I believe it is also empowering for students to realize that they can use their strongest intelligences to develop proficiency academic areas that have been particularly difficult for them in the past. A strength of Multiple Intelligence theory is that it opens up new possibilities for personal satisfaction and achievement. It would be a cruel irony, then, to misuse the MI model in a way that restricts developmental possibilities for individuals. Also, the intelligence profiles of most individuals reflect strengths in several intelligences and many careers require a combination of strengths for high level performance. Widely implemented, the Gardner MI model can become a major factor in insuring the academic and personal success of all students.
Educational research is clear.
The key to educational improvement is personalization based on an awareness of student strengths as well as weaknesses. Our organization designs projects that help schools to provide positive educational experiences for secondary students who have been ill served by one size fits all teaching modalities. Developed as a collaboration between California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento High School and our non-profit organization, this talent development project targets a cohort of 50 students who are within reach of college eligibility but whose college going prospects are currently uncertain. The 'curriculum' resembles that of a university practicum in which core lifelong learning concepts are presented in interactive seminars and students then engage in fieldwork designed to promote the real world application of core concepts and learning strategies. Throughout, students are encouraged to use their strongest intelligences to increase learning.