Howard Gardner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Howard Gardner
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Gardner in 2013
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Howard Earl Gardner
July 11, 1943 Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Education | Harvard University (BA, PhD) London School of Economics |
| Known for | Theory of multiple intelligences |
| Spouse(s) | Ellen Winner |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Psychology, education |
| Institutions | Harvard University |
Howard Earl Gardner is an American psychologist and professor at Harvard University. He was born on July 11, 1943. He helped start Harvard Project Zero in 1967. He also led this research center for many years, from 1972 to 2023. Since 1995, he has been a co-director of The Good Project.
Gardner has written many research papers and over thirty books. These books have been translated into more than thirty languages. He is most famous for his theory of multiple intelligences. He first shared this idea in his 1983 book, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences.
He stopped teaching in 2019. In 2020, he published a book about his ideas called A Synthesizing Mind. He still does research and writes, including several blogs.
Contents
Howard Gardner's Early Life and Education
Howard Earl Gardner was born on July 11, 1943, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. His parents, Ralph and Hilde Gardner, were German-Jewish immigrants. They came to the U.S. in 1938, just before World War II.
Gardner said he was "a studious child." He really enjoyed playing the piano. Even though he never became a professional pianist, he taught piano from 1958 to 1969.
Howard Gardner had an older brother named Eric. Eric died at age seven in a sledding accident before Howard was born. Gardner often thinks about his childhood and his Jewish values. He also thinks about the sad loss of his brother, whom he never met. Growing up, Gardner found it hard to connect with his parents and other kids. As a young child, he loved reading and playing the piano.
Education was very important in the Gardner home. His parents wanted him to go to Phillips Academy. But Gardner chose to attend Wyoming Seminary, a school closer to his hometown. Gardner loved to learn and did very well in school.
He graduated from Harvard College in 1965 with high honors. He earned a B.A. in Social Relations. He also studied with the famous psychologist Erik Erikson. After spending a year at the London School of Economics, he returned to Harvard. There, he earned his Ph.D. in developmental psychology. He worked with psychologists Roger Brown and Jerome Bruner. He also worked with philosopher Nelson Goodman.
Gardner also attended the Harvard Medical and Boston University Research Centre. He completed a special research program from 1971 to 1972. Gardner continued to be a top student throughout his academic life.
Howard Gardner's Career and Research
For his special research program, Gardner worked with neurologist Norman Geschwind. This was at the Boston Veterans Administration Hospital. He continued working there for another 20 years. In 1986, Gardner became a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
He has been in charge of the Project Zero Steering Committee since 1995. He was also a co-director for Project Zero from 1972 to 2000. Since 2000, Gardner has been the Senior Director of the Project Zero Committee. He also teaches psychology part-time at Harvard University. Gardner holds the John H. and Elizabeth A. Hobbs Tutor position at Harvard's Graduate School of Education.
Since 1995, much of his work has focused on The GoodWork Project. This is now part of a bigger effort called The Good Project. This project encourages people to do excellent, ethical, and engaging work. It also looks at digital life and being a good citizen.
In 2000, Gardner, Kurt Fischer, and their team at the Harvard Graduate School of Education started a master's degree program. It was called Mind, Brain, and Education. This program was believed to be the first of its kind in the world. Many universities have since created similar programs.
Since then, Gardner has written books on many topics. These include Changing Minds: The Art and Science of Changing Our Own and Other People's Minds. Other books are Five Minds for the Future, Truth, Beauty and Goodness Reframed, and The App Generation. He wrote The App Generation with Katie Davis.
Since 2012, Gardner has been leading a big study on higher education in the United States. He works with Wendy Fischman and other colleagues. You can find information about this study, including many blogs, on Gardner's website. In March 2022, MIT Press published Wendy Fischman and Howard Gardner's book, The Real World of College: What Higher Education Is and What It Can Be.
In 2024, Gardner was named the most cited Educational Scholar in the United States. This was according to the Edu-Scholar Public Influence Ratings.
In 2024, Teachers College Press will publish two collections of Gardner’s papers. These are The Essential Howard Gardner on Education and The Essential Howard Gardner on Mind.
Understanding Multiple Intelligences
According to Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, people have different ways of processing information. These ways are fairly separate from each other. This theory challenges the usual idea of intelligence. That idea often focuses on how abilities are linked. It also questions traditional tests like IQ tests. These tests usually only measure language, logic, and spatial skills.
Since 1999, Gardner has identified eight intelligences:
- Linguistic: Good with words and language.
- Logical-Mathematical: Good with numbers, logic, and problem-solving.
- Musical: Good with rhythm, melody, and sounds.
- Spatial: Good at understanding and using space, like maps or puzzles.
- Bodily/Kinesthetic: Good at using one's body, like in sports or dance.
- Interpersonal: Good at understanding and interacting with other people.
- Intrapersonal: Good at understanding oneself and one's own feelings.
- Naturalistic: Good at understanding nature and the environment.
Gardner and his team have also thought about two more intelligences: existential (thinking about big questions) and pedagogical (good at teaching). Many teachers and educators have been inspired by Gardner's theory.
Some people have criticized Gardner's definition of intelligence. One main criticism is that there isn't enough experimental proof for his theory. Many studies suggest there's a single main type of intelligence called "g." Gardner says his theory is based on real-world observations, not just experiments. He believes experiments alone can't create a full theory.
Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences is both new and connected to earlier ideas. It builds on the work of other psychologists. These include Charles Spearman, Louis Thurstone, Edward Thorndike, and Robert Sternberg.
