My soft bones as a kid did not bear the burden of carrying my heavy school backpack. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that “a child’s backpack weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of a child’s weight.”
But I guess mine was even nearly 50 percent of my weight. Most importantly all the load had been to no avail.
Several books, exercise books and other stationery materials make up the bulk of my backpack. The materials were used to pursue my linguistic, mathematical and science educations, almost all of the teaching-learning activity had gone on “a talk and chalk” method, as if there is only a limited scope to intelligence.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, intelligence is the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations. Intelligence also deals with acquisitions and applications knowledge to solve problem and adapt to new situations.
Psychologists further explain intelligence by relating it to school curriculum.
Among these outstanding psychologists, Howard Gardner, American well –known psychologist at Harvard University—proposed new theory called “multiple intelligence”. It challenged the traditional IQ methods that were limited in testing broad range of human potential. This could help policy makers and educators in our country to further look into the education road-map which is in the course of enrichment, particularly in the area of primary education.
As to Howard Gardner, there are eight types of intelligence aspects that human being can be ushered in.
1. visual –spatial intelligence
People who are strong in visual –spacial intelligence have capacity to visualize things better than others. These individuals are good at understanding directions, maps, charts, videos and pictures.
Therefore, individuals with spacial-intelligence have huge potential to be navigators, architects, artists and engineers. Parents and teachers can observe this intelligence among children early when children show high skills in recognizing patterns, drawing, reading, writing and finding directions easily.
2. Linguistic –verbal intelligence
These people are strong at using words both in their speech and writing. Children who are gifted with this intelligence are good at telling stories, memorizing information, debating, explaining things and reading. There is huge opportunity to be poet, writer, public speaker, teacher, playwright, lawyer and politician.
3. Logical –mathematical intelligence
Individuals with logical-mathematical intelligence are very strong at reasoning, logical analyzing, understanding relationships and recognizing patterns. They tackle complex and abstract concepts and solve them easily compared to their peers. Children who exhibit such intelligence can be future scientists, mathematicians, computer programmers, physicists, engineers and chase players.
4. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence
Individuals who have high bodily –kinesthetic intelligence are noted for their well-coordinated body movement, high performance of body, excellent body control and dexterity. These individuals can be successful in their life if they become dancers, actors, acrobatics and athletes.
5. Musical intelligence
Individuals with this type of intelligence exhibit high ability to think in pattern, rhythms and sounds. They show great interest in music and playing musical instruments. They have huge potential to become conductors, composers, musicians and vocalist.
6. Intrapersonal intelligence
People with notable interpersonal intelligence have good communication skills and understand others easily. These people are very quick to deal with other people’s emotions, feelings, motives and desires. They can be successful if they become counselors, psychologists, psychotherapists, philosophers and politicians.
7. Interpersonal intelligence
Individuals with interpersonal intelligence are good at establishing effective relationships. Assessing other individuals’ motives, desires, feelings and emotions is their unique capacity. If they are strong at this particular intelligence, they have potential choice career for being politicians, salesperson, public speakers and advisers.
8. Naturalistic intelligence
People who have naturalistic intelligence are good at finding patterns and relationships to nature. They are highly tuned in with nature are often interested in exploring and nurturing the environment. If they are strong at naturalistic intelligence, they have potential career choices to be botanists, conservationists, farmers, zoologists, biologists and gardeners.
Theories cannot be absolutely free from criticisms which can also be applied to Howard Gardener‘s “multiple intelligence”. However, this theory has many benefits to identify children’s potential at the early stage that in turn helps them unlock their potential to be successful in their studies and lives.
But still teachers, special needs education professionals, education planners, school administrators and others professionals in the education sector can consider to plan and implement strategies to support children who are talented and noted for their specific intelligence in Ethiopian classrooms.
Learning needs not to be mistaken to dealing with mathematics and linguistics. The methods as well need to fit in the intelligence of students so that students backpacks can be lighter, diverse and enjoyable.
The Ethiopian Herald April 26/ 2011
BY TAMERAT ABEBE
