Who Is Howard Gardner?

Howard Gardner is a developmental psychologist who is most famous for his Theory on Multiple Intelligence. This paper will discuss Gardner's life as well as his theory and how he has changed the world of education for all students and teachers.
Howard Gardner is a developmental psychologist. He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on July 11, 1943. His parents were Ralph and Hilde Gardner. They were German- Jewish immigrants who fled Germany before World War Two. Growing up a good education was very important.He described himself as "a studious child who gained much pleasure from playing the piano". Because his parents felt education was so important they had hoped he would attend Phillips Academy Andover in Massachusetts. Phillips is a very
Preparatory boarding school for grades 9-12. Instead of moving far away from his family he ended up attending Wyoming Seminary which was much closer to his home. Gardner always loved to learn and did very well in school as a child. After high school Gardner attended Harvard University. He graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor's degree in social relations and began to study under Erik Erikson who was a developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst, best known for his theory on psychosocial development. Gardner then went on to get a Ph.D in Developmental Psychology. For his postdoctoral fellowship he worked at Boston Veterans Administration Hospital and he continued to work there for twenty years. In 1986 Gardner started teaching at Harvard Graduate School of Education, and since 1995 he has been focused on The Good Project. The Good Project is “a research-based organization that promotes excellence, engagement, and ethics in education, preparing students to become good workers and good citizens who contribute to the overall well-being of society.” In 2000 Gardner and other colleagues from Harvard established a master's degree program in Mind, Brain and Education, which was the first of its kind throughout the whole world. What Howard Gardner is most famous for is his Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
According to his theory, humans have seven distinct intelligences,Visual-Spatial, Bodily-kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical. Visual-Spatial is when you think in terms of physical space like architects or sailors.Visual-Spacial people are very aware of their environment and they like to draw, do puzzles, and daydream. These people also can be taught through drawing or verbal and physical imagery. Bodily-kinesthetic is when you use the body. For example these people are usually dancers or a surgeon's. They have a good sense of body awareness. They like movement, making things, touching. They are good at communicating through body language and can be taught through physical activity, hands-on learning, acting out, and role playing. Musical people do well with rhythm and sound. They love music, but they are sensitive to the sounds in their environment. They study better with music in the background. They can be taught by turning lessons into lyrics, speaking rhythmically, and tapping out time. Interpersonal people can understand and interact with others well. These people can learn through interaction. They usually have many friends as well as empathy for others and street smarts. They can be taught through group activities, seminars, dialogues. Intrapersonal people can understand their own interests and goals. These people usually stay away from others but they in tune with themselves. They have intuition and motivation, as well as confidence and opinions. They can be taught by studying independently and introspection. Linguistic learners are good at using words effectively. These people have highly developed auditory skills and can think in words. They like reading and playing word games.They can be taught by encouraging them to say and see words and reading books together. Naturalistic people are interested in the world. They enjoy
learning about plants, animals, and the weather.The final intelligence is Logical -Mathematical. These people use reasoning, calculating. They think abstractly and are able to see and explore patterns. They like to experiment and solve puzzles. They can be taught through logic games and investigations. Many people have been inspired by Gardner's theory and has allowed people to realize that there is more than one way for people to learn. Many people have also criticized his theory, saying that there is lack of evidence to support it.
Throughout his life Howard Gardner has won many awards for his Theory of Multiple Intelligence. To name a few he has won the MacArthur Prize Fellowship in 1981, in 1990 he was the first american to win The National Psychology Awards for Excellence in the Media, and in 1987 he won the William James Award. He has also been awarded 31 honorary degrees from colleges and universities all over the world. And these are not all of the award that he has won.
Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligence changed the way everyone thinks about the way students learn, therefore improving education for everyone. Gardner continues to this day to try to improve education through the good project and making sure students are able to reach their full potential.