In 1967, Professor Nelson Goodman started Project Zero. This was an educational program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. It first focused on arts education. Now, it covers many areas of education. Howard Gardner and David Perkins were early researchers. They later co-directed Project Zero from 1972 to 2000. Project Zero aims to understand and improve learning, thinking, and creativity. This applies to arts, humanities, and science, for individuals and groups.
For over twenty years, Gardner has led research at The Good Project. He works with William Damon, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and other colleagues. This research looks at what makes good work, good play, and good teamwork. The goal is to find out what it means to do work that is excellent, enjoyable, and ethical. Gardner and his team have created learning tools on these topics. These tools are used in schools and workplaces.
Multiple Intelligences and Classroom Learning
Howard Earl Gardner introduced his 'Multiple Intelligences Theory' in 1983. This happened at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Gardner's work in psychology led him to explore this important theory. At first, he suggested there were six intelligences. Now, there are nine known intelligences. More might be added in the future.
The Multiple Intelligences Theory says that people process information in different ways. Teachers need to use various strategies to help all students learn. The nine multiple intelligences can guide teachers. They help teachers understand the different learners in their class. The nine intelligences are:
- Verbal-Linguistic
- Logical-Mathematical
- Spatial-Visual
- Bodily-Kinesthetic
- Musical
- Interpersonal
- Intrapersonal
- Naturalist
- Existential
These nine intelligences can greatly improve a classroom. They give children chances to show what they are learning.
- Verbal-Linguistic learners use language to express themselves clearly. They enjoy talking with others and have a good vocabulary. They love reading and writing.
- Logical-Mathematical people have great reasoning skills. They love to solve math problems. They are excellent with numbers and enjoy games that make them think critically.
- Visual-Spatial people enjoy using pictures to understand information. They learn best when pictures or videos are shown. They love to draw and are very creative. They also have a good sense of direction.
- Bodily-Kinesthetic learners use their bodies to show how they feel. They have good coordination. They love using objects when learning new things. They also tend to love sports and hands-on activities.
- Musical learners can hear sounds and create mental patterns. This helps them process information easily. They can learn a concept and then make a song about it. They enjoy anything with music.
- Interpersonal learners are very understanding of others' feelings. They are good at reading emotions and are often very social. They have many friends and are kind to others' opinions. They love talking to new people.
- Intrapersonal learners are very self-aware. They understand their own feelings and those of others. They treat others how they want to be treated. They are often motivated from within and have good boundaries. They also like to think about themselves.
- Naturalist learners appreciate nature. They learn best when they are around natural objects. They love spending time outside and tend to love animals.
- Existential learners ask deep, thought-provoking questions. They might ask "Why do humans exist?" or "Why are we living?" These individuals tend to be very sensitive.
Gardner has said that intelligences and learning styles are not the same. He believes teachers should use many strategies in the classroom. This helps students understand concepts. He also said there wasn't enough research to prove that students learn better when matched with their learning style. He thinks that since people process information differently, intelligences can help teachers plan lessons. These plans can meet the needs of different learners.
Instructional design is about creating clear and meaningful real-life learning experiences. The Multiple Intelligences Theory is a good way to make positive changes in a classroom. It helps prepare lessons for learners who process information in different ways. It's important to remember that a person might use more than one intelligence every day. This is why teachers need to plan well. This way, different learners can understand what is being taught.
Gardner has had many critics. They have said his theory includes intelligences that seem random. However, many schools have used his approach. Gardner is seen as one of the most influential people who has shaped how lessons are designed around the world. Gardner's theory has allowed students to be creative. This is because learning is made to fit them. Teachers often see great results when they use Gardner's theory. Children grasp concepts more easily. Many classrooms have added Gardner's theory to their lessons. This is because evidence shows how helpful his theory is for teaching.
Achievements and Awards
In 1981, Gardner received a MacArthur Prize Fellowship. In 1990, he was the first American to get the University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Education. In 1985, he won The Book Award for Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. This was from The National Psychology Awards for Excellence in the Media. In 1987, he received the William James Award from the American Psychological Association.
SUNY Plattsburgh made Gardner an honorary member of Omicron Delta Kappa in 1998. In 1999, Gardner received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. In 2000, he received a fellowship from the John S. Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Four years later, he was named an Honorary Professor at East China Normal University in Shanghai.
In 2005 and 2008, Foreign Policy and Prospect magazines named him one of the top 100 most influential public thinkers in the world. In 2011, he won the Prince of Asturias Award in Social Sciences. This was for his work on the multiple intelligences theory. In 2015, he received the Brock International Prize in Education. In 2020, Gardner received the Distinguished Contributions to Research in Education Award. This was from the American Education Research Association.
He has received honorary degrees from 31 colleges and universities worldwide. These include schools in Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, South Korea, and Spain. He is also a member of several important groups:
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- American Philosophical Society
- National Academy of Education
- American Academy of Political and Social Science
Personal Life
In 1982, Howard Gardner married Ellen Winner. She is also a developmental psychologist. They have one child, Benjamin. Gardner has three children from an earlier marriage: Kerith (born 1969), Jay (born 1971), and Andrew (born 1976). He also has five grandchildren: Oscar (born 2005), Agnes (born 2011), Olivia (born 2015), Faye Marguerite (born 2016), and August Pierre (born 2019).
Gardner loves to spend time with his family and to travel.
See also
In Spanish: Howard Gardner para niños
