Howard Gardner, renowned education expert and one of Ross School’s founding mentors, presents the five kinds of minds—ways of thinking and acting—critical for success in the rapidly changing environment of the 21st century. These include the disciplined, synthesizing and creative minds which are all related to intellect, as well as the respectful and ethical minds which emphasize character. Gardner describes what it means for students and citizens of the world to exhibit these types of minds and contends that without these minds, we risk being overwhelmed by information, unable to succeed in the workplace and incapable of the judgment needed to thrive both personally and professionally.

Gardner is John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is also Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and Senior Director of Harvard Project Zero. Over the last two decades Gardner has been involved in the design of performance-based assessments; education for understanding; the use of multiple intelligences to achieve more personalized curriculum, instruction and pedagogy; and the quality of interdisciplinary efforts in education.