Multiple Intelligence theory states that there are at least seven different ways of learning anything, and therefore there are "eight intelligences": bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal, intra-personal, logical, musical, linguistic, spatial and naturalistic. This concept was introduced in 1983, by Dr. Howard Gardener in ‘Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences’. Intelligence, according to Gardner refers to “the human ability to solve problems or to make something that is valued in one or more cultures.” For many generations, before this newfound theory came into being, people chose to believe that intelligence was something every human was born with. The amount varied on sheer luck and one could do nothing to support it further or eradicate it all together. Intelligence, then and even now, was defined in schools by assessing skill and expertise in either the languages, the sciences or mathematics, basically exposing the children to only two types of intelligences: linguistic and logical.

In Gardener’s book, he takes into regard the several evolutionary patterns that exist in nature and states that there are more than the two intelligences (logical and linguistic) that one considers important. Up to date he has come up with eight of them i.e. bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal, intra-personal, logical, musical, linguistic, spatial and naturalistic but debates are open for the addition of a few more. Furthermore, he goes on to state that because of the various different cultures that are present around us and the difference in the brain structure, not every human being is gifted the same way in each of the categories. Some have more of one of the intelligences while others are more intelligent in terms of another field.

This theory also provides an answer to the ever puzzling questions related to children, who though outwardly bright and smart, do not do well in school exams and tests. Before the formation of this theory, many children with gifts in other unknown areas were labeled with different types of disorders. The theory of multiple intelligences proposes a major alteration in the way schools are run. It advocates that teachers be trained to present lessons in a variety of ways using music, art activities, role play, multimedia, field trips, inner reflection, and much more. Gardener’s theory has led to the assistance of teachers, parents and schools to make a more conducive learning environment for the children.