Multiple Intelligences Theory

According to Howard Gardner, a professor of cognition and education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, “Intelligence is the capacity to do something useful in the society in which we live. Intelligence is the ability to respond successfully to new situations and the capacity to learn from one’s past experiences.” Dr. Gardner developed a theory that people employ a variety of intelligences on a daily basis and that they lean more heavily on some more than others. According to this this assessment, my top two are BODY MOVEMENT and SOCIAL with SELF intelligence a close third. This makes a lot of sense considering I love playing sports, being active, working out and coaching. I also enjoy going for walks while thinking and developing ideas. I have standing desk at work so I can have some active movement space. I absolutely love to develop ideas and learn from other people as well as collaborate on teams. This works well in my marriage, because when my wife and I are on the same page with a project or an adventure, it usually goes really well.  When I know we are in it together, I have a greater sense of confidence and an additional jolt of accountability that facilitates success. This was especially true working together as foster parents. I love bouncing ideas off people and going back and forth in brainstorming sessions. I was encouraged that my third intelligence was SELF which is a nice balance to SOCIAL.  I have a very good sense of my self (mind, will, emotions), working on projects individually or in groups, and I have a preference to learn by trial and error.

My Eagle Scout project was an educational experience, outside of the classroom, that cultivated multiple intelligences. I was able to plan, design, and implement a landscaping job for my local library when I was 17. The implementation required me to lean into my SOCIAL and BODY MOVEMENT in that I had to recruit and work with a group of people as well employ all of the movement that goes into a landscaping job. I hate to say it but most grade school and high school courses in formal educational settings fail to address multiple intelligences. There is a LOT of sitting, reading, memorizing, and regurgitating information. This typically isn't the fault of the teacher but the product of an educational system designed on the principles of the industrial revolution. It follows a process where we move kids through a system in large groups primarily by age and quantify success by standardized tests rather than creative problem solving. 

MI theory relates directly to web design in both form and function. For example, many fitness websites, like MyFitness Pal, lean  the function of community engagement where users are encouraged to input their fitness data and compete with friends to reach goals. There is less emphasis on pretty graphics and more on a user experience that engages people around human movement. Another website I frequent is Twitter. Twitter does a great job of maximizing efficiency and interactivity. I rely on Twitter to follow educational trends as well as keeping up with breaking news and sports. Twitter leverages the human connection as it enables us to connect with people in a uniquely personal way.  Twitter uses a very simple, mobile friendly design, limits word usage,  and leverages SOCIAL intelligence by way of commenting and MOVEMENT intelligence in that the twitter "feed" is always moving. It's never static.