Multiple Intelligences and Online Learning - Essay Example

This paper tends to explain the theory of MI in brief and explores its applicability in the emerging industry of online learning. Concept of Multiple Intelligences  It was in 1983, the prominent professor and psychologist of Harvard University introduced his famous multiple intelligence theory, which thereby altered the educational perspectives of the entire world. Howard found that the traditional ways of testing for intelligence were not comprehensive enough or they simply biased to particular and rather small group of individuals.

Evidently, the intelligence of learners is often measured based on their arithmetic skills and reading, writing excellence; and hence people with other areas of skills tend to lose attention and support (‘what are multiple Intelligences?’). Howard proposed ‘eight primary intelligences’ among which at least one or many can be found in every individual. He argued that a broader range of learning method is essential so as to determine the apt learning style for each individual regardless of his/her intellectual or physical weaknesses.

The reason he found was that every individual may excel in one or more than one of the eight Intelligences, and therefore their skills are seldom inferior to that of others. At this juncture, a good educator is challenged to teach a child following the way it learns other than the way he (Tutor) preferred to teach. Howard’s intelligences include logical-mathematical, spatial, linguistic, bodily kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic. According to Gardner, intelligence refers to the ability to find and solve problems and create products of value in one’s own culture” (cited in Kramer, 2002, p. 46). MI in Online Learning As mentioned in the introduction, applying MI concept while developing e-learning strategy would increase learner’s likeliness of experiencing positive result based on their MI potential.

However, how to assimilate such an activity based program is the strategic challenge the educators have to meet in this regard. Varieties of technological applications have been invented to stimulate online learning interactions for the recent past. Evidently, designers have to be creative enough to apply the available tools appropriately. Although it is not possible to include specific activity for each learner, all learners would find some elements valuable if a variety of activities are well incorporated in the program.

For instance, facilities like video conference, discussions, chats, interactive games, puzzles, use of music and spoken texts, graphs, visuals etc can be used to enhance the e-learning experience of the pupils regardless of their intellectual variance. To illustrate, in order for adding linguistic intelligence activities, tactics like online interviews, speaking tests, drafting e-mails, reading and writing articles, and writing literature reviews or book movie reviews can be considered. When it comes to online learning, selecting and evaluating MI software inventory is highly important.

As McKenzie (2005) notes, by completing MI software inventory, one must be ‘able to determine the intelligence that each application supports’ and ‘identify those intelligences that need to be considered in future purchases’ (p. 63). The content, interface, design, and documentation features of the