The use of technology in the classroom can allow teachers to cater to the needs of the varied intelligences types to be found in the classroom. Howard Gardener, who is cited in Teaching and Learning with Technology by Duffy and Mc Donald (2008), theorized that human beings have “multiple intelligences” which include: linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic and existential. Some texts have added emotional and moral intelligence to this list.
Many of the web 2.0 technologies with which we are now familiar can be useful tools in classroom where there are several learner types. The following are some examples of how technology can be incorporated in the classroom to meet the needs of different learner types. I am sure that if we observe carefully we will find all f these learner types amongst our students.
-Logical-Mathematical:
- Organizational tools (databases, calendars)
-Calculation tools (spreadsheets)
- Visual/Spatial:
- Photo sharing websites
- Comics and Sequential art
- Musical:
- Video and audio recorders - digitize singing, musical instruments
- Sound and music files
-Bodily-Kinesthetic:
-Keyboarding, mouse, joystick, and other devices for movement
-Scientific probes and microscopes
-Interpersonal:
- Email projects
-Word processing - chain writing, group editing, peer writing, brainstorming
-Intrapersonal:
- Blogs
-Webquests
-Concept maps (Inspiration and Kidspiration) - idea webs
-Naturalistic
-Audio and video cameras - record natural world
-Digital cameras - record natural world, field trips
-Existentialist
- email
- chat
( http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic68h.htm)
Hi Alicia,
ReplyDeleteA very interesting and informative blog. Your observation is spot on. As Gardener recognised, people are multi-talented, students are multi-talented and because of this they should be allowed to express themselves in multiple ways so that the can experience true, authentic learning and respond in ways that will assist their self actualization.
I also see this phenomenon at my school. There are children who are musically inclined as well as talented in dance, which uses the spatial awareness abilities. In addition our students love Drama. Again, when they are doing this subject they are so happy and creative.
Affording students opportunities to use technologies such as the Web 2.0's will motivate them to engage in practices that will develop their literacy skills and allow for various aspects of their development. Sometimes students surprise you by how developed their intelligences are.
At our recent graduation, a student 'blew us away' when she sang a wonderful song and accompanied herself on the piano. This child was always quiet and I had never seen her perform in school productions. On completion of her performance the student body screamed out, wanting more.
The bottom line is, we need to develop these intelligences and affirm our students.
Web 2.0 I feel will bring a lot of revelation for us as teachers. I can see several students having ah ha moments as finally they can display talents that have been dormant and stiffled because of the restrictive nature of some teaching practices.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the day when students' oral accounts will be used in assessment procedures. There are too many intelligent children out there who but for some sometimes unidentifiable learning disabaility, which our system is yet to treat with, they are branded remedial,low performing, struggling because they cannot read up to standard. Given and oral exam these same students, in the words of my mother tongue, "will lick them up" in any exam.
We need to treat with such students urgently if conventional reading strategies are not working. Their intelligences may lie elsewhere. If we find out how they learn, we help the student and we help our society.
Multiple intelligences can indeed be seen as the theoretical foundation for using Web 2.0 technology in the classroom. Evidence of Gardner's theory confronts us every day in our differentiated classroom. Technology can indeed assist the teacher when he/she faces the mammoth challenge of catering to the needs and interest of all her students. Once the teacher can find appropriate technology to match his/her student and sufficient opportunities are provided for the students to us the technology then she can free herself to provide individual attention to struggling learners in her classroom. In fact Terrance Cavanaugh in his text , "The Digital Reader; Using E-BOOKS in K-12 Education” identifies many benefits of using technology ,particular E-books for both reluctant learners and special needs students. By catering for their multiple intelligences technology can allow students to realise their true potential.
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