Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences: Effects on Secondary Education Essay Example

Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences: Effects on Secondary Education Education is a universal tool that always has and will play a major role in the development of humans and life itself. All creatures, people included, can be educated in numerous ways. Howard Gardner would describe the different ways that people learn as multiple intelligences. The theory of multiple intelligences states that all humans have a particular way of learning that is best suited for them. According to Gardner, most people can categorize themselves in one of these eight intelligences: linguistic, musical, spatial, logical/mathematical, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences has influenced secondary education by changing lesson plans, changing ways that educators teach, and changing the use of technology in the classroom. The theory of multiple intelligences has influenced the lesson plans that the teachers use in order to best educate their class. All students have strengths and weaknesses when it come to education and learning. It is impossible for teachers to teach in a way that always benefits everyone all the time (Kelly). There will always be students that differ from each other in all aspects of life; personality, interest, abilities, and learning styles. Therefore, educators must create lesson plans that can give each student what he or she needs in order to be successful (Kelly). There may be one day that is centered on kids that use logic to learn while the next day may be centered on kids that use creative thinking to learn. Everyone learns and thinks in a specific way. According to Howard Gardner, these ways can be defined using a theory of multiple intelligences (Gardner). The theory of multiple intelligences can be divided into eight categories (Gardner). The first intelligence is the verbal/linguistic intelligence which can be defined as an individual's ability to understand and