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Multiple Assessments for Multiple Intelligences

"If there is anything that a man can do well, I say let him do it. Give him a chance." -Abraham Lincoln

Howard Gardner has identified EIGHT ways in which people can be intelligent (and he's working on uncovering more)...and yet most classroom assessments and standardized tests evaluate just two: logic and linguistic (remember the SATs?).

Many classrooms today incorporate different teaching methods to appeal to the different ways students learn, but when it comes to the assessment and grading of our students, many of us still revert to traditional methods of assessment, no matter how rich and diverse our classroom teaching styles may be.

Using a wide range of assessment tools is the BEST advice (see Carolyn Hornik's page for some examples) for reaching our students with a wide range of learning styles & intelligences.

Creating authentic assessments (also known as performance-based or alternative assessment) will test abilities beyond a test and on a variety of levels. Authentic assessments require students to do much more than filling in the blanks or answer in a Q&A format--they must perform specific tasks or projects based on knowledge acquired in your class according to the criteria you set forth. Having students create a diorama, or participate in a debate, or create a song, or devise a chart, or interview an expert, for example, not only touches upon several intelligences, but creates a more valid and engaging form of assessment that complements a diverse teaching style.

Authentic assessments more closely mirror real-world tasks and tests of ability. This too, mirrors Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences, which were created based on real-world abilities and applications of skill.

Gardner says it best: ""Let's never pin our assessment of understanding on just one particular measure, but let's always allow students to show their understanding in a variety of ways. The theory of multiple intelligences wasn't based on school work or on tests. Instead, what I did was look at the world and ask, What are the things that people do in the world? What does it mean to be a surgeon? What does it mean to be a politician? What does it mean to be an artist or a sculptor? What abilities do you need to do those things? My theory, then, came from the things that are valued in the world. We need to develop assessments that are much more representative of what human beings are going to have to do to survive in this society." (Educational Leadership, 9/97)

logical-linguistic-visual-bodily-musical-interpersonal-naturalist-intrapersonal

"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." -Confucius

Multiple Intelligence Assessment Ideas:

(from an article by Linda Campbell in Educational Leadership, 9/97)

Linguistic Logical Bodily Visual
Use storytelling to explain Translate a into a mathematical formula Create a movement or sequence of movements to explain Chart, map, cluster, or graph
Conduct a debate on Design and conduct an experiment on Make task or puzzle cards for Create a slide show, videotape, or photo album of
Write a poem, myth, legend, short play, or news article about Make up syllogisms to demonstrate Build or construct a Create a piece of art that demonstrates
Create a talk show radio program about Make up analogies to explain Plan and attend a field trip that will Invent a board or card game to demonstrate
Conduct an interview of/on Describe the patterns or symmetry in Bring hands-on materials to demonstrate Illustrate, draw, paint, sketch, or sculpt

 

Musical Interpersonal Intrapersonal Naturalist

Give a presentation with appropriate musical accompaniment on

 Conduct a meeting to address Describe qualities you possess that will help you successfully complete Create observation notebooks of
Sing a rap or song that explains Intentionally use social skills to learn about Set and pursue a goal to Describe changes in the local or global environment
Indicate the rhythmical patterns in Participate in a service project to Describe one of your personal values about Care for pets, wildlife, gardens, or parks
Explain how the music of a song is similar to Teach someone about Write a journal entry on Use binoculars, telescopes, microscopes, or magnifiers to
Make an instrument and use it to demonstrate Practice giving and receiving feedback on Assess your own work in Draw or photograph natural objects

 

Here are some links of interest:

Assessing multiple intelligences

Howard Gardner's site @ Harvard

What are the 8 intelligences?

Educational Leadership's Issue on Multiple Intelligences

Annette Lamb's 8W's (based on multiple intelligences)

PBS's Teacher Page on Multiple Intelligences

A Site for Students Exploring their Own Intelligences

Survey for Discovering your own Multiple Intelligences

ERIC Digest's article on Authentic Assessments

 

Sandy Scragg, NYC 2002, www.sandyscragg.com