What is My Child's Intelligence?

June 7, 2011

(Multiple Intelligences for Multisensory Learning)

Maths teacher: "Your son has failed in mathematics"
English teacher: "Why can’t your daughter sit still and listen?"
Principal: "Your daughter keeps aloof, never mixes with other students".
Biology teacher: "Your son can’t draw a simple diagram"

Schools and colleges have reopened and the nightmarish parent-teacher meetings or ‘open days’ will make their comeback as well. Parents return home with feedback such as ‘dull’, ‘slow’, ‘poor concentration’ ‘poor memory’, ‘lazy’.

To most parents, in addition to the fees and the works, performance of their wards becomes a major concern. They exchange notes, compare and contrast their children with other children who seem like prodigies. Despair takes over hope of their children’s bright futures. For the child what should be filled with work and play becomes a tortuous uphill task of coping with impositions and tuitions. For the parents a constant question "Why is my child not able to cope? Why is my child not intelligent"?

Previously "Intelligence" was defined very narrowly. Children who could "Sit still, face the teacher and listen" had promising futures and were the teachers’ pets.

Even while reminiscing about our childhood with fondness, most of us feel we could have done better at school than we did. That feeling still affects our attitude toward learning years later.

Many very successful and fulfilled people in life were also judged to be failures at school based on their linguistic or mathematical inability - brilliant scientists, leaders, writers, entertainers, sports-people, soldiers, humanitarians, healers, religious and political leaders - all sorts of happy, fulfilled remarkable people - they too were judged according to a very narrow definition of what constitutes intelligence.

Until recently people were generally categorised by the ‘G’ general factor. You were either a ‘genius, or above average or below average, an ‘idiot’, moron or an imbecile by the results of the IQ (Intelligent Quotient) tests. The ‘G’ factor sees Intelligence as a single entity that people have in varying degrees.

More has been learned about the human brain in the last 25 to 30 years than in all previous history. It overturns a lot of old assumptions. The most important of them is the "IQ" the General Intelligence Quotient theory.

Albert Einstein considered a genius for his contribution to physics was feared to be mentally challenged because he did not speak until he was four years old and could read only by seven.

Beethoven was deaf and yet composed exquisite symphonies, but as a child had been chided by his music teacher as "hopeless as a composer.

You will find hundred of examples in the famous and not so famous list of achievers.


Victor says learning and work can be divided into four categories

1. Hard to learn and hard to do - for example mountaineering or some such difficult feats, 2. Hard to learn but easy to do - like driving a car, difficult to learn but in time becomes second nature. 3. Easy to learn but hard to do - like digging 4. Easy to learn and easy to do---This is your strength. This differs from person to person. What comes easy for one is unfathomable for others.

Let’s take the example of Mathematics. For some, mathematics is like music. They gloat over numbers while for people like me numbers and algebra look like heliographies. With a swish of a brush one child can bring a pale canvas to life whereas feet and legs jut out of the ears of a figure when another child draws. What makes the same thing very easy for one to learn and very difficult for another?

A major breakthrough in understanding intelligences and matching them with learning styles came when Howard Gardner, professor of cognition and education in Harvard University and professor in neurology proposed the theory of multiple intelligences in his book ‘Frames of Mind’ published in 1983. Howard Gardner viewed intelligence as 'the capacity to solve problems or to fashion products that are valued in one or more cultural setting' (Gardner & Hatch, 1989)

Gardner has received honorary degrees from at least twenty foreign On the basis of neurological and cultural research he showed that learning is an outcome of modifications in the synaptic connections between cells in the brain.

Research on brain suggests that learning is an outcome of the modifications in the synaptic connections between cells. There are particular areas of the brain where corresponding transformations occur. Such changes in the synaptic connections in areas of the brain such as the cerebral cortex and hippocampus are associated with the learning and remembering of new information. Unearthing these synaptic processes that gather, store and retrieve information throughout is the cutting edge of modern neuroscience.


