This essay discusses the status of multiple intelligences (MI) theory as a scientific theory by addressing three issues: the empirical evidence Gardner used to establish MI theory, the methodology he employed to validate MI theory, and the purpose or function of MI theory.

This article draws on research conducted over a 10-year period in an attempt to answer three central questions about the widespread adoption of Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences (MI): Why do educators adopt MI? Once MI is adopted, does anything really change in practice? When educators claim MI is working, what is happening in practice?

This article explores the tensions between Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences and current educational policies emphasizing standardized and predictable outcomes. The article situates Gardner's theory within the historical interests among psychometricians in identifying those core processes that constitute human intelligence.…

The article analyzes one claim that I make about Howard Gardner's work on MI: Multiple intelligences has had the greatest influence on educators' beliefs and talk about differences in children's intelligence, moderate to high influence on the formal curriculum and instructional materials, and least influence on mainstream teaching and assessment…

This paper captures the use of the theory of multiple intelligences (MI) at the New City School. The implementation began in 1988 and has been characterized by a focus on student assessment and the personal intelligences. Enhanced faculty collegiality has been a product of the MI journey.

This paper compares the theories of multiple intelligences and learning styles to suggest ways that teachers using a combination of both theories may be able to improve student learning over the range of intelligences. The author proposes a research format for the benefit of future research.

In his closing comments, Howard Gardner discusses the various audiences that have emerged over the years for the theory of multiple intelligences. Under that rubric, he places the various papers in this issue and speculates about future lines of work on MI theory.

Howard Garner's book Multiple Intelligences was important in psychology because it sought to relate a neuropsychological theory of common mental processes with a view of individual differences implicit in the term intelligences. New developments in imaging and genetics may make these connections more realistic.

This article addresses three interrelated propositions. First, a valid and reliable assessment for the multiple intelligences (MI) can be created. Second, teachers can use this MI profile to better understand, accept and create MI-inspired instruction and curriculum. Third, an MI profile can be used by both teachers and students to promote the use…

This instrumental collective case study provides an in-depth description of the change that transpired in two multiple intelligence (MI) based graduate-level teacher preparation courses. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed. Implications for MI in teacher education are discussed.

This article addresses the meaning and application of multiple intelligences theory in Taiwan in the light of educational reform. Specifically, a 4-year joint research project (1999-2003) titled The Development of Multiple Talents (DMT), sponsored by the National Science Council, R.O.C. (Taiwan), will be introduced. A 3-dimensional construct is…

Five middle grades teachers developed and implemented MI-based units of instruction. Participants experienced varying levels of collegial support for MI-based instruction, found students both embraced and avoided learning choices, noted importance of students' realizing their own personal learning strength(s), and reported motivation for continued…

Both the special education and gifted education literature call for a differentiated curriculum to cater for the wide range of student differences in any classroom. Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences was integrated with the revised Bloom's taxonomy to provide a planning tool for curriculum differentiation. Teachers' progress in using the…

Too many of our brightest and most capable students are sometimes caught in a system that places too much emphasis on linguistic, word smart intelligence or mathematical, number smart intelligence. Students at all levels of academic readiness from developmental to honors are affected by the rigidity of this way of thinking. Focusing solely on…

Broadly based, mindful curriculum leadership encompasses a way of leading toward school improvement by taking into consideration student intelligences as an at-promise phenomenon. This research paper provides an example of how elementary school curriculum leaders can be mindful of student intelligences and use the strengths of their student…