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ED 703 Newer Views of Learning Course Materials |
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Be still and know that I am . . .
� Leslie Owen Wilson, 1997, update d3/05
Newer Views of Learning-
Exploring The Ninth intelligence - Maybe
"Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark."
In effect, the people who change our lives the most begin to
sing to us while we are still in darkness. If we listen to
their song, we will see the dawning of a new part of ourselves.Rabindranth Tagore
Existential intelligence can be defined as the ability to be sensitive to, or have the capacity for, conceptualizing or tackling deeper or larger questions about human existence, such as the meaning of life, why are we born, why do we die, what is consciousness, or how did we get here.
There are many people who feel that there should be a ninth intelligence, existential intelligence (A.K.A.: "wondering smart, cosmic smart, spiritually smart, or metaphysical intelligence"). The possibility of this intelligence has been alluded to by Gardner in several of his works. He has stated that existential intelligence might be manifest in someone who is concerned with fundamental questions about existence, or who questions the intricacies of existence. And while Professor Gardner has offered a preliminary definition as: "Individuals who exhibit the proclivity to pose and ponder questions about life, death, and ultimate realities," he has not fully confirmed, endorsed, or described this intelligence.
Perhaps the difficulty is that Gardner wisely believes that this will open a can of worms best left out of the arena of education. Or, since a great deal of the importance and credibility of Gardner's work rests on neurological evidence of site specific locations within the brain, it might be that it is a bit risky for any author or scientist to definitively pinpoint the exact biological seat of spiritual wonder or cosmic awareness without offending any number of people, or some cultural or religious groups. It is important to remember that part of the power of Gardner's work depends upon careful examination of the available data and scientific evidence. So, at this point in time, it might be safer to say that existential intelligence is the "half" in 8-1/2 intelligences that comprise MI Theory.
Despite this avoidance on Gardner's part to definitively commit to existential intelligence, there are many who have accepted the presence of this intelligence as fact and have attempted to clarify what it might look like if it were part of the MI array. For those who have met children who appear to have "old souls," it is often easy to accept the existence of existential intelligence as something very real and important. These are the children who appear to have a sixth sense, they may be psychic, or ones who pose, and sometimes even answer, life's larger questions. Like:
Why am I here? Why are we here?
Are there other dimensions, and if so what are they like?
Can animals understand us, or do animals go to heaven?
Are there really ghosts?
Where do we go when we die?
Why are some people evil?
Is there life on other planets?
Where is heaven?
Why does God live?
These may be those children who can be described as "fully aware" of the cosmos -- of its diversity, complexity, and wonder. Frequently, these are the children who persist in asking those "big" questions that adults cannot answer.
Below are links and suggested books that may help clarify what this ninth intelligence might look like if it were included in the wonderful panorama of human possibilities. Unfortunately, links are not often permanent. If you find that these are down, please let me know.
Gardner also addresses this issue more fully in his 1999 work: Intelligence, so I recommend you read this as it comes from the source himself - Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century
References - These books are very helpful in examining the possibility of existential or spiritual intelligence.
Gardner, H (1999) Intelligence Reframed: Multiple Intelligences for the 21st Century . New York. Basic Books.
Sinetar, M. (2000) Spiritual Intelligence: What We Can Learn From the Early Awakening Child. New York: Orbis
Sisk, D.A. and Torrance, E. P. (2001) Spiritual Intelligence: Developing Higher Consciousness. Buffalo, NY. Creative Education Foundation
Zohar, D. and Marshall, I. (2000) SQ: Connecting with out spiritual intelligence. Bloomsbury, USA
Books on holistic and spiritualistic intelligence and education:
Brussat, F. and M. (1996) Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life. New York: Scribner
Glazer, Steven. (1999) The Heart of Learning: Spirituality in Education. New York: Tarcher/Putnam
Grof, C. (1993). The Thirst for Wholeness: Attachment, Addiction and the Spiritual Path. San Francisco: HarperSan Francisco.
Kessler, R. (2000) The Soul of Education: Helping Students Find Connection, Compassion, and Character at School. Alexandra, Virginia: ASCD
Miller, J & Nakagawa, Y (eds) Nurturing Our Wholeness Perspectives on Spirituality in Education. Psychology Press/Holistic Education Press Box 328, Brandon, VT
Miller, J.P. (1994) The Contemplative Practitioner. Toronto: OISE Press
Miller, J.P. , Karsten, S., and Denton, D. (eds.) (2005) Holistic Learning and Spirituality in Education: Breaking New Ground. Albany, NY. Suny Press (State University of New York)
Miller, John P. (2000) Education and the Soul: Toward a Spiritual Curriculum. State University of New York Press
Moffet, J. (1994). The Universal Schoolhouse: Spiritual Awakening Through Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers
Moore, T. (1994) Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life. New York: HarperPerennial
Moore, T. (2000) Original Self: Living with Paradox and Originality. New York: HarperCollins
Nakagawa, Yoshiharu (2000) Education for Awakening: An Eastern Approach to Holistic Education. Foundation for educational Renewal, Brandon, VT
Nava, Ramon Gallegos. Holistic Education: Pedagogy of Universal Love. Great Ideas in Education. Box 328, Brandon, VT
Palmer, Parker (1983) To Know As We Are Known: A Spirituality of Education. New York: Harper Collins.
Palmer, Parker (1998) The Courage to Teach: Exploring the inner landscape of teacher's life. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.
Sinetar, M. (2000) Spiritual Intelligence: What We Can Learn From the Early Awakening Child. New York: Orbis
Sisk, D.A. and Torrance, E. P. (2001) Spiritual Intelligence: Developing Higher Consciousness. Buffalo, NY. Creative Education Foundation
Sloan, D. (1983) Insight-Imagination. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press
Tacey, David (2000) Re-Enchantment: The New Australian Spirituality. Sydney: HarperCollins
Walsh, Roger. (1999) Essential Spirituality. New York: John Wiley
Wilson, L. O. (1994) Every Child, Whole Child: Classroom Activities for Unleashing Natural Abilities. Tucson, AZ, Zephyr Press (out of print)
Zahra, D & Marshall, I. (2000). SQ: Connecting With Our Spiritual Intelligence. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing
Books on MI:
Armstrong, T. (1987) In their own way. Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc.
Armstrong, T. (1993) 7 kinds of smart: identifying and developing your own intelligences. New York: Plume Books (Penguin).
Armstrong, T. (1994) Multiple intelligences in the classroom. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Campbell, B. (1994) The multiple intelligences handbook. Stanwood, WA: Campbell and Assoc.
Campbell, B., Campbell, L. And Dickinson (1996) Teaching and learning through multiple intelligences. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Gardner, H. (1983) Frames of mind: the theory of multiple intelligences. New York: Basic Books.
Gardner, H. (1993) Multiple intelligences: the theory in practice - a reader. New York: Basic Books.
Lazear, D. (1991) Seven ways of knowing: teaching to the multiple intelligences. Palatine, IL: Skylight Publishing.
Lazear, D. (1991) Seven ways of teaching: the artistry of teaching with multiple intelligences. Palatine, IL: Skylight Publishing.
Lazear, D. (1994) Seven pathways of learning: teaching students and parents about multiple intelligences. Tucson, AZ: Zephyr Press.
Lazear, D. (1994) Multiple intelligences approaches to assessment: solving the conundrum. Tucson, AZ: Zephyr Press.
Marks-Tarlow, T. (1996) Creativty inside out: learning through multiple intelligences. New York: Innovative Learning Publications -Addison-Wesley.
Samples, B. (1987) Wholemind/Openmind. Rollinghills Estates, CA: Jalmar Press.
Wilson, L. (1994) Every child, whole child. Tucson, AZ: Zephyr Press.
Journal Articles On Line
New Horizons for Learning Electronic Journal - Vol. III, #5, March/April 1998
Sample Multiple Intelligence Lesson Plans
For further reading on this topic see:
Armstrong, T. (2001) Multiple intelligences in the classroom, 2nd. edition. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Checkley, K. (1997) The first seven . . . and the eighth intelligence: A conversation with Howard Gardner. Educational Leadership: Teaching for multiple intelligences. ASCD V.55, #1, September 1997. 8-13.
Gardner, Howard. (1999). Intelligence reframed: multiple intelligences for the 21st century. New York: Basic Books.
ED 703 Newer Views of Learning Course Materials
copyright Leslie Owen Wilson, 1997, 2001, 2003. 2005