I am a culinary arts instructor. I define intelligence as being able to use all of one's senses in the kitchen.
For example (using the making and cooking of fresh pasta as an example..)
1. Can you feel the suppleness of the dough that tells you that the gluten has done its job both in the building of structure and relaxing of the proteins.
2. Can you see any air bubbles in the dough when it is cut open; an example of gluten relaxing its 'hold' on the dough
3. Can you hear the water boiling in the pot?
4. What does the cooked and unsauced pasta smell like? Does it remind you of anything else? What scent does boiled starch emanate?
5. And of course taste: what does your un-sauced dough taste like? Tender? Enough salt?
Use of the senses can be applied to many jobs in the kitchen...and it is fun juggling a few of them at a time.
David,
Well said. I like the saying "its not how smart you are but how you are smart" that determines your success in your career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
intelligence is the ability to manage , incorporate multiple disciplines and apply those disciplines in the decision making process that will result in the best possible outcome. Not every problem is in a text book, life poses problems that doesn't have a cookie cutter recipe, it relies on a persons ability to use prior knowledge, apply it to come out up with a positive outcome.
Wendy,
Like this definition because I think it is essential that this blending occur. Without the blending one part of the solution may be missing an element and with patients as we know that is not an option.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Christine,
What are some ways you help your students do these two things?
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As an oral pathology and dental hygiene clinical instructor, my idea of a competent and intelligent healthcare professional is someone who can draw on a combination of didactic and experential knowledge to diagnose and treatment plan for patients in their care.
Identify the issue at hand and find a solution with patience.
Richard,
This is a very good point because unless we can communicate clearly we will not be able to get our content across. We need to make the development of good communication skills a part of our personal development plan.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Vanessa,
This is a good point because it seems that the bulk of instruction is based upon "thinking on your feet". The more expertise an instructor has in this area the more he or she will be able to respond to the ever changing situations in the classroom or lab.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Knowledge of the material to be taught is crucial, but also a facility with communicating that information. By this I mean having an awareness of student response to instruction methods, collaboration, assignments, etc. And also finding a way of presenting information that makes it interesting and useful to students.
In my area, I would say intelligence is the ability to "think on your feet". In an academic setting, you never know what issue a student will present you with so you have to be ready for anything!
Robert,
I have been researching the assessment of Gardner's seven intelligences for the past twenty years and have developed an assessment called the "Talent Key". The assessment shows the three dominant intelligences of an individual. We use this information to format our instructional delivery because we know how they are internalizing information and applying it to their educational growth. Much more to learn what a experience it has been to learn this much about how people function.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My definition is best described using Howard Gardner's model of intelligence. It includes all seven elements, but each one has different strengths in application. Linguistic and interpersonal intelligences would be used the most because it is expected in customer service. Spatial and musical intelligences have a weaker application because they are used to enhance the setting.
Mohan,
Well defined. This is how your students will be measured for success once they are out in the workplace. Can they take a car in and diagnose the problem, solve the problem and get the car back to the owner in good shape? If so they are going to enjoy a good career.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Mary,
This is the foundation for the saying "it isn't how smart you are but how you are smart". Being able to work through diverse situations and come up with solutions is what smart is about.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am an automotive instructor teaching students how to diagnose and repair cars. Diagnosing the problem is the most important part. This is where the intelligence plays a very important role. As such, my defenition of intelligence is:
Reflecting on the problem;
A mental image of the procedures involved;
Applying the methodes in the least amount of time.
Being able to look at a situation and solve it. Dealing with different products for the best outcome
The ability to reason and reflect. To use critial thinking to solve problems,to pose and answer complex questions,to be able to judge a situation and make value judgements for solutions.
Russell,
Right on target. Talking the talk is nothing like walking the walk. No performance, no results, no job.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
it dosent matter how many certifications you have or how many classes you have completed if you can't solve the problem. knowing something is useless without doing something about it.
