Chapter 24 - The Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Summary

Multiple intelligence (MI) theory has drawn considerable attention primarily from psychologists and educators. Some critics of MI theory argue that it is not grounded in empirical research and cannot, therefore, be proved or disproved on the basis of new empirical findings. The understanding that intelligences operate on specific content can also help to distinguish them from sensory systems. From a neuropsychological point of view, the critical test for MI theory will be the ways in which intellectual strengths map onto neural structures and connections. Uses of MI ideas within and outside formal educational settings hold great promise. In particular, new digital media and virtual realities offer numerous ways in which learners can master required knowledge and skills. MI ideas are likely to endure within the worlds of education, business, and daily practice, like the terms emotional intelligence and social intelligence, they are already becoming part of the conventional wisdom.