Intelligence and education

No two people are alike, even siblings or twins are different from one another. It is very evident especially in my two children. They both have their own unique character, interests, temperaments, talents, disposition and intelligence. Our attitudes and behaviors as educators or guardians toward teaching-learning will definitely be influenced by our own personal beliefs in intelligence, by the teaching methods that one will employ. The problem with standardized education is the concept that one size fits all. The truth is each individual has his or her own road to choose in having a fulfilling education and eventually a life outside the four walls of the classroom. Some subjects may be more useful for others. The materials, tools, visual aids, tests, formative and summative assessments will depend on each learners' unique needs. Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligence, corresponds to that truth that no two people are alike, especially in intelligence. Unlike before, when education was teacher-centered, the shift now is towards learner-centered. What this means is that, the educator has to find ways to reach out to the student and engage him. In order to do this, one has to find out the primary strengths of a student--his learning style. From there, the teacher and the student can meet and authentic learning can transpire. Unlike before when the teacher only spoon feed students with information. In the Montessori-style of learning, children are encouraged to have hands-on activities and collaborative play.  For me, all 8 kinds: kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, logical, musical, naturalistic, verbal-linguistic, and visual-spatial can be addressed using this method. Because we all have a unique blend of all of them. For the kinesthetic learner perhaps, dancing or motioning the letters in the air can have more retention for this particular kind of student. Visual learners on the other hand will depend on more graphic visual aids. As a personal example, my four year old was able to memorize the spelling of the number words from one to ten, because of a YouTube musical-video I let him watch. Now, when he sees these words, he sings the song and he naturally identifies the words through sight.

Education is there for the students to learn. For the teacher-learner relationship to be productive and successful, the environment should support and guide the overall educational process. The education practices and processes of a school, administration, curriculum, instructional design, educational technologies, or policies, depends mostly on the capacity of the school itself. It is easier for this relationship to flourish in the private schools than in the public schools, because of all the political agendas affecting education today. Private schools have bigger budgets and more resources to be able to implement systems and pedagogies wherein students can adapt to the design of the modified curriculum. At its most basic level, the ultimate goal of education is to engage the students and encourage them to learn. The teacher's role is to facilitate and guide the learning process, to be a mentor and not just a source of information. Educators should not only inspire but get the wheels turning in one's head. The principal or school administration should create conditions for the teachers to fulfil these roles. This depends on the leadership and the culture of the school. The policy makers should set aside their personal agendas for the teachers and schools to do their work.

In a global or national level, a devise should be made to come to an agreement on what the students need to learn and why, there should also be a way of holding the teachers and schools accountable for how well they are doing their part (Robinson. 2015). For students to learn, the schools and educational policies should understand learning and intelligence, this way the goal is clear. Education should be more personalized, since human intelligence is clearly diverse and multifaceted. Letting students explore their own strengths and particular interests will encourage them to learn more. Schools or education in general, should prepare individuals for the outside world, they should develop grit, they should be physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared in all aspects. This way, when they are faced with obstacles or roadblocks, they can use their knowledge and be able to overcome whatever is in their path. 

Source:

Robinson, K. (2015). Creative Schools. Penguin Books, New York.