Multiple Intelligence Theory Reflection

Knowledge of multiple intelligences can help both students and teachers understand how themselves, as well as each other, learn. Multiple intelligences can come in many forms because each person is unique. This has led to many different theories about multiple intelligences.
In the case of Howard Gardner, his interest in MIs (Multiple Intelligences) was sparked through a college professor. I think that this allowed him to get outside of the ties his family held on him and allowed him to pursue something new through his own best interests, therefore opening his mind up to the way he learned. He developed a program through which he accounted for 7 MI's. This is a theory, because it has not been proved correct. It is his idea of how humans learn, and has not been accepted as the truth. Theories can often be controversial, which Gardner's idea of the intelligences were, because not many people seemed to accept it at first. I think this is because they weren't ready to believe that there were more categories than just visual or auditory learners. I agree with his statement that having seven intelligences would allow for seven different ways of teaching.
As a result of this theory, people have begun to invest more in working with different ways to work with their students. I think that this is smart because it can help with kids who have learning disabilities, because we know that they often have drastically different learning styles, and it is important for both students and teachers to be adaptable. Not every teacher is going to have a teaching style that you like, but it could be the way that other kids learn. There could also be other intelligences that aren't used nearly as much or aren't considered in the MI spectrum, such as spiritual intelligence.
This theory is supported but can also be disputed in several ways. This is another way to tell that a theory is not proven by an experiment. There is no scientific evidence to back it up, according to Dan Willingham. He then says not to trust the idea without other backup. I feel that this a legitimate argument because people could be faking it or basing off of themselves. He feels people should learn based on similarities, not differences. It is important for us to recognize our differences but also important for us to realize what we have in common and adapt to working with that as well.
We have been working with the theory, or idea, of MI's in class since the beginning of the year. The MI's have been used it identify the different ways people in our class learn and how we can learn to work with them. It shows the different skills that people have. Despite the fact that MI's are being criticized and analyzed does not mean that the theory won't have an impact on how teachers and students teach and learn.