I believe in Multiple Intelligences. I have studied it in
two different classes and every time I learn about it I think it is so important
for adults to know about it because it helps the children not to feel dumb.
According to Howard Gardner’s theory there are several types
of intelligences (Berger 2009).
-Linguistic
- Logical/Mathematical
- Musical
- Spatial
- Bodily/Kinesthetic
- Interpersonal
- Intrapersonal
- Naturalistic
- Existential
I like to think every person has a little bit of each one.
In the United States we value (in school) linguistic and
logic skills. If a person doesn’t have those skills then they are thought to be
at a disadvantage. However, all the athletes in the NBA,MLB,NFL, and so on excel
in kinesthetic intelligence and make more money than any of us ever will.
As for testing/assessing children I don’t think there is a
proper way to do that. No test can ever capture the human spirit. Humans are
made up of too many facets to be put into a box.
I feel like there is
too much pressure on kids as it is – they really don’t need any more tests. I
have seen kids stress out like crazy over the SAT and it can be scary. After
all just because a test says you’ll do this way or that way doesn’t mean you
will.
When children are suspected of having a disability – I wish
there was a way to find out without the pressure of an assessment. I remember
being in elementary school and being called out of the classroom to go take
some reading tests (I don’t remember why) and I was so nervous.
I found an article about testing sign language in deaf
children in Italy using the Boston Naming test. I thought it was curious that
other countries are using tools from the United States to measure children. Why
can’t they develop their own? There was s thing mentioned in the text about
cultural biases in tests and that is totally true. I hope that the testers leave some wiggle
room for culture.
Berger,K. (2009). The developing person through childhood.
Ny,NY, Worth Publishers
Tomasuolo,E., Fellini,L., Di Renzo,A. & Volterra,V.
(2010). Assessing lexical production in deaf signing
children with the Boston Naming Test. Language, Interaction and Acquisition (1)1 ,110–128
Hi Koni,
ReplyDeleteI do too think there is no specific way to test or assess children, especially if we focus on their holistic development, but the reality is that tests will not disappear, however different criteria could be used, according to the observations the teacher has gathered from each student.
I like the image you posted!
Koni,
ReplyDeleteGreat image! I'll have to find one to post next week. :) I agree with you in regards to individuals who play professional sports are somehow "overlooked" especially if they play in college first. Great post!
Tachanda
Koni,
ReplyDeleteI think you brought up a good point in tests being biased. I have often felt this way myself. I like how you discuss the human spirit of a person. I think we have lost sight of this in our standardized tests. Excellent post!
Kristi
I agree with you 100%! I love learning about Gardner's multiple intelligence's. In my undergrad one of my teachers actually had us go to a children's play museum and look at the ways multiple intelligence's were used. It was such a fun activity to do and really helped the theory sink in for me.
ReplyDeleteI agree about everyone learning differently. I wish there was someway to assess each child wholely, rather than the way testing is done currently. Testing is 100% necessary; without it, we can not know how effective our teaching is and when to move on. Maybe one day the way we test will change to include the whole child.
ReplyDelete