Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, which posits that all people have a wide variety of capacities, validates the learning styles and natural giftedness across a fascinating and varied spectrum.
The intelligences below, which I have taken (and slightly paraphrased) from Dr. Richard Scheuerman's class outline, should be treated as equally valuable and without hierarchy:
- Verbal-linguistic—the use of words orally and in writing; learners are most successful when they can speak, listen, read, or write
- Logical-mathematical—the basis of the hard sciences and all fields of mathematics; learners use numbers and reasoning in logical patterns and relationships
- Visual-Spatial—the use of pictures and images with a sensitivity to color, line, shape, and form and their interrelationships; learners are keenly perceptive of visual details and have a good sense of location and direction
- Bodily-kinesthetic—the expression of ideas and feelings through the use of one’s body with physical skills such as coordination, balance, and dexterity; learners are most successful by doing, moving, or acting things out
- Musical—the use of musical form as a means of expression, perception, and transformation of thoughts; learners are sensitive to environmental and musical sounds
- Interpersonal—perceiving and making distinctions in the words, intentions, motivations, and feelings of others; learners are successful with they work in groups, serve as mentors, learn best by interacting with others
- Intrapersonal intelligence—the act of gaining access to one’s own feelings and emotions; learners are independent and self-directed and are often introverted
- Naturalist—the accute awareness to the world of plants and animals, geography, and natural objects; learners dispaly a preference for outdoor settings and environmental appreciation
Although some Western teaching methods do not necessarily accommodate each intelligence in the classroom in obvious ways, it's important for educators to notice the unique learning styles and personalities of each student and consider them in the grand scheme. And like every other item on a teacher's to-do list, it's not an easy task. When it's time to teach the nitty gritty of comma rules, how in the world does a student whose primary intelligence is naturalist fit in? What about when talkative, extroverted students must work alone for a quiet hour of writer's workshop?
I think the key to helping all students thrive is to create interesting and engaging angles as much as possible, and then showing them that it's possible to be successful even when they aren't feeling an absolute learning groove, too. For example, if a teacher knows she has several naturalist-minded students, she can tailor her writing samples with stories of outdoor adventure while folding in the cold hard facts about commas and independent clauses (when they're connected with conjunctions, never forget your comma!). The truth is, students may not be thrilled about the comma lesson--and I'm sure there are tons of engaging and fun grammar lesson ideas to ease their pain--but at the end of the day, gently helping kids persevere through not-so-fun moments is a separate lesson they will use for the rest of their lives.
But there is good news: As teachers connect more and more with each other through online resources, more and more ideas spring up for how to creatively meet needs of all kinds of personalities. Pinterest is brimming with movement activities, poetry units inspiring social-emotional growth, and field trip guides for the great outdoors. Not every moment of the day will be a perfect match for every learner, but with all the incredible support available to modern teachers, it's certainly possible to students' eyes sparkle more often than not.
References
Scheuerman, R. (2016). Session 7: Learner Centered Approaches. Retrieved from: https://bbweb03.spu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-1129492-dt-content-rid-2467014_1/courses/EDU6526_27922_201562/SIS.%20Session%207%20Outline%20%28Learner-Centered.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment