How are students "smart" in different ways?
Students are smart in different ways. Often in a classroom alone, you could have a wide variety of learners. Some learners are more traditional learners, and require notes and lecture. Other students need more of a hands on approach to learning. Some learners learn best by watching demonstrations while others like to experiment and are more eager to learn while performing tasks themselves. Another way students are different kinds of "smart," is how well they learn cooperatively. Some students learn best with a more individualized setting, where the teacher speaks and the child records or watches the lesson. Others love working with groups, experimenting and coming up with answers and theories with their classmates.
How can teachers use multiple intelligence in the classroom?
Teachers need to be aware and get to know the different styles of learning that can be happening within each classroom. The best way to use this theory of multiple intelligence is to incorporate different activities within one given lesson, that will engage every type of learner. An effective lesson should touch each one of those different styles. Incorporating some notes and lecture with some group activities and/or experimentation would be an ideal setting in a classroom. Personal reflection or group debates are also effective to engage learners and make the lessons more memorable. It allows every student to gather the new knowledge how they know best, however that may be.
Multiple intelligences theory is the fruit of cognitive science. It helps us to rethink not only the theory of measurable intelligence embodied in intelligence testing but also the process of learning. :)
ReplyDelete