Reflection, Howard Gardner Theory

Reflection on Howard Gardner’s Theory

Howard Gardener is a Hobbs Professor of Cognitive and education and from Harvard Graduate School of Education. H Gardner has written several books and articles. Howard Gardener’s work around multiple intelligences has hard a profound impact on thinking and practice in education especially in the United States.

The theory of multiple intelligences was proposed by Howard Gardner in 1983 to more accurately define the concept of intelligence and to address the question whether methods which claim to measure intelligence (or aspects thereof) are truly scientific.
Garners theory argues that intelligence, particularly as it is traditionally defined, does not sufficiently encompass the wide varieties of abilities humans display. In his conception, a child who masters multiplication easily is not necessarily more intelligent overall than a child who struggles to do so. The second child may be stronger in another kind of intelligence. (Wikipedia)

Gardner’s newest book, Five Minds for the Future is a book prescribes for our course and therefore a reflection zeroing more into the details of that. This book outlines the specific cognitive abilities that will be sought and cultivated by leaders in the years to come. He sometimes makes reference to certain aspects of Daniel Pink’s theory in the book A Whole New Mind. Both Pink and Gardner are trying to equip readers with the mental aptitudes and skills that are needed to function well or be successful in the coming years. Unlike pink, Gardner proposed five cognitive abilities other wise know as minds. They include:
The Disciplinary Mind: the mastery of major schools of thought, including science, mathematics, and history and art least a professional craft.
The Synthesizing Mind: the ability to integrate ideas from different disciplines or spheres into a coherent whole and to communicate that integration to others. This sound like Pink’s Symphony and Meaning sense theory.
Creating Mind: the capacity to uncover and clarify new problems, questions and phenomena. this can also be equate with Design in pink’s theory
The Respectful Mind: awareness of and appreciation for differences among human beings and human groups, this can also be achieved if one has Empathy for each other. Another aspect of Pink’s theory Empathy.
The Ethical Mind: fulfillment of ones responsibilities as a worker and as a citizen.
In the book, Garner draws from a wealth of diverse examples to illuminate these ideas, designed to inspire lifelong learning and also to provide valuable insights for those charged with training and developing organizational leaders. Once again another book being studied at the right time, for the right people ( Arts APS) for the right purpose, to prepare our future leaders( students) and ourselves for the years to come.

Reference. howardgardner.com