Managing eLearning Blog

Multiple Intelligence Testing

Everybody learns differently. In 1975 Howard Gardner came up with a theory which included eight different intelligence types. They are linguistic (word smart), logical (number smart), interpersonal (smart), intrapersonal (myself smart), musical (music smart), visual/spatial (picture smart), naturalistic (nature smart) and kinaesthetic (body smart).

Below is the link to the multiple Intelligences site where you can take a test (online questionaire) to see what levels your multiple intelligences are currently at:

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/ict/multiple_int/what.cfm

My multiple intelligences are:

As you can see, I completed the multiple Intelligence test and as a result was able to see both strengths and weaknesses of my intelligence. The results are useful in determining which modes you predominately work best in, as well as establishing areas for improvement.

I was curious (typical me) as to know what other people's multiple intelligence levels are, so I decided to compare my multiple intelligence results with the average results of other females my age who had taken the test.

My test results differed considerably from what is considered to be average. Not one of my intelligence coponents match those of average.

Looking at this from a teaching perspective, I came to the realisation that when teaching a class would be made up of learners of varying levels of multiple intelligences. This difference needs to be catered for adequately and thought of when planning learning experiences.

Technology is a means of bridging the difference. Mark Prensky (2005) states that ICTs and the use of them in meaningful contexts engages almost all learners. Finding the right technology - one that matches a student's interests and builds upon both the strengths and weaknesses of their multiple intelligences - would improve a learners qualitity of learning whilst making them want to learn.

References:
Prensky, M. (2005). Engage me or enrage me what today's learners demand. Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/erm0553.pdf .

Images:
Birmingham City Council. (2010). Multiple intelligences. Retrieved from http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/ict/multiple_int/what.cfm