Linking multiple intelligences approaches with technologies in language classrooms.

By Brinda Surnam

What is The Multi Intelligence Theory?

• The pioneer of the Multi intelligence theory,

Howard Gardner, proposed that every human

being has mainly 7 kinds of intelligences, all

equally important.

• Howard Gardener , a psychologist and a professor

of neuroscience has revolutionised the way

intelligences are viewed, how they can be

improved and how they can be measured.

• The brain has many centres and each centre can

be a gateway to acquire knowledge.

• Each human being does not have all the

intelligences in the same proportion.

• Each individual is unique with a unique style of

processing information.

What are the Multi intelligences and how do we recognise them in the learners?

• Verbal/Linguistic: learners think in words; like to read and write; like stories; like to play word games

• Logical/Mathematical: Learners see patterns easily; like abstract ideas; like strategy games and logical

puzzles; work out sums easily in their heads.

• Visual/Spatial: Learners think in images and pictures; easily remember where things have been put;

like drawing, designing, building, daydreaming; read maps and diagrams easily

• Musical/Rhythmic-auditory: Learners often sing, hum, whistle to self; remember melodies; have a

good sense of rhythm; play an instrument; need music on when studying

• Bodily/Kinaesthetic: Learners remember through bodily sensations; find it difficult to sit still for long;

are good at sports or dance or acting or mime; have excellent coordination; communicate well through

gestures; learn best through physical activity, simulation and role play

• Interpersonal: Learners understand people well; learn best by interacting and cooperating with others;

are good at leading and organising; pick up on other people’s feelings; enjoy playing social games

• Intrapersonal/Reflective: Learners like to work alone; are self-motivated; are intuitive; are self-

confident; are aware of personal strengths and weaknesses

•

Traditional intelligence V/S Multi Intelligence theory• Humans have only one type of intelligence.

• This intelligence if fixed and cannot be changed

or improved

• There is only one standardised test to measure

the intelligence of a person (memory , logic and

language) and so,

• All students are taught the same materials.

• Subjects/topics are compartmentalised and

taught in isolation.

• There are 7 types of intelligences, all equally

important.

• Intelligences depends on the person’s behaviour

and beliefs.

• Intelligences can be changed, improved and it

evolves (teachers are very important element in

the process/ brain can improve with use) and so,

• Individualised teaching (with the help of new

technologies) should be carried out for the total

development of the pupils.

• “Teachers structure learning activities around an

issue or question.”

What are the new technologies that can be used boost Multi Intelligences?New technology refer to audio/visual materials , games and the hardware and software of the computer system.

Multi Intelligences

Linguistic/ Open Word Processing

Logical-Mathematics/

databases, spreadsheets

Spatial/computer aided design, paint

programs, video games

Musical/interactive books and games, video and

audio recordings, musical activities

Bodily-kinesthetic/, video production, visual field trips, play station, WII

games

Interpersonal/Power Point, presentations,

blogs, e-mail conferencing

Intrapersonal/concept mapping, internet research,

peer teaching.

The benefits of using technologies in education are:1. Technology are part of student’s lives- students learn powerfully from technology

outside of the school walls. If technology is introduced in schools’ the students will learn more. They will be involved in their own learning.

2. Students will gain self confidence as they will work with a tool that they are familiar with and like.

3. Technology is a non-threatening tool for the students and they associate it with a play thing rather than an educational tool. While using technology incidental learning takes place. The Play way method is the best way to learn.

4. Technology is a great motivator and breaks the monotony of chalk and board and pen and paper in class. It also gives immediate feedback to the students.

5. Technology can cater to all intelligences. It has more possibilities to reach the different intelligences.

6. Technology is a great equaliser in the classroom- students can learn at their own pace.

7. Technology helps to differentiate instruction as the latter can be trimmed down or expanded to suit the students needs.

8. Students get trained to use technology and this will help them later in their professional lives.

How to cater for low ability students with dominant verbal- linguistic intelligences while teaching languages through technology?

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Level of students How to use technology? Objectives/Aims

Low Flyers 1. Type a paragraph using MS Word.2. Use MS Paint - the mouse or tools to write the letters.3. Use Clip Art

1. Helps to identify alphabets2. Distinguish between small and capital letters.3. Identify pictures with words.

Medium Flyers 1. Same as above2. Use MS Paint to design cards.3. Allow the students to surf in the Encarta software .

1. Same as above2. Correct their spelling and punctuation mistakes3. Help students create individualised cards use words

and even write poems.4. Students can read by themselves and ask the

teacher if they encounter unknown and difficult words.

High Flyers

1. Same as above2. Ask high Flyers to teach peers.3. Allow the students to surf in the Encarta software .

1. Same as above2. Reinforce the lesson in the high flyers and instil self

confidence.3. Students can read by themselves and ask the teacher if

they encounter unknown and difficult words.

How to cater for Pre vocational students with dominant Logical-mathematical Intelligence while teaching languages through technology?

•

Level of students

How to use technology? Objectives/Aims

Low Flyers 1. All the above in verbal-linguistic2. Make them write numbers in words on MS Word.3. Make them write a short word on MS Word, such as “Castle” and ask

them to use the letters to form 2, 3 4 or 5 letter words. The auto correct will point out their mistakes.

4. A game called “Search the words” on MS Word . In a table I write down a number of words, diagonally, horizontally, vertically, from left to right and vice versa, from top to bottom and vive versa. Fill the empty spaces with random letters. The words to be searched for is given to the students. They have to highlight the words they have seen or change the font colour. The words chosen are words that are familiar to the students, such as make of cars, milk, cheeses, butter, cartoons, or T.V. Programs.

1. All the above 2. The drill exercise helps to retain the

words. The program shows the students when they are making mistakes. And they can auto correct.

3. They l gain confidence even if accidentally they will write a correct word. Success will breed more success. They are interested in the words they have created and ask for the meanings..

4. Familiarise them with the alphabets and take out the fear of writing words.

Medium Flyers 1. Same as above.2. Make step 4 more complicated by adding longer words and asking the

students to create the above game for the slow learners.

1. All the above.2. The medium flyers will not only play the

game but also learn to create one. They will have to search their own set of words, create the table and arrange the words so that some words can intersect each other. The number of letters in each word will be given to them by the teacher. They can use their textbook to look for the words.

High Flyers All the above but with more complexity All the above

How to cater for Pre vocational students with dominant Musical Intelligence while teaching languages through technology?

•

Level of learners How to use technology? Objectives/Aims

Low Flyers 1. Use audios /songs to teach the alphabets The words to appear as the song progresses (this is usually done on the board)

2. Use the lyrics of favourite songs to correct their pronunciations and make them understand the meaning of the words. Use audio/ visuals video clips with the words of the lyrics appearing below. (This has been successfully done with the song “We are the world”).

3. After learning the meaning of the song, they are asked to type it out on MS Word. Teacher to write down the lyrics on the board.

4. They can create a personal portfolio of their favourite songs using Word Art, MS Word, Paint.

1. This will correct the pronunciation of the alphabets and also help them to identify the sound with the letter.

2. Singing is a joy and the students love to sing and they can try to connect the words with what they are singing.

3. Typing out the letters and words of the song, reinforces their ability to type, to recognise alphabets on the keyboard and motivates them to learn the words of the song.

4. Great motivator and encourages students to learn more songs as they have to go through the steps to have their portfolio printed

Medium Flyers 1. Same as above but the medium flyers learn quicker so more songs can be given to them as per their choice, to work on.

1. Same as above

High flyers 1. Same as above.2. The high flyers are asked to translate a

French song in to English or vice versa using the translating tool in MS Word. They can translate a Sega as well.

1. Same as above

How to cater for Pre vocational students with dominant Visual-Spatial intelligence while teaching languages through technology?

Level of learners How to use technology? Objectives/Aims

Low Flyers 1. Give word s on the board and ask them to search on clip art.

