What is it?
This type of intelligence refers to an internal thinking process, knowing or reflecting on one’s life and learning. When we use this intelligence we often reflect, are self-sustaining and work to exercise personal responsibility and self-assessment.
This type of intelligence has been often popularised in Eastern philosophical traditions, with ideas of understanding the inner self through reflection. It does however operate under any form of internal consideration.
Career Choices
Teacher
Psychiatrist
Politician
Nurse
Physician
Motivational Speaker
Poet
Autobiographer
Writer
Artist
Counsellor
Psychologist
Spiritualist
Philosopher
Everyday uses for this intelligence
This type of intelligence is used for any form of self-discipline or goal setting. This can relate to any form of goal or task in a variety of activities and disciplines. Self-assessment and self-reflection can also be found throughout the learning process, which exists in all areas of life.
Who is the student with this Intelligence?
A student with this intelligence is able to recognise their own strengths and internal limits. They will work to constantly challenge themselves and pay close attention to their own wellbeing. This student likes to set their own goals and work to achieve and reflect on them.
What helps these students learn?
A class can support these students by providing opportunities for exploration and self-determined learning. The ability to balance cooperative learning with individual learning and reflection will help these students to progress. An inquiry based approach gives these students the opportunity to develop their own learning plans and goals which is also very beneficial.
What hinders these students?
An environment with direct-instruction, structured testing and a focus on rote learning will often lead to disengagement for these students. They operate best on student-centred, not teacher directed learning.
Adult Examples
Jean Paul Sartre Gandhi Martin Luther King, Jr. Sigmund Freud Plato
Career Choices
Teacher Psychiatrist Politician Nurse Physician
Motivational Speaker Poet Autobiographer Writer Artist Counsellor Psychologist Spiritualist Philosopher Diarist
What Activities Provide Learning for this Intelligence?
Journal Writing
Silent Reflection
Independent Assignments
Inquiry Learning