Week 9: Learning styles, Multiple Intelligences and Project Plan:

Coming close to the end of the course.


During week 9 we discussed two concepts: Learning styles (LS) and Multiple Intelligences (MI). These two concepts are not new to me. In one of my projects that I did two years ago, I have tried training teachers on these concepts. What I noticed earlier is that the teacher’s preference plays the key role in choosing the method of his teaching. After presenting the two concepts to them, I noticed the integration of different LS in their teaching.

The MI originally emerged as Gardner criticized tests. However some of the limitations of the MI is that : “no valid measurement tool is available. This has made MI difficult to prove. It is therefore accused of being ambiguous and subjective, instead of objective. To further complicate the issue, proposed assessments are complex and expensive to design.” More on this topic can be found at:
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_85.htm

The following matrix show the combination of the MI and Bloom's taxonomy in stating objectives. It is available at the above link.

Although I am not very much fan of the MI theory, we cannot deny that it is spread well nowadays. We even tried to feel changes in the matrix of the objectives based on Bloom’s Taxonomy. The following link provides an article about the aforementioned idea.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/409730/Integrated-Curriculum


This week  exposed us to different multimedia tools that may enhance MI. I would like to share Stephen in his opinion that “the trick is ensuring that teachers know how to use these new tools”.
Not only were the tools available this week, they were available every week of this comprehensive course. The technology tools that we have learnt about will be the main source for my relationship with technology in the near future. I will be visiting the sites more and more, exploring them in a profound manner. Moreover, I would try to get some e-mail alerts about new tech. to be updated with different issues.

During the week, we had to submit the project plan. Thanks to the valuable remarks of my partners, Izabella and Janