According to Blue (2015), “Gardner defines intelligence as ‘a bio-psychological potential to process information that can be activated in a cultural setting to solve problems or create products that are of value in a culture'”. The multiple intelligences identified by Gardner are Linguistic, logical-mathematical, naturalistic, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and musical (Adcock, 2014, p. 50). Therefore:
- According to Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory, a nurse who plays piano may found music as a helping tool that could be used in the care of stroke patients. Plus, according to Brualdi (1996), “musical ingelligence encompasses the capability to recognize and compose musical pitches, tones, and rhythms.” In which a person may able to think in sounds, rhythms, melodies, and rhymes, to be able to engage in active listening and identify connections between music and emotions. By knowing that, NIs may setting up music in the background to encourage learning.
- Interpersonal intelligence including ability to interact with other and be able to understand others. Thus, NIs should encourage group activities, seminars, conference meetings, and dialogues to help staff to accept and learn new technology.
- Intrapersonal intelligence is one’s own ability to understanding one’s own feelings and motivations such as interests and goals. In facing staff with intrapersonal intelligence, NIs can provide information, such as books, videos, and /or other resources for self taught, because they are most likely to have a strong will to motivate themselves for learning new technology.
Only by talking three learning styles according to three different intelligence, it seems like impossible to be able to select one teaching method to encourage all staff members in accepting new technology into their nursing practice. Therefore, NIs should first be able to assess the intelligence strengths in the staff members. After carefully analyze and understand the intelligence strenghts, then create a mix method approach. As according to Brualdi (1996), “the Theory of Multiple Intelligences implies that educators should recognize and teach to a broader range of talents and skills. […] teachers should structure the presentation of material in a style which engages most or all of the intelligences”.
References:
Adcock, P. K. (2014). The Longevity of Multiple Intelligence Theory in Education. Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 80(4), 50-57.
Blue, T. (2015). A Theory of Multiple Intelligences: Working with the Adolescent Brain/Voice. Choral Journal, 55(9), 57-62.
Brualdi, A. C. (1996). Multiple intelligences” Gardner’s Theory. Retrieved from http://www.ericdigests.org/1998-1/multiple.htm
