Restructuring our notions of Learning and Intelligence

Understanding Intelligence: Understanding Intelligence: IQ, EI, and MIIQ, EI, and MI

IntelligenceIntelligence

4 Characteristics:1. Adaptive – modifying behavior to

accomplish new tasks successfully2. Learning Ability – Learn new info

quickly & easily3. Use of Prior Knowledge – to analyze &

understand new situations4. Culture Specific - intelligence in one

culture isn’t always same in another

Intelligence & Culture

Intelligence is adaptive Must help learner survive & thrive in their

particular culture Since cultures differ, intelligence must be

different in various cultures

Intelligence

Not a measure of what a person has learned (i.e. school achievement) Often thought of as innate

But intelligence depends on prior knowledge

Not necessarily a permanent, unchanging characteristic Can be modified through experience & learning

Measuring Intelligence

Hard to measure & defineLead to creation of an Intelligence Test to

measure: General knowledge Vocabulary Perception Memory Abstract Thought

I.Q. – Intelligence QuotientI.Q. – Intelligence Quotient

Traditionally thought of as a ‘fixed’ trait, but some research shows some gains are possible. Especially if child was in inadequate

environmental conditions (malnourished, no school, etc.)

Largely predictive of school success

IQ History – Early 1900’sIQ History – Early 1900’s

Developed when mass education became the norm.

Originally designed to identify and help “slower” students in France.

Tested many children of the same age & identified patterns.

Sample IQ Test QuestionsSample IQ Test Questions

What does the word quarrel mean?

How are a goat and beetle alike?

What should you do if you get separated from your family in a large department store?

Sample IQ Questions….Sample IQ Questions….

Three kinds of people live on the planet Ziropox; bims, gubs, and lops. All bims are lops. Some gubs are lops. Which one of the following must be true? A) All bims are gubs

B) All lops are bimsC) Some gubs are bims D) Some lops are bims.

IQ Continued…IQ Continued…

IQ tests are age specific – only compared to others of your age

Tests are different depending on age

IQ Test by Age

Elem. Tests – Ability to manipulate & work with concrete objects Lower Elementary: Copying geometric figures,

remembering short lists, identifying similarities & differences

Upper Elementary: Assembling puzzles, remembering sentences & series of numbers, recognizing concrete analogies, finding absurdities in illogical statements

IQ Test by Age

Adolescence - Includes abstract ideas Middle School: vocabulary, drawing logical

inferences from verbal descriptions, identifying similarities across dissimilar concepts

High School: Those listed above plus – identifying differences in abstract words, interpreting proverbs, breaking down complex geometric figures

Results are ‘normalized’ – designed so 100 is average (50% above, 50% below)

2/3 of us score between 85-115Psychologists have created a method of

scoring IQ tests that creates this distribution Score tests so 100 is always average

IQ Range Classification % Population

140 or over Genius 2.2

120 - 140 Very Superior 6.7

110-120 Superior 16.1

90 – 110 Normal, average 50

80 – 90 Dullness 16.1

70 – 80 Borderline Deficiency 6.7

Below 70 Definite Feeble-mindedness

2.2

IQ Scores on the Rise

Worldwide IQ scores have steadily increased over the years Many people who were considered normal in

1900 would be below average today Racial & ethnic groups becoming increasingly

similar tooProbably due to:

Increased nutrition, smaller families, better schooling, increased cognitive stimulation (TV, books, internet, video games)

Practice IQ TestPractice IQ Test

MENSA – “welcomes people from every walk of life whose IQ is in the top 2% of the population”

http://www.mensa.org/workout.html

World’s Smartest Person ….World’s Smartest Person ….

According to the High IQ Society, the world’s smartest person is a graduate student at the University of Michigan.

“there's a little bit of difference between being the world's smartest person and winning this contest – the smartest person in the world probably wouldn't bother entering this contest. I just thought it would be fun.” – Andrew Nierman

I.Q. Score CautionsI.Q. Score Cautions

Questions may be culturally biased. Ex: What is a toboggan?

Environmental Conditions Poor nutrition, lack of books, toys, schooling, etc

Test Anxiety

Predicative of school success – not necessarily life success

A Different Take: Multiple A Different Take: Multiple IntelligencesIntelligencesDeveloped by Howard Gardner in the early

1980’s at Harvard.

Attempt at a more complete understanding of intelligence.

Developed 8 intelligences.

We have a unique blend of intelligences.

Gardner’s IntelligencesGardner’s Intelligences

1. Logical-mathematical (number smart)

2. Linguistic (word smart)

3. Bodily-Kinesthetic (body smart)

4. Musical (music smart)

5. Spatial (picture smart)

6. Interpersonal (person smart)

7. Intrapersonal (myself smart)

8. Naturalist (nature smart)

Take a MI TestTake a MI Test

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/questions/questions.cfm

What do the average American female and male results look like (according to this particular test)?

Multiple Intelligences ….Multiple Intelligences ….

Not readily accepted within academic psychology, but embraced by educators.

MI rings true for teachers – matches their experiences with students.

New approaches to better meet the needs of a larger range of students.

Multiple Intelligences ….Multiple Intelligences ….

Importance of portfolio assessment.

Not feasible to teach to all intelligences all the time. With understanding of MI, teachers can create

more balanced setting to enhance success of all students.

Possible inclusion of other intelligences.

Another Take: Emotional Another Take: Emotional IntelligenceIntelligence

A type of social intelligence that involves the ability to:

1. Monitor one’s own and others’ emotions

2. To discriminate among them

3. To use the information to guide one’s own thinking and actions

Emotional Intelligence ….Emotional Intelligence ….

Based on a study from the 60’s - the marshmallow experiment 4 year olds and their self-control

Children were followed up 12 years later What do you think researchers found?

10 Years Later at 14 Years Old

Waiters (2/3 children) Eaters (1/3 children)

Better adjustedMore popularMore adventurousMore Confident

StubbornEasily FrustratedLonely210 points lower on SAT

Emotional Intelligence ….Emotional Intelligence ….

May be a better predictor of success in life than IQ.

Can Emotional Intelligence be taught? What do you think?

Summing Up …Summing Up …

New ways of understanding learning and intelligence.

Multiple Intelligences – a unique blend of intelligences

IQ vs. EQ Success in school; success in life

Questions to ponder…Questions to ponder…

So is intelligence a useful concept? If so, in what ways? If not, why not?

In particular, is intelligence useful for teachers and for our system of education?

Identify an outcome and then authentic assessments from 5 of the 8 multiple intelligences…