Theory Name: Multiple approaches to Understanding

Authors: Gardner, Howard

Associated Learning Theory
Behavioral Learning Theory

Model Description
Gardner feels education should provide a bases for understanding. For example, students should understand the Holocaust. No where in that goal does it state students should know how to read, write and so on…those skills are basic skills.

Specification of Theory
(a) Goals and preconditions
It is to foster understanding in ways that capitalize on differences in learners’ intelligences. Students will cultivate basic skills and master the moves of disciplines.

(b) Principles
7 intelligences: 1. Linguistic intelligence 2. Musical intelligence 3. Logical (ex. Math) 4. Spatial 5. Bodily-kinesthetic 6. Interpersonal 7. Interpersonal functioning

(c) Condition of learning
“ When it comes to learning the emphasis falls properly on performances that can be observed, critiqued and improved. p.73”

(d) Required media
None

(e) Role of facilitator
Students become apprentices to learn by application. Next the student tackles obstacles in order to apply what was learned in apprenticeship. Finally “teaching for understanding.” Teachers are asked to state a limited set of explicit understanding goals and to stipulate the correlated performances of understanding.

(f) Instructional strategies
1. First select a few significant topics that have related themes.
2. Use entry points to engage the students in the topic

a. Narrational
b. Quantitative
c. Foundational
d. Use works of art (aesthetic)
e. Hands-on
f. Social – like group settings

3. Use examples and analogies
4. “Approach the core” use multiple representations of the same material to help give meaning to the material for students.

(g) Assessment method
Student must be able to show his or her knowledge. Give the students something to respond to and if the student responds correctly (displays knowledge learned) then the student has learned. For example, if you teach the student to read sheet music, you place sheet music in front of the student and ask them to read the piece. If they do it correctly, then learning has occurred.

Formative Research & Application
(a) Tested context: K-12
(b) Research method: Qualitative
(c) Research description: Based in developmental, clinical, case study and education evidence.
(d) Resources