Theory of the Multiple Intelligences
25 concretely”. Students who have highly developed spatial intelligence need a
mental or physical picture to best understand new information; do well with maps, charts, and diagrams; and like mazes and puzzles. They can also excel in drawing,
designing, and creating things. After that, there is the Bodily-Kinesthetic intelligence. McKenzie 2005:
12 says that students who excel in this intelligence are doing better if they learn something by doing it. They are good at solving problems, making things, and
conveying ideas and emotions if they can use their body. Students who exhibit bodily-kinesthetic intelligence are also good at physical activities, hand-eye
coordination, and have a tendency to move around, touch things, and gesture. The next intelligence is the Musical intelligence. Based on Armstrong
2009:7, this intelligence relates to a person’s ability in the sensitivity to the pitch, timbre, and rhythm of sounds as well as responsiveness to the emotional
implications of these elements of music. They are strong in remembering melodies or recognizing pitch and rhythm. They enjoy listening to music and are
aware of surrounding sounds. After that, there is the Intrapersonal Intelligence. Gardner 2011: 253
suggests that the innermost of the development of this intelligence is “access to one’s own feeling life.” This encompasses the ability to understand one’s own
emotions, goals, and intentions. Students strong in intrapersonal intelligence have a strong sense of self, are confident, and can enjoy working alone. They usually
are able to figure out their own strengths and abilities.
26 There is also the Interpersonal Intelligence. Nicholson-Nelson 1998: 11
clarifies that this intelligence relates to the ability to work effectively with other people and to understand them and recognize their goals, motivations, and
intentions. Students who are good at this intelligence like cooperative work, have strong leadership skills, and are skilled at organizing, communicating, mediating,
and negotiating. Finally, the last one is the Naturalist Intelligence. Armstrong 2009: 7
claims that the students who exhibit the Naturalist intelligence are good at making distinctions in the natural world. They are sensitive to natural phenomena such as
cloud formations, mountains, etc. The intelligence also refers to the ability to recognize flora and fauna. The students who are strong in this intelligence are
good in the recognition and classification of numerous species. Gardner lists eight intelligences that a human can have. It means that there
are many ways to teach students that suit with how students acquire new knowledge. However, there are several issues that need to be considered in the
implementation of these strategies. These issues describe certain point the theory of the Multiple Intelligences that need to be considered. Armstrong 2009:15-16
explains these key points as follows: 1
Each person owns all eight intelligences. Those intelligences works together in a unique way. However, a person’s intelligences may works differently to other
person.
27 2
Each of all the eight intelligence can be developed to an adequate level of competency. All eight intelligences, if given the right environmental conditions,
can be highly developed intelligences. 3
Intelligences usually work together in a complex way. Intelligences are interconnected. A person may use more than a single intelligence when they are
doing something. 4
There are many ways to be intelligent within each category. In order to be considered intelligent in a specific area, there is no specific or standard set of
attributes. The theory of Multiple Intelligences can give teachers pictures of how the
teaching and learning process should be. This theory gives a valuable perspective for teachers in designing their lesson. Armstrong 2009:54 adds that the Multiple
Intelligences theory can give teachers suggestion of the need to expand their repertoire of techniques, tools and strategies. Techniques, tools and strategies are
very important for teaching and learning process and for students in achieving their learning goal. Various ways of presenting information and lesson can not
only make students more interested and understand about the lesson, but can also make both students and the teacher understand there are many different ways to be
smart.