By: B.S. Wiratama
budhisagita@yahoo.com
twitter: @budhisagita
Who is the cleverest individual in the world?
“Albert Einstein? Sir Isaac Newton? Archimedes? Leonardo Da Vinci? B.J Habibie? Bill Gate? Susilo B. Yudhoyono? Sri Mulyani? Mozart? Leonel Messi? Me? You? ...”
Actually, we don’t know what the parameters are used in measuring and determining who the winner for this category is. There are lots thing have to determine in choosing and knowing how smart someone is…
The prolog above shows us that everybody has their own skills, competencies, and talents. Nowadays, the researcher in the education fields are searching for a concept to establish how to develop and measure the human resources. They tries any methods to determine how qualified them self. The most current method that everyone use in doing this research is tried to determine what the intelligence is. Conventionally, intelligence is defined as knowledge that classify on qualifications which is focused to determine about the language ability and mathematical ability only. It means that only someone with high qualification on language or mathematics study who can called as a clever student. But in a line with the globalization, modern definition of intelligence is formulated more rational not based on ability in one or two subjects only. Here, intelligences are defined as abilities in solving problems and creating important things that has cultural values (Hoerr. 2007. p.11). So then, not only someone with high qualification on language or mathematics study can be called as a clever student, but more than that. Someone with abilities to solve and create a product can be defined as an intellectual people. In wide range, all people in this world are knowledgeable with their specific qualification.
This modern definition is formulated by Howard Gardner, an intelligences scientist. For its development, Garner establishes many criteria to determine many qualifications which are construct those intelligences. Those criteria are focused on solving problems, creating products, and taking consideration of the intelligence’s biological foundation and physiological aspect (Hoerr. 2007. p. 11-12). For this term, this characterization shows us that Gardner's intelligences definition which is focused on solving problems, creating products, and considering on intelligence’s biological foundation and physiological aspect is so contras with the traditional Intelligence’s definition, like the IQ test in school. Traditional Intelligence focused on knowledge and inert qualifications only. Solving problems and creating product on Gardner’s definition shows a significant meaning which is appropriate and applicable in daily life. Based on it definition, Gardner make conclusions that “there are more intelligences than intelligences which are recommended by IQ test and which is usually use in school”. Those intelligences are compiling with the name of Multiple Intelligences (MI).
Theory of MI is a theory about individual’s intelligences that include more aspects to settle on, such as logic mathematical thinking, language ability, bodies moving, spatial ability and others. This theory is kind of development study from Intelligence Quotient (IQ). Of course, Gardner is not only the one person who shows the theory of complex intelligences. Other figures of those Intelligence theories are (1) J.P. Guilford that notifies about Intelligences Structure, (2) Robert Sternberg with Triarchic Theory of Intelligence, (3) Daniel Goleman with his Emotional Quotient (EQ) Theory and (4) Robert Coles through his Morale Quotient (SQ). Those theories assured that intelligence is a capacity with lots point of view and multifaceted. Gadner’s model is different with other theories in its dimension, the scientific base and the implication on education (Hoerr. 2007. p. 14). MI is consisting of 8 intelligences that everyone certainly has in their brain and body, can be one of them or few of them.
Those intelligences are Language Intelligence, Logical Mathematics Intelligence, Musical Intelligence, Bodily Kinesthetic Intelligence, Spatial Intelligence, Naturalist Intelligence, Interpersonal, and Intrapersonal Intelligence (Jasmine, M.A. 2007).
Description of Multiple Intelligences:
1. Language Intelligence
Description: An ability that focus in finding out meaning, vocabulary and words arrangement.
Sample of Activities that shows this intelligence: Reading book, rhyming, read poem, writing.
People who shows this ability: Winston Churchill, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Barbara Jordan.
2. Logical Mathematics
Description: An ability that focus in solving/recognizing relevancy/argumentation, identifying pattern and ordinal/tread.
Sample of Activities that shows this intelligence: Calculating, Business analysis, determining number pattern.
People who shows this ability: Bill Gates, Stephen Hawking, Benjamin Banneker.
3. Musical
Description: An ability that focus in identifying tones/chords, melodies, cadences/rhythms/beats.
Sample of Activities that shows this intelligence: Singing in good tone (not in false tone), playing music instruments, reading notation/chords.
People who shows this ability: Ray Charles, Harry Connick Jr., Carly Simon.
4. Bodily Kinesthetic
Description: An ability that focus in body moving, skill in using the body’ parts and holding objects.
Sample of Activities that shows this intelligence: Doing sports, doing puzzle, doing games, able to hold device properly, like holding a scissor.
People who shows this ability: Mia Hamm, Michael Jordan, Michelle Kwan.
5. Spatial
Description: An ability that focus in censoring the environmental accurately and able to create and arrange those environmental’ aspects.
Sample of Activities that shows this intelligence: Able to read map correctly, doing exterior or interior decoration.
People who shows this ability: Mary Engelbreit, Maya Lin, Frank Lloyd Wright.
6. Naturalist
Description: An ability that focus in recognizing and classifying various species, flora and fauna in its habitat.
Sample of Activities that shows this intelligence: Able to give names of animal correctly, love in planting.
People who shows this ability: Charles Darwin, Jane Goodall, George Meriwether Lewis.
7. Interpersonal
Description: An ability that focus in understanding others and developing relationships.
Sample of Activities that shows this intelligence: Lead others, able to negotiate with someone else, preserve to start a communication with stranger.
People who shows this ability: Colin Powell, Martin Luther King Jr., Deborah Tannen.
8. Intrapersonal
Description: An ability that focus in controlling self emotional and understanding self and others.
Sample of Activities that shows this intelligence: Enthusiastic in self discussion, eager in thinking/making consideration with themselves.
People who shows this ability: Anne Frank, Bill Moyers, Eleanor Roosevelt. (Jasmine, M.A. 2007 and Thomas R. Hoerr. 2007.).
Theory of MI from Howard Gardner is already known in the educational community because it offers a model to take steps in learning process that like-minded with the thing that teacher’s belief which is “All students are unique and knowledgeable with their own talents”. In addition, teachers who use MI Theory are hoped to encourage and motivate their students to use their abilities (intelligences) in solving problem and creating products based on its artistic aspect. These intelligences are hopefully can be applicable in daily life with an expectation to reach their goal in their life. So, lets build a new paradigm not to label our student into smart and dumb student anymore. Let construct a trust and facilitate them. They all are smart student...
Referencies:
Thomas R. Hoerr. 2007. Buku Kerja Multiple Intelligences: Pengalaman New City School di St. Louis, AS, dalam Menghargai Aneka Kecerdasan Anak. Terjemahan Ary Nilandari. Becoming A Multiple Intelligences School. Cetakan ke-1 Bandung: Penerbit Kaifa
Julia Jasmine, M.A. 2007. Panduan Praktis Mengajar Berbasis Multiple Intelligence. Bandung: Nuansa
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