, and keep their minds engaged.

Read the blog in its entirety here. 

Changing the Mindset of Education

An article in the Huffington Post's Education section has referenced Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences in a call for greater empowerment of students' abilities.

Columnists Arina Bokas and Rod Rock draw on Carol Dweck's research to delineate two mindsets about success in education: 1) a fixed mindset where people believe that their achievements are due to inherent intelligence; and 2) a growth mindset in which intelligence can be cultivated and enhanced due to hard work. According to the authors, too often, the fixed mindset, reinforced by a belief in biological origins of intellectual capacity, wins out in education. By assuming that intelligence is not malleable and cannot be expanded, the minds of children cannot grow.

By embracing the alternative growth mindset, which is supported by neuroscientific evidence, learning can be better fostered. Gardner's MI theory holds that students have different strengths in many separate areas. The multiple intelligences can be employed to step away from "one-size-fits-all" education and move towards personalization and individuation.

To read the article in full, please click here.