Good evening Dr. Meers,
I find that my understanding of multiple intelligences affects my teaching methodology by constantly challenging me to expand my delivery and seek out new and exciting ways to teach my students.It definitely keeps things interesting and prevents me from getting into an intellectual slump. By using my knowledge of how individuals process information I can coordinate my lesson plan to reach more than one kind of learner. Everyone processes information differently, so the more choices I give my students for learning, the greater my percentage for success goes up.
Best regards,
Jason Kupper
I think a good strategy that has worked for me in the past, and this new information solidifies, is communicating your teaching message in many different ways simultaneously. For instance I teach cooking, so the students read a chapter and its supporting recipes, listen to a lecture, supported by PowerPoint and or hand outs and watch a demonstration, taste the finished product and then have the opportunity to prepare a dish as well. So we are approaching the content where the read, see, hear, touch, taste and do! How cool is that. Often our stellar cooks struggle in the academics or vice versa, I am sure now that different learning styles ply a role in that as well!
I must be able to implement different techniques to make sure I cover all of the different ways information is processed. Visual aids and class participation projects should be included with lecture and reading assignments.
By understanding the different intelligences, I feel that I will have to constantly adapting my instruction style/presentation so I can cover the areas the students prefer to learn. Giving them the best possible opportunity to gain as much knowledge from my class.
I will be more aware of this situation. I will add different form of information on that topic. I will have classroom discussions to get stiudents involve.
Hi Diego,
Your comments reflect the need for an instructor to be able to "read" students. The more you know about them and their preferences the more you will be able to meet their specific needs just as you indicated. This is an essential instructor skill that we all need to develop.
Gary
After interacting with my students I can establish the way they learn and their kind of intelligence; adapting my instruction and using a variety of methodologies allow me to target all of them; when I tutoring one to one I can customized my teaching methodology to the student’s particular need.
I am in total agreement! In a culinary school we have to adapt to multiple intelligences. A number of students come in thinking it is only about cooking, but in order to get promote within the ranks math, verbal communication and team work are essentail.
Hi Michele,
This is what make teaching so much fun. You get to see different individuals do different things and different times in the course as a result of being offered instruction in their learning preference. Keep up the good work.
Gary
Hi Thomas,
Coming from the trades I understand and appreciate your comments. We had to "prove" ourselves with a practical exam which continued on each day I was on the job. We had to do the work and please our customers in the process. If we didn't have the skills we weren't going to last.
Gary
I too find that when content and activities are varied different students shine at different times. I try not to pass judgement on my students intellectually abilities since I know that they all learn differently. It is exciting to see them all work together in their different abilities to achieve the same successes!
In a programmed instructionj of a skill set, if I was HIRING one of my students, I would hire one that can apply the learned skills, before the one with the highest GPA. That is one of the reasons I am glad in my "trade" I am glad the industry standard still requires a practical examination, even after graduation.
Hi Victoria,
Good point about understanding student needs. We need to learn as much as we can about our students and how we can be of support to them. This will give us insight into how to plan our instructional delivery.
Gary
I agree with your statement that we need to be sure to address the needs of the students and their learning styles, vs teaching the way we find it easiest to pass along the information. Doing this by understanding their needs is key.
Hi RoQuanda,
Well said! We need to offer variety in our instructional delivery so we can appeal to the different learning preferences of our students.
Gary
As a instructor, it is our job to find several methods to communicate effectively with each student in our classrooms. Teaching to multiple intelligences is a challenge that teachers should embrace. This will help develop the teacher's skills in communicating. Once an instructor can reach each individual and have them clearly understand the lecture is when the instructor job is done.
Hi Jocelyne,
I really like the way you have adapted your approach to meet the individual needs of students. Since they are working in individual settings on their projects the idea of letting them select their own music puts them in a position where they can keep their focus while completing their work. Their respect for your input is demonstrated by them removing their listening devices while you are consulting with them. Well done.
Gary
I can appreciate having music to calm and focus students, however I had an interesting experience as a student in a continuing education course for children's book illustration. The teacher had selected what she felt was probably appropriate for the environment, yet I was entirely unfocused by her selection and relieved when the music can to an end. Because of this experience, when my students are working independently on their own, I allow mp3s. As I walk around the room to provide assistance and monitor progress, students are respectful and remove the device to hear my feedback.
Jocelyne
Fortunately, I learned about multiple intelligences in my art education coursework before I entered the teaching profession and strive to reach all learning groups. I teach Drawing 1 and Fashion Sketching to students who mostly have little to no prior drawing experience. To reach the verbal/linguistic group, I have a really strong textbook for my fashion sketching students and provide printed power points for my drawing students. To reach the aural learners, I lecture from the text or power point and provide verbal reviews of the necessary skills. To reach the visual learners, I demonstrate drawing and sketching techniques and provide copies of my demonstrated techniques for students to take home. There are also numerous visual examples in the text and power points for students to reference. To reach the kinesthetic learners, students learn by doing and I am there walking around the room to provide assistance and to monitor their progress as they work on their drawings and fashion sketches. I believe I am reaching my students based upon the progress they make throughout the term. My students provide feedback as well. They tell me about family members and friends who are amazed by what the student can draw. It is also very rewarding to see how pleased the students are with their own progress at the end of the term!
Understanding Multiple Intelligences will effect the presentation and delivery of information for my class. I think every class is different and this should be taken into account when planning instructional delivery.
