Teachers' Awareness and Practices of Multiple Intelligences Theory toward Students with Learning Disabilities in Saudi Schools

With the excessive referrals of students with learning disabilities in Saudi schools, there is a need for teachers to change the traditional practices of teaching and follow the best inclusive practices provided to those population all over the world. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between the teachers' awareness of Multiple Intelligences (MI) Theory and its practices with students with learning disabilities. The multiple intelligences theory was used as the theoretical framework, which represents the belief that if instructors can determine the intelligences (e.g., mathematical/logical, intrapersonal, visual/spatial, musical, interpersonal, bodily/kinesthetic, verbal/linguistic, and naturalistic) in their students and then meet those talents, the student will have an effective learning. The convenience sample included 271 male and female teachers of learning disabilities in Jeddah schools who participated in the investigation of MI awareness and practices through online self-report survey. The output data were analyzed through a descriptive and inferential analysis using Pearson correlations. Descriptively, the outcomes of demographic characteristics revealed that male teachers with less than 5 years experiences, bachelor education, age of 25-35 years old and teaching in elementary schools had the highest percentage among all participated teachers. The results showed that the results correspond to somewhat aware for the teachers regarding awareness of MI Theory and the awareness of the theories. The teachers' awareness of MI practice had the highest relationship with the practice of bodily-kinesthetic intelligence and the least relationship with the linguistic intelligence. Recommendations and implications for special education in Saudi Arabia were represented to improve both teachers and students with learning disabilities. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]