Junnie Armel T. Salud

3rd yr, BSEd-English Far Eastern University-Manila

PRINCIPLES OF TEACHING 2 WED/SAT 10:30-12:00

TOPIC: MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES

PRINCIPLES OF TEACHING AND LEARNING LANGUAGE which is composed of 3 lessons. The first lesson is about the multiple intelligences. Before we go on with our discussion, let us try to analyze this question: “Is intelligence a single thing or various intellectual faculties?” You must find out the answer after this lesson.

Dr. Howard Gardner, a professor of cognition and education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, developed his theory of multiple intelligences 20 years ago. Dr. Gardner says that people employ several different types of intelligence, rather than one general type. As a teacher, our primary customers are the learners. The starting point of teaching is, therefore, knowing the nature of the learner and the nature of the learner naturally includes his/her intelligence.

**What does intelligence mean to you?

-Intelligence is the capacity to do something useful in the society in which we live.

**Is intelligence an important characteristic of a person?

-Yes. Because intelligence may be the best way to classify Humans—we have our differences; different levels and kinds of intelligences, and with that, with the help of proper measuring materials, we can determine where a person lacks competitiveness on a particular type of knowledge. And also through this intelligence, we are distinctively different from all other creatures in the world.

**Does intelligence define one’s personality?

-For example, person (A) loves to play musical instruments since he was a kid, and person (B) loves to write poems, read novels and watch plays. With given manifestations, what can you say is the type of intelligence persons (A) and (B) has? So, if all of you become a teacher someday and you see some of your students for example, they are very interested in writing essays, novels, etc. Or some are interested in music and arts, as a teacher, it is your duty to discover everybody’s talent and help it blossom.

Now that we already know the meaning and essence of intelligence, let us compare the old view of intelligence versus the new one.

Intelligence was fixed, They look at intelligence before as bounded by certain limitations and Intelligence is fixed at a certain level and is focused primarily on a particular knowledge. In the new view, the intelligence can be developed; there is a quotation that goes like this, “DESPITE ITS INAUSPICIOUS APPEARANCE, THE BRAIN CAN STORE MORE INFORMATIONS THAN ALL OF THE LIBRARIES IN THE WORLD.” Meaning you could still acquire more knowledge and the learning doesn’t stop at one phase.

Intelligence before was measured by number, in previous times before you can be considered intelligent, you got to pass some kind of an exam, the score you will get would determine your level of intelligence—and these are called IQ Tests. “Numbers mean something”, according to Mr.Culala on our class in Measurement and Evaluation, but in measuring intelligence you cannot really determine one’s level and kind intelligence by using a test and basing on the test score alone because most of the Intelligences are not numerically quantifiable—like Musical, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal and Intra-personal because it requires performances in which you cannot do in a paper-pencil IQ test.

Intelligence was unitary, In the traditional view they look at intelligence as one general type that can be measured thru an IQ Test, but now a person’s intelligence can be exhibited in multiple ways—and these are the Multiple Intelligences.

Intelligence was measured in isolation, before they believe that the only way we can measure our intelligence by the use of IQ Tests, but now that they look at Intelligence as not unitary, we cannot just say that a person is intelligent based on the result of an IQ Test alone but also through some performances, that most of the intelligences require. And now they believe that a person is intelligent if he can use his knowledge to survive in real-life situations.

Intelligence was used to sort students and predict their success, before thru an IQ test, they classify and rank people based on the result of the IQ Test and foresee the future of the person based on the measured intelligence. But now the kinds and levels of intelligence are used to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a person’s intelligence, and can be used to evaluate and further develop one’s capacities.

Have you ever wondered why Tiger Wood (for example) is so good in golf and others are not? You might say because Tiger Wood has “TALENT”. With Dr. Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, he tells us that this it is in fact what we call “INTELLIGENCE”. His work not only has challenged the traditional view of intelligence as a unitary capability that measured by IQ Tests but also has given rise to a new definition of intelligence and a new approach to learning and teaching. His view of intelligence is dynamic-expanding far beyond the linguistic and logical capacities that are traditionally tested and valued in schools. According to Gardner, the intelligence is consists of 8 intellectual capacities.

1.) Linguistic- skill in the use of words for expressive and practical purposes.

A person with verbal-linguistic intelligence:

Has the ability to: speak effectively or write effectively.

the inclination for: speaking, writing, listening, reading.

a sensitivity to: the sounds, meanings, structures and styles of language.

2.) Logical-mathematical- skill in organization, problem solving and reasoning, curiosity and investigation.

3.) Spatial- visual activities.

4.) Bodily-Kinesthetic- use of physical strength/body.

5.) Interpersonal- responding to other’s feelings.

6.) Intra-personal- assessing oneself.

7.) Naturalist- classifying living or natural things.

8.) Musical- actively enjoys listening to music/playing musical instruments.

The implication of the theory is that learning/teaching should focus on the particular intelligences of each person. For example, if an individual has strong spatial or musical intelligences, they should be encouraged to develop these abilities. A further implication of the theory is that assessment of abilities should measure all forms of intelligence, not just linguistic and logical-mathematical. And someday if you become a teacher don’t judge your students by academic result alone, I told you that as being a teacher you should encourage your students to develop their talents and help them out blossom; your students may possess other intelligences waiting for you to discover. So can you now answer this question, “IS INTELLIGENCE A SINGLE THING OR VARIOUS INTELLECTUAL FACULTIES?” (The types of Intelligence varies within each

person, the intelligence is not unitary because intelligence can be exhibited in many or multiple ways).

Now that we’re done with Multiple Intelligences, let’s go now to the next lesson, every one of us has our own unique styles—in cheating? Nope, but basically in learning. For this lesson, we are going to study the 4 learning styles given by Harvey Silver. Let’s read these situations ***(acetate) and let’s find out what particular learning style does each of them has. The following four passages were written by four different 5th and 6th grade students about their experiences at school and each student represents one of the 4 learning styles. Read the passages and decide which one sounds the most like you.

(LET SOME STUDENTS READ THE PASSAGES ONE AT A TIME)

...Samuel, -wants to know exactly what is expected of him and how well the task must be done and why.

-he likes when the teacher shows him exactly what to do.

-he also likes seeing tangible results.

Samuel T. shows signs of person with a MASTERY STYLE of learning.

A Person with:

-MASTERY STYLE

Learns best from:

Drill, demo, practice and Hands-on experience.

Likes to:

-do things that have immediate, practical use.

Doesn’t like /to:

-do tasks that are not in practical use.-activites that

-being acknowledged.-being praised for prompt and complete work.-receive feedbacks.

require imagination.-activities with multifaceted directions.

...Nina, -loves expressing herself much.

-she loves to explore new ideas.

-she like thinking of things to do.

Nina F. has signs of person with a SELF-EXPRESSIVE STYLE of learning.

-SELF-EXPRESSIVE STYLE

Creative Activities-learn through discovery.-personal insights or discoveries.

-detailed and demanding routines.

...Nancy, -loves studying about ideas and how things are related.

-loves to compare choices and make decisions.

-problem-solving

Nancy has signs of person with an UNDERSTANDING STYLE of learning.

-UNDERSTANDING STYLE

Lectures, reading, logical discussions.

-likes to plan and organize her work.-work independently.

-memorization-routine or role assignments.

...Shamir, -likes helping someone.

-loves getting emotionally involved.

Shamir shows signs of person with an INTERPERSONAL STYLE of learning.

-INTERPERSONAL STYLE

Group Experiences, role playing, personal expression

-receiving encouragement-sharing personal feelings

-long periods of working alone silently

ACTIVITY:

Rank the 4 characters according to their similarity to you:

1.Not at all like me 2.A little like me 3.Somewhat like me 4.A lot like me

SAMUEL NINA NANCY SHAMIR