Questions and Answers about MI Theory

There are some myths and misconceptions about Multiple Intelligence Theory. I’ll use some questions to clarify some of them.
1. There are lots of tests that aim at assessing people’s different intelligences. Should they be used by teachers?
Answer: Yes and No. These tests can be useful to show students that they have strengths and weaknesses, that they are “smart” in their own way. So, if a student is not linguistically smart, he can realize that he can be, for example “body smart” or “music smart”. So this will be good for his self-esteem. These tests can also be useful to give teachers an idea of the different intelligences their pupils have. However, Gardner points out that these tests are often inaccurate as they often examine students’ intelligences through the lenses of linguistic or logical intelligences and not through an “intelligence fair” method. For example, according to Gardner, music intelligence should be assessed by exposing people to a new melody and by determining how readily they learn to sing it or recognize it and not by asking students, for example, in a written questionnaire, if they like listening to music while they study.
2. Are multiple intelligences the same thing as learning styles?
Answer: No. Learning styles are the different ways in which a learner takes in information. They can be defined as the way human beings prefer to concentrate on, store and remember new or difficult information. Intelligences are the different capacities a learner uses to make products or to solve problems.
3. Should teachers teach everything using the eight intelligences?
Answer: Not really. Teachers should be aware that students are different from each other and so they should try to reach them all. They should also give all of them the opportunity to show their understanding of what has been taught in the way they prefer. However there are things that cannot be taught in eight different ways. So, it’s better to teach that thing in the way the teacher thinks is the most appropriate one for that subject and teach the next subject with a different approach.
4. Is MI Theory a methodology?
Answer: No. There is no specific methodology connected with the MI Theory. Teachers should use the strategies they want bearing in mind that students are not all the same. According to Gardner (1999) “teachers need to be imaginative and pluralistic if they hope to stimulate revealing performances of understanding” and “when teachers are able to use different pedagogical approaches, they can reach more students in more effective ways”.
5. Is assessment through Project Work and Portfolio favoured by MI Theory?
Answer: Yes. Through Project Work and Portfolio students can show their learning and understanding of different subjects in the way they prefer, according to their specific intelligences. If students were allowed to do so, they would certainly feel more motivated to learn.