How Dance Helps Children with Special Needs

By Howard Gardner

In the terminology of MI theory, individuals on the “autistic spectrum” are particularly challenged with respect to interpersonal intelligence—the ability to perceive and easily understand the experiences and motivations of other human beings. This article suggests that, at least for some children on the “autistic spectrum,” experiences involving bodily movement (dance) and music—either with other persons or with robots—can help them relate more easily and more appropriately to other individuals. The article also suggests a possible mechanism—perhaps such experiences activate mirror neurons, which respond to other person’s behaviors and emotional expression. And perhaps in neurotypical individuals, this activation of mirror neurons occurs more readily.

It’s gratifying that certain intelligences may help to unlock other intelligences.

Click here to see the article.

How MI Theory Helps Schools

A school in Missouri, USA which uses Multiple Intelligences (MI) theory as a basis for their curriculum is celebrating itheir 50th anniversary. New City School in St Louis aims to develop their students’ individual strengths through an integrated MI curriculum. Principal Alexis Wright writes “our Multiple Intelligences frame for teaching and learning helps our students challenge themselves, pushing them to become well-rounded, lifelong learners.”

 Click here for details.

Since Howard Gardner first published Frames of Mind in 1983, MI theory has reached wide acceptance among educators. Many schools have adapted and interpreted MI theory in different ways.

Research conducted at Harvard University’s Project Zero suggests that MI theory helps schools in several ways:

• It offers a vocabulary for discussing children's strengths and developing curriculum.

• It validates practices already synchronous with MI theory.

• It promotes or justifies education in diverse art forms.

• It encourages teachers to work in teams, complementing their own strengths with those of their colleagues.

• It encourages schools to devise rich educational experiences for children from diverse backgrounds.

See the Project Zero website for more details.

http://www.pz.harvard.edu/projects/multiple-intelligence-schools

Harvard Gazette Offers Visual Tribute to Theory of Multiple Intelligences

A recent issue of the Harvard Gazette, published photographs offering “a visual tribute to Professor Howard Gardner’s research positing ‘the existence of eight different intelligences, each as important as the next, that comprise a unique cognitive profile for each person.’ Gardner coined the term ‘multiple intelligences’ in his seminal work, ‘Frames of Mind,’ to ‘challenge the widely held notion that intelligence is a single general capacity possessed by every individual to a greater or lesser extent.’” Click this link to see the photographs.

New Children's TV Series is Based on MI Theory

A global children’s television company has acquired a series based on the theory of multiple intelligences for worldwide distribution. The co-director of the series, Nathalie Martinez, said “We have based the series’ educational philosophy on Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, which is reflected in the daily trials and tribulations of this modern family and their comedic adventures.”

The TV show, Hero Dad, “ is centered on a father who arrives home from work each day, changes into his superhero costume – rain boots, kitchen gloves, a tablecloth cape and a swimsuit over his trousers – and takes care of, teaches and plays with his curious 3-year-old daughter, Miao. The non-dialogue animated comedy, aimed at preschoolers 2 to 6, features the misadventures of this homemade superhero, who is kind of clumsy and ultimately always ends up being rescued by his clever little daughter, who learns the lesson of the day as the student becomes the teacher.” 

Click here for more details.

Denouncing Dermatoglyphics

The Indian Psychiatric Society has denounced the Dermatoglyphics Multiple Intelligences Test (DMIT) as having no scientific basis, as published in recently in The Times of India - click here for link. Dermatoglyphics purports to discern Multiple Intelligences based on fingerprinting.

As I mention under the Malpractices section of this website,

• The belief that one can infer intelligences from fingerprints is unfounded.

• There is no reason to think that fingerprints would be yoked to a specific intelligence or the Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

• Knowledge of one’s intelligences does not dictate life trajectory. We should not predict someone’s career choices based on their intelligences, let alone on the basis of their ‘fingerprints.’

It is good to see that the above is being recognized by the Indian Psychiatric Society.