Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Chapter Two: MI Theory and Personal Development


Chapter Two did well to reiterate how we as individuals have a “go to” intelligence in which we are internally wired to resort to. The last chapter did well to make me aware of this trait and how it can be detrimental to the learning of some of my students who excel under alternative methods. Two suggestions that were proposed in this chapter that I thought were excellent recommendations was the seeking out of input by those who vary from you in their learning styles. Inquiring to a fellow college in the Science department as to how I might incorporate methods to better attract the naturalists in the classroom is an easy and effect activity to start the brainstorming process. The second recommendation was to go straight to the source, the students themselves. We as teachers are learners as well and the opportunity to work one-on-one with students that differ from our preferred intelligence is one of the best modes to gather data on how these individuals think.
The conclusion of Chapter Two does well to support this idea, stressing the natural ability of all individuals to possess talents in each of the eight intelligences, as well as the capability to advance them. Many individuals are quick to down play their success in the intelligences that are not their most dominant, in doing so they halt the process of expanding their understanding and advancing those techniques. In correlation to this, Chapter Two does well to mention the external factors that play a significant part in the maturing of each of these intelligences, such as the role nurture vs. nature plays. As a teacher I should not only adapt my teaching style to incorporate the methods that work best for each student but also push them to work outside their comfort zone and develop those skills that are underdeveloped not due to ability but because of circumstance.

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