Hi Kenneth,
Thanks for sharing this information. Yes, your approach will be a good start in getting your students engaged and focused on the learning process.
Gary
In a way all of this serves as a reminder to me to take a closer look at the impact of my practices on the student learner. Certainly I am well aware of my own preferences for learning, but I need a reminder that I may focus my efforts on an approach that doesn't help the learner in their efforts. I think one thing I'm going to do is focus on getting a better handle on the approaches learners are more comfortable and effective with. Doing this early in the course will help me stay focused on what approach might work best in the classroom.
Multiple intelligences and the different ways individuals process information inputs is an essential factor in developing instructional delivery methodology. Dr. Gardner's point from his Project Zero that the instructor has the freedom to choose different delivery methods to leverage the strengths of their students.
Focusing on the three dominant intelligences; 1) Logical/Mathematical; 2) Linguistic and 3) Spatial will be a good start.
A good example of a strategy is to give student choices in how they will learn. Develop a syllabus that has different ways to learn; for example write a paper, research the internet, provide a book review and present to class, lead a discussion group or teach a lesson or some examples.
Hi John,
This is a very important point and glad you brought it up. Yes, everyone has their learning preferences but to rise to the next level of success a person has to be able to take in content through other venues. So the more students develop this ability the greater their success will be so you are doing them a great service by helping them to do just that.
Gary
I have students that sometime give pushback stating that they only learn a certain way. I will remind them that although they may learn the most one way, that they will still learn other ways too.
I always like to ask my students how they retain their information. By knowing this I always try to have a visual, hands-on, and an auditory aspect in all of the lessons I teach. I do find it hard when teaching certain subjects. Now I will feel more comfortable planning some of my lessons.
My understanding of multiple intelligences will help me to focus on the different ways in which learners process information. My instructional strategy will depend on how the learners can best process the information presented, for example, videos (visual), written (handouts), discussion (particpation), etc.
I have always been interested in multiple intelligences. By understanding the different MIs, it allows me to tailor my classroom instruction around the dominant MIs I observe within my student body. Also, using the knowledge of MIs, it is wise to alternate instructional delivery to meet different students at different times throughout the same class period. In trying to meet different MI in the same class period, different activities are used to teach and re-teach the same material.
Hi Kay,
You are right about some of the challenges of teaching online. I personally prefer teaching in a classroom setting but currently do much of my teaching online. As a result of have had to develop a number of different engagement strategies like you mentioned so I can get the students focused and learning in this environment.
Gary
It can be a little bit of a challenge when teaching online. My classes have textbooks and the assignments are well defined. I then go over assignments in an online Live Chat. I also use demonstrations of software that the students will use. We have online Labs students can attend which gives them another perspective on the material. I would imagine since most of our students are adult learners they would have also developed ways to learn subjects based on theirown multiple intelligences and learning preferences.
Hi William,
Good strategy. You are using your own life learning experiences as planning guides for your instructional delivery. This will help you to be more on target with your students.
Gary
I learn better by reading and listening to lectures and then applying the knowledge but I teach it better by hands on instruction and demonstration. because I am aware of this about myself it helps me to do a better job.
Hi Mike,
Give it a try. I think you will have great results as your students work through the different aspects of your course.
Gary
I never really thought of grouping like intelligences together. Often I will group people by age etc. This will allow me to see if I have penetrated the group through the methods used.
It is good to know that students are adaptable and can use multiple learning styles.
Planning course materials that vary in methodology and delivery will help the varying intellegences. Being aware of multiple intelligiences will help choose the most effective ways of teaching.
Making sure that the content of the material is understood properly by the instructor. This will facilitate me being able to use different learing techniques to present the information to the class.
I have looked at the way I process information and assumed it is my primary way of delivering it, and have had other instructors validate this by peer review. I use this knowledge to adapt my delivery of the information to the class. I will try to focus on my less dominant features and accentuate them to my class.
Hi Dixie,
All great questions. In a nutshell students can work in areas outside of their preferences and intelligences but they need some additional supports to enable them to do so. I think they need this kind of expertise because different careers require different communication and processing skills and these may not be the dominant ones for students that have selected such a field.
We do have the data to back up how students process information and how they retain their preferences throughout the educational sequence.
Gary
Hi Dixie,
Yes I do. The website is http://www.micubed.com/2/.
There is a lot of information there. In addition the website is in the final stages of revision and will very soon have even more information about our research. We are currently working on predicting potential student dropouts and how to keep them from leaving school. This is based upon data we have collected from about 55,000 students so we have a large data base to work from.
Any other questions let me know.
Thanks.
Gary