The major assumption of this theory is that every person is born with more than one intelligence. Intellectual capacity can be worked on. Although biology, environment, and culture plays an important role in the development of intelligences enhancing the dominant intelligences and working on the lesser developed intelligences is possible by constant effort.

Students come with different sets of developed intelligences. An intelligence profile can be procured by Multiple Intelligences tests. All seven intelligences are needed to live life well. Teachers, therefore, need to attend to all intelligences, not just the first two that have been their tradition. Seven kinds of intelligences mean at least seven methods of teaching learning! The first step is to identify the Multiple Intelligences profile of the learner or group of learners. The educational implication is that learning will only be maximised when the learner’s preferred intelligences are aligned with the instructional approach. Teachers should structure the presentation of material in a style which engages most or all of the intelligences

Extensive research is being conducted in schools and colleges to suit the learning styles of pupils to their abilities and learning styles. It has been embraced by a range of educational theorists and, significantly, applied by teachers and policymakers to the problems of schooling.

Identification of dominant intelligences and development of other intelligences can make learning not painful but a pleasurable journey towards adulthood and fulfilling future careers.

 

Dr Zita Lobo Archives:

By Dr Zita Lobo
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Comment on this article

  • YOgesh Naik, Karwar / Pune

    Thu, Aug 11 2011

    Nice article... enlightening..

  • Laxmidas M, Mangalore / Dubai

    Sun, Jun 12 2011

    Dear Zita m'am, thanks for this thought-provoking article. Keep writing..

  • P. Mathew, Illinois

    Thu, Jun 09 2011

    A very interesting article.

    Society as a whole has tried to define intelligence (as the author states) in quite narrow terms...even going as far as to assign a numerical value to an individual's intelligence.

    While it is true that children may have proclivities towards certain fields, intelligence can be nurtured by the environment. If parents want to stimulate their child's intelligence, they should encourage their children's curiosity of the world around them ("questioning is good"), encourage their child's creativity, and allow for personal growth and development.

    Society also has to let go of the embedded mentality that STEM fields are all that matter. If a child cannot solve an algebra equation but displays an artistic talent, we should encourage it rather than try to coerce the child to focus on science/mathematics.

    Every child has potential. Some may not be the next Ernest Hemingway, Frederick Chopin, or Albert Einstein, but we should encourage all children to fulfill their potential. In doing so, a child's intelligence will manifest itself in a beneficial way.

  • Jeswina, Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 09 2011

    Thank you Zita for the interesting and informative article. You have rightly said that as teachers we have an important role to play in the all round devleopment and growth of our children.

  • Sabita, Surathkal,Manglore

    Thu, Jun 09 2011

    Dear zee you look awesome. your article was good and touching so keep on writting

  • sylvia, kinnigoli

    Thu, Jun 09 2011

    Hi mam.Article is pretty cool..

  • Tony, Sydney/Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 08 2011

    I would like to add one more thing to the comments I offered earlier on the subject - and this important piece of advice is to all men. The advice to would be fathers is : do refrain from taking alcohol and any sort of drugs when you are venturing into the process of baby making - trust me, it helps to produce a healthy and intelligent baby - and it has worked well in my own case!

  • Tony, Sydney/Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 08 2011

    Interesting topic which concerns to many parents. I tend to believe that everyone at birth is endowed with a certain degree/level of intelligence - certainly it is genetic and also, it is well known that the brain development of the child largely takes place when in the womb, and depends mainly upon its mother`s status during her pregnancy - whether she had a healthy and robust physical condition, illness free - also whether she was alcohol/drug free, etc. The mother would do well, therefore, to take every care of herself and her pregnancy.

    As far as possible, the infant should be breast fed, as there is a wide belief that breast fed babies are more intelligent and smarter than the non-fed ones. Of course, dedication, tenacity and hard work will definitely help - but only to a certain extent. Parents should not, therefore, show too much anxiety and concern about the intelligence or otherwise of their children, but leave to them to the path/career of their liking and choice, and which they are good at. They should only guide and provide them proper atmosphere to pursue their studies and the career.