2. Make greeting cards and write down the messages with the help of the teachers or peers on MS Paint.

3. Make a mini word/picture dictionary on MS Word by copy/pasting pictures and the names of the objects side by side, learning to format the pictures as well.

1. Students connect the pictures with the words.

2. Give them the confidence that they can achieve something and at the same time learn to write simple words such as “Happy Birthday/Easter/New Year.

3. Create their own Pictionary and use the words they have learnt to build simple sentences on Ms word

Medium flyers 1. Same as above but teacher to give longer words to match with pictures.

2. Step 2 and 3 to be more complex according to capability.

1. Same as above.

High Flyers 1. Same as above but teacher to give longer words to match with pictures.

2. Step 2 and 3 to be more complex according to capability.

Same as above but sentences to be more complex.

How to cater for Pre vocational students with dominant Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligences while teaching languages through

technology?Level of learners How to use technology? Objectives/Aims

Low Flyers 1. Encarta software is used where there are interactive games . There are matching exercises with audio back up that give the answers

1. The students manipulate the Encarta software with confidence and can navigate through it, while learning new things. They have to type he address they want to go to, so they have to learn it first.

Medium Flyers 1. Same as above. Non educational games are not allowed in the computer laboratory ,so, to cater for this intelligence in the school premises through technology, is difficult.

1. Same as above

High Flyers 1. Same as above 1. Same as above

How to cater for Prevocational students with dominant Interpersonal intelligences while teaching languages through

technology?

Level of students How to use technology? Objectives/Aims

Low FlyersThis type of students need

to work with their peers.

All the above activities can

be carried out in pairs. The

high flyers can help the

medium and low flyers.

Peer teaching benefits

both the high flyer and the

one s/he is helping. The

teacher has to ensure that

the high flyer is giving he

right information and help.

Medium Flyers

High Flyers

How to cater for Prevocational students with dominant Intrapersonal intelligences while teaching languages through

technology?

Level of students How to use technology? Objectives/Aims

Low flyers The student with this kind of intelligence performs better when s/he has to learn/do something on her/his own. The student must be allowed to work on her/his own on the computer .

This kind of student is a loner and does not like to be crowded. Giving him/her privacy to work is one way to motivate the student. S/he will not call the teacher for help every time, so the teacher has to keep an eye on the pupil.

Medium Flyers

High Flyers

Limitations of using technologies in teaching with low ability students as observed from ground level by teachers

1. The computer is not always available and to carry out these exercises the classroom should be turned into computer laboratories.

2. Some students break the computer hardware .3. Appropriate Software is not available.4. Students are not allowed to use the internet.5. English is a secondary language for the students, they have to understand the

language when they use the software programs.6. There is less interaction between the teacher and the students. School is an agent

of socialisation and when the students are with the machines, they become disconnected with their peers and teachers.

Conclusion• Technology is a powerful tool in the field of education. It can address

many forms of intelligences. The audio/visuals and interactive activities help the students to learn, understand and retain more. When the students are on the computer they do not have the impression that they are learning. This is a tool with which they can play and incidental learning takes place. The teacher has to ensure that the lessons are couched in play and competitions.

• However, no single teaching aid or strategy can satisfy all the requirements of education. Using technology alone is not enough. Other teaching aids and strategies should be used to boost the intelligence of the students.

• There is no doubt that the students have to be prepared for their future, where technology will form an integral part of their lives.

References:

• htpp://www.google.mu/imgres?=htpp://

• http://www.flickr.com/photos/amplivoxsoundsystems/6684389269/

• http://www.angelfire.com/de2/dalick/researchMI.htm

• Htpp://www.america-tomorrow.com/ati/nhl80402.htm

• www.applestar.org/capella/Learning%20Styles%20of%20Low%20Literacy%20Learners.doc

• http://www.highlandschoolsvirtualib.org.uk/ltt/multiple intelligence.htm

• Best Practices for At Risk Children/www.sanmarcos.net/ana/bestpractices.html

• www.learningpt.org/pdfs/literacy/disability.pdf

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