Are you intelligent?

Are You Intelligent? Reflection on the Intelligence Theories

Today, I particularly liked learning about the Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence theory. I strongly believe in this theory because I know many people that are horrible in music, but very strong in a subject like Math or Language, or vice versa. I myself need much work with the Naturalist Intelligence and the Logical-Mathematical Intelligence. In high school, I was pretty good at math, but I think, as it got more complicated, it took me longer to comprehend. As far as the naturalist part of me, I would love to learn more about animals and plants and how to care for them. I enjoy learning about them, but I am very ignorant in these areas. I am hoping to become a more well rounded person when it comes to these various intelligences and to push my future students to do so at well.

In class, Dr. Dengting made a comment as a joke, but it was something that made me think. She said jokingly that students should be tested (as in the high stakes kind) in areas like music. This idea is not only good, but it’s smart. Studies show that students that study music are more successful in other areas of core curriculum, like math. It’s sad that the government does not even take a glance at these theories and ideas before they make policies that will affect the future of our country and the world. It is distressing and infuriating at the same time. I hope to be able to work to have these policies changed and inspire my students to do so as well. (A.L.)

I had already studied Howard Gardner multiple intelligences theory in one of my art education class and well I found his 8 stages to be very interesting and true. I could identify my self with one particularly stage, the spatial. In school I was an ok student who struggled a lot with reading and math. I always did my best in those subjects but I was never the best. Art on the other hand was where I shine; I was the best and still consider my self the best in that area. I was always ahead of my other classmate when it dealt with art. I am skillful, creative and could work at a very fast and produce high quality work. Learning about this 8 stages also lead me appreciate others intelligences, talent and skills. For example, sports I never thought that was considered being intelligent, but it dose require some type of skill and intelligent I jus underestimated that intelligent. I also think that if teachers intergraded most of this ways of learning there would be much more successful students.

I also enjoyed learning about Sternberg’s theory about mental-self government. I identified my self with Legislative because I know I give orders when people are not doing what they are supposed to be doing. I especially tell people what to do at work even though I have no authority over them but because some people are so lazy or don’t work as hard as I do. When I do group activities I am usually the leader because nobody else takes the initiative. (Frank Barrera)

Today was an exciting and team working day. We discovered about ourselves, by getting to know our intelligences and how we like things to be done, if we like to create the rules, follow the rules, etc. I think that we all have many intelligences that we have not defined. We can be intelligent in different areas. Some people are intelligent in cooking, others are intelligent in sports, other are intelligent at school, and others can be intelligent at socializing. Everyone is intelligent in someway and we have to understand our own intelligences to get to know ourselves better as a self study. When we shared our writing about what we like to do, we were able to visualize and understand what kind of people we are, in my case I was considered to be logical (mathematical) person. I liked this class session because I got to know myself better :D (Dennis Salinas)

Class was great. I learned a lot about myself today. I learned that I have a Practical ability. I usually use my experiences in everything I do. When I compare myself to Gardner's Multiple Intelligence chart, I consider myself to be Musical, Interpersonal and Naturalist intelligence; I do not know if that is even possible. I definitely learned a lot about myself. This class is one of the few that I feel, challenges me to better myself. (Abel Gomez)

My definition of intelligence was smart, open-minded, and hard working. Every person is intelligent in their own way. Intelligence is not defined in people. I could have the lowest grade point average in a group and still be intelligent. Intelligence is a gift that every person has in an area they are good in. I like to think that I am a good listener. I like to listen in class because if I listen in class well, the less work I have to do when I study because I would have remembered plenty already. On Gardner’s ability, I found myself as linguistic. My short paragraph was on how I like to write and that I actually have a journal at home on how my day was and my feelings. I hope to one day write a book on my life, whether it be to the public or my own self knowledge. It’s one of those things that I want to do for myself before I die. You know, that way if I do have kids I can pass it on. As for learning, I am defiantly a visual learner, but a little on the audio side. (Vanessa A. Lopez)

Well as tired as I was I rather enjoyed the class today. I liked the fact that we got to label ourselves in the government theory of I believe it was Sternberg. I like you am in the liberal category when it comes to cooking. I have never ever followed a recipe I add the spice I want and never measure it. This way it’s your own cooking and not someone else’s. The only problem with this is sometimes it comes out so great, but you can never get it the exact same way . I study a little bit on Gardner in the Intro to Teaching and a lot of what he theorizes is true. Some people are natural athletes as some are naturally gifted in music. (Vero Gene Frady)