It would get all students involved and get them off their cell phones and interested in learning. My students have dificulty making decisions, this activity would help.
anthony,
we really do need to embrace the diversity in our classes & use that to the full advantage.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
being Diverse can work in great ways in a classroom. Besides using the strengths and weaknesses the team finds out, they can also use the backgrounds of each team member. Each team members brings a unique plate to the table.
This exercise addresses all multiple intelligences by allowing the students to pick one step that stands out to them. Each step is different which will require teamwork.
This will lead to teamwork and building stronger teamwork skills. This scenario has the students being active, moving around, being social, excited, and learning. The class as a whole is participating and interacting.
Alan,
yes & this can also help them learn how to form teams quickly & tap into the skills of those around them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
This would build teamwork and allow the students to develop interpersonal skills as well as problem solving skills to accomplish a task. Using the type of music described would imply a sense of urgency and help make and implement quick decisions aimed at achieving a common goal.
George is right about each person gravitating to their own preferred type of intelligence and how they intake new information. The debrief can help the team members both understand the learning experience as a whole, but also the parts of it that each member of the team contributes from their own personal perspective. Kind of a "Gestalt" learning experience with each piece creating a larger part of the whole picture.
team building is so important in the classroom. Students are so competative and flow of knowledge between students is often nonigsistant. It is important for them to learn to work with others because on one person can run the kitchen alone.
Laura,
it is also important that we help students realize how cultural diversity impacts the way we view the world & our approach to many communication situations.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Cultural diversity is huge in nursing. There are differences and beliefs that we must all learn and be able to tolerate and respect. It has be a learning experience in my classes for all students to share their beliefs. Some classes will bring in foods from their culture and share how it is made. This helps to build trust and acceptance from each other.
I agree, especially when the group is dynamic and from different socioeconomic backgrounds and ages. Having a variety that can relate to each group might help to offer diversity at multiple levels for each student group. This show of diversity can be a building block in the learning process overall.
Linda,
yes, the debrief is key to really cementing the learning from various activities & experiences.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Students learn to the classroom by different methods. One I learned about is debriefing which allow the student to reflect on an experience and the student is not aware that they are learning.
It brings out their individuality and creates an opportunity to bring them all together as a team with a common goals.
Hi Dr. Meers,
Perhaps I'm a little too left-brained to fully capture what's going on with this exercise. Because of the way the Multiple Intelligences are grouped, it doesn't appear to map to all seven globally. For example, although interpersonal intelligence is seen when the students find the others and form groups to arrange the steps of the process, when are the students thinking and learning on their own, which would cover the intrapersonal intelligence?
Also, when does bodily/kinesthetic occur? I see nothing in the exercise the students would be physically manipulating, unless they are required to write down the steps on separate pieces of paper and shuffle each piece around on a board of some type. Again, because of my tendency to be very literal in interpretation, I may be missing these parts of this hypothetical exercise.
As with any topic, an instructor can devise an exercise that can map to most, if not all of the seven multiple intelligences. In this case #1 and #2 relate to interpersonal, intrapersonal, and mathematical. #3 - #5 can align easily with any of the remaining intelligences. It takes time to develop these types of exercises, but the outcomes are worth the time.
This is a great learning activity to teach team work and have fun. Who doesn't like to win a prize? Also, each group is small enough that every team member can and has to get involved and interact with others to accomplish their goals. At the same time, the activity honors the multiple intelligences of the learners. For example:
* Interpersonal- work with their team to interject their input.
* Logical/ Mathematical - define process & rules.
* Spatial/ Visual - weak.
* Music - alpha state music nurtures creativity and problem solving skills during the exercise.
* Lingustic/ Verbal - the written & spoken words.
* Intrapersonal - read & think by themselves prior to discussion with their team member.
* Bodily/ Kinesthetic - move around to find the other four team members.
* Emotional - reminds childhood's fun game (positive associaton). Enhance the ability to see stress itself more objectively.
I understand that there are several ways people learn. I have the opportunity to sit down with small groups and even individuals from time to time in order to teach them new concepts as they relate to the physical body and its motion. In doing this I will go through several different explanations each one set to achieve the same purpose. As I do this I watch the students for that ah hah moment when they suddenly understand the concept. In order to get all of the students to understand I have to appeal to the many different learning styles.
Tammy,
and these type of conversations can lead into great discussions about the diversity that is all around us.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
