In my field of study, students demonstrate their intelligence by assessing a patient's medical history, and other misc. data, and by determining whether a patient should be treated at that time. If the student decides that the patient may be treated, the student will properly demonstrate what science and research based treatment should be rendered over a reasonable timeframe. Then, the student will also need to determine if their patient should be referred to a physician or specialist.
Bernabe,
You have a good discussion here. In addition to the learning styles (visual, auditory, kniesthetic) are the types of intelligences like verbal, spatial, mathmatical, logical, emotional, etc. If the instrument being used or the circumstance being addressed is of a different nature than the intelligence propensity for the individual, it could appear the individual is less (or more) 'intelligent' than he/she would normally be considered to be. Thank you for your contribution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Pandora,
I think it is important to consider the 'mix' of the different intelligences in the context of the circumstances within which they will be implemented. Additionally, I agree that Gardner created an excellent definition towrad expanding the reality of intelligence beyond the restrictive Intelligence Quotient (IQ) that is unfortunately relied upon in circumstances where it is not the best tool to use. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I do believe that intelligence doesn't have anything to do with the career choices that people make. People have varying ways of learning and comprehension, I always see this every time I start teaching a new class. There's a ton of misconception about student's intelligence coming from their classmates. I always have to make every one understand that people have different ways to retain information. Some people may be a visual learner, some people can sit down and read a book once and remember everything, and some people need a little bit more time to grasp a certain concept. However which way people learn, whether they are different from the way we learn or not, it does not necessarily mean that they are less (or more) intelligent than us.
What is intelligence. Mr. Gardner, definition of intelligence is straight to the point. This definition gave me the most accurate definition. In my career area it is hard to perceive the definition of the intelligence of why the students are even in this program. I definitely would not use Logical-Mathematical Intelligence as a definition.
Susan,
Good points. Thank you for your contribution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Using common sense and analytical thinking. Preparing for the unexpected.
Diane,
This is a very good strategy. Approaching students through multiple intelligences makes the learning more rubust and and longer lasting. Thank you for your insights.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
My idea of intelligence in relation to my career area is that the more able I am to adapt course concepts to hands-on teaching, the more intelligence they gain through mulitple teaching methods.
Heather,
This is not extremely uncommon. So, we as clinical instructors, need to help develop these intelligences in a balanced approach. Very good comments. Thanks for sharing.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Sherri,
You are right to point out the importance of developing many intelligences. As students experience the thrill of success they will come back for more and solidify confidence in the skills they develop.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I have found that teaching in a clinical program, that some students who may struggle a bit in the true IQ arena, can be very good bedside clinician and care givers because their "emotional" intelligence is what is their strong point. The opposite can be quite true as well. I've had incredibly intelligent students when it comes to classroom work, but they struggle to connect @ the bedside.
In my career area, as an instructors, we should be developing the intelligences of our students, such as logical, linguistic, spatial, etc.
I find in my courses (accounting, payroll, etc) that some of my students struggle with logical intelligence. Especially in accounting, students need to get into a high level of concentration to zone in on the work. Sometimes we have the "aha" moments when I see a student use their logical intelligence for the first time. Once they experience this, they go back for more!!
Moreover, most younger students are discovering and developing their interpersonal (discerning their feelings) intelligence.
Minerva ,
Sadly, your situation is not uncommon. The business community in many segments are indicating the same thing. Some say that online education is contributing to the difficulty of diminishing 'soft skills' for college graduates. Any insights?
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I am an instructor of English Composition and Communication.Employers contact my school and often say that they are looking for employees with interpersonal communicationn skills, which they find hard to come by. They are confident that students have their technical skills, but they are concerned that they lack soft skills. Intelligence in my field thus requires the incorporation of both skills to be truly effective in the workplace.
Ashley ,
I agree that is often the case in many human to human interface careers from medical to law enforcement to f2f classroom instruction. It is also the case when dealing with fast-paced, time sensitive technologies. Very good point.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
In my career area "intelligence" would involve an ability to think on your feet and act fast with accuracy.
Paul,
Well stated. Yes, the 'classical intelligence' quotient (IQ) is heavilty weighted on verbal intelligence. There are many 'hands-on' technical vocations that score high in other intelligence measurements.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I teach a hands-on course and find that many of my students aren't "classically intelligent" but are very perceptive technicians so I feel that intelligence is a situational study.
Tammie,
The outcomes based educational movement is concerned with precisely that. I like your term "instructor intelligence" as a metric that may include competency student application. Good thoughts.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
