Understanding how students use their diverse intelligences can significantly impact classroom instruction, fostering confidence and skill development. Traditional measures like IQ scores are insufficient to capture the complexity of human intelligence.
Teachers can teach students how to think. (Winthrop University, n.d.).
Benefits
Numerical scores, such as IQ results, is not a proper indication of a person`s intelligence (Lincon, n.d.)
Classroom instruction developed through being aware of how students use their intelligence in different ways, can prompt the learner to gain confidence to develop new skills (Northern Illinois University, n.d.).
Useful (or not) in current diverse classroom setting
Robert Sternberg's triarchic theory of
intelligence
Intelligence is a combination of three different elements 1. Analytical intelligence - problem solving abilities.
2. Creative intelligence - capacity to deal with new situations
3. Practical intelligence - ability to adapt to a changing environment (Winthrop University, n.d.).
Historical concepts
Charles Spearman`s views of intelligence being one general factor (g) plus other specific mental abilities (s) (O’Donnell, et al, 2016).
Spearman believed intelligence could be expressed numerically and was a general cognitive process (Kovacs & Conway, 2016).
Louis Leon Thurstone's model of intelligence consisting of seven primary mental abilities.
Mental abilities 1. verbal comprehension
2. word fluency
3. number facility
4. spatial visualisation
5. associate memory
6. perceptual speed
7. reasoning (O’Donnell, et al, 2016).
Thurstone’s approach to intelligence was broader than previous theories, allowing for a deeper understanding of mental abilities. His approach to intelligence challenged (Kovacs & Conway, 2016).
Francis Galton's theory of genetics influencing mental abilities
Formed a movement called Eugenics Society, arguing for specific selecting of humans to improve intelligence in society (O’Donnell, et al, 2016).
