Dr Howard Gardner, the professor of cognitive psychology at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, is probably among the greatest education intellectuals alive. Dr Gardner has enriched the education world through his theory of ?Multiple Intelligences?, which buries the notion that there is only one kind of intelligence. Recently, he was in India?his tour coincided with deep-seated changes sweeping through the Indian education domain?and shared his experiences with FE?s Vikram Chaudhary.
What brings you to India?
Even though I have been curious about India since long?in fact, I have written about Gandhi in three of my books?somehow I wasn?t able to visit the country. Then once I spoke to Ashish Rajpal, the CEO & MD of iDiscoveri Education, who was a student of mine at Harvard, and we talked about the possibility of making a trip to India in 2012. And so I am here to meet new people, to exchange new ideas with people in education, with policymakers, with thought leaders, and with people who can write about ideas that are in the air.
Coming to education, do you think that the students should be able to freely choose what courses they take, or a uniform curriculum for all students is okay?
I believe that, at the secondary level, everyone should study some history, science, mathematics and the arts. But they way the students are taught should be changed a bit. For instance, it is not important which science is taught, what is important is that students should be made to think scientifically. Similarly, it does not matter which period (ancient, medieval, modern) is taught in history, what matters is that the students are taught as to how historical studies are carried out, what kinds of evidence are used to study history, how history differs from, say, literature, etc.
What, in your opinion, are the techniques by which teachers can identify students? strengths?
If you want to get to know your students? intelligences, I have two suggestions: One, take them to a children?s museum a few times (or some other kind of rich experience like a playground with many kinds of games) and watch them carefully. This will complement what you observe in class. Two, give a small questionnaire about their strengths to the students themselves and their parents and, if possible, last year?s teacher. This will help in identifying a student?s strength or weakness.
How do you define creativity?
There are various forms of creativity. Creativity in, say, mathematics is quite different from creativity in, say, poetry or psychology. At the same time, one cannot be creative unless one has mastered a domain, and that process can take years. Also, creativity has more to do with personality than with sheer intellectual power. Individuals who enjoy taking risks, who are not afraid of failure, who are attracted by the unknown, who are uncomfortable with the status quo are the ones who are likely to make creative discoveries.
How can your theory of multiple intelligences be applied to schools?
The theory of multiple intelligences can reinforce the idea that individuals have many talents; that a single measure is inappropriate for determining graduation, access to college, and other aspects of today?s schooling; and that knowledge can be given in many ways, thereby activating a range of
intelligences.