Multiple Intelligences and Brain Research
Ways of Learning
I believe that one of the most important things that a person can learn is how to learn.. There has been a great deal of research done in recent years in the fields of education and biological/neurological studies to try to understand just how the brain functions and how we acquire knowledge. This unit is designed to help students understand their own ways of learning and then help them develop strategies to learn more effectively.
Materials for this unit are culled from the works of such noted researchers as Howard Gardner (who developed the theory of Multiple Intelligences), Daniel Goleman (theory of Emotional Intelligence or "EQ"), Don Campbell (the Mozart Effect) and research articles from magazines and journals such as Science and Time. Students are presented with the theories and asked to evaluate them and determine if and how they apply to their styles of learning. We then work to devise ways to develop weaker areas of cognition and design strategies to make best use of strengths that can be applied to all learning situations.
In addition to being a fascinating area of study and, I believe, an appropriate way to embark on a career as a high school student, this unit also has significant "English class" relevance. The study of non-fiction materials such as these is one often overlooked in a traditional English curriculum. However, it has been documented that the vocabulary level of such pieces is much higher than traditional literature and the thinking processes being tapped are consistent with the kind of higher level thinking required in college and in the workplace.
This page will provide sample products students create as a result of studying this unit. Please feel free to browse through them and forward any comments or questions.
Sample student products |
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last revised 7/21/98