  • Rony Mendonsa, Moodbidri/Ras Al Khaimah

    Wed, Jun 08 2011

    Very nice article madam keep on writing . Wish you best of luck

  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 08 2011

    The educational Department should form a committee of young minds and take their advice. Accordingly create an education system which is student friendly and more effective as well as interesting.
    The oldies in the ministry still are in their 50s & 60s ideas and they use the same ideas for the new generation of Comp savvy over exposed youngsters of the 21st century. Please bring an entire change in the education system. Good luck!

  • Kurt Waschnig, Oldenburg/Germany

    Wed, Jun 08 2011

    Thank you Dr Zita Lobo for writing this interesting article. I circulated it to many friends all over the world,
    Well done Dr Zita Lobo!



    Best regards


    Kurt Waschnig Oldenburg Germany

  • geoffrey, hathill

    Tue, Jun 07 2011

    Things mentioned in this article can be implementd easily in an ideal world. In a real world things are different though. For a handful of examples like Einstines, Edisons, Bethowans and other 'Thaare Zameen Par', there are millions on this planet ending up with education/careers that contrary to their aptitude, some succeed, some fail. Human brain is adaptable and resilient, has a remarkable ability to adapt and adjust to situations - that's why we learn things.

  • ashenoy, mangloor

    Tue, Jun 07 2011

    A good education system should be designed to cater to the childrens/adults needs. Every child has something to offer to society. Valour and glory are secondary is good education.

  • Dr. Zita Lobo, mangalore/dubai

    Tue, Jun 07 2011

    This is the exact objective of the article. Once one knows the intelligences one possesses it is easier to find fulfillment and also the satisfaction that one is going in the right direction in life.

  • reshma saldanha, mumbai

    Tue, Jun 07 2011

    zita m'am...it was very informative...

  • A.S.Mathew, U.S.A.

    Tue, Jun 07 2011

    Good article touching the emerging
    trend in the educational system
    of India.

    While attending college in India,
    many of the smartest students in
    the science subjects failed for
    English and vice versa. No student
    is perfect in every subject under
    the world. Without realizing that
    dispartiy in brain power, many
    bright children are being unduly
    pressured mainly by the parents
    and the teachers to make them
    highly fruitful in every subject. In this process
    of high pressure, many highly
    talented and productive children's
    life can be either destroyed or far less productive.

  • Max & Jessie Rasquinha, Mangalore, Houston/Dallas

    Tue, Jun 07 2011

    Thank you very much, Dr. Zita Lobo, for your kind and timely insight on all the new educational opportunities as well as challenges that confront every student in this fast moving and fast changing world.

    It is quite true that we all can look back to our own glorious past and start wondering why we in our school days we did not try that hard as the students of today's world. The times have apparently changed and so also the new challenges in this vast and overpopulated world. After the World War II the neo-colonialized world has also brought new awareness with new technologies and developments that demand greater and stricter work ethics and qualities. Besides,in addition to the population growth a large portion of the women force has emerged into the working world bringing greater challenges and competitions in the employment arena.

    All of the above changing factors have also brought new awakening in every household where our children do not receive that much attention as we enjoyed during our simple days of the past. Every teacher is also a human being that is confronted with global changes that have impacted his or her teaching disciplines.

    All said and done, it is still an interesting world filled with so many greater glories of life that we all have to welcome and embrace with a smile of courage and optimism because Educational benefits are still in abundance with new innovations and technological creations. More changes and challenges are yet to come.

  • Olin Lasrado, Padil

    Tue, Jun 07 2011

    Very informative. Silver Kumkum Box and The carved Box both are worth reading. Thanks mam for such lovely piece of work. Keep wiriting

  • Rahul M C, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 07 2011

    Gud one!!


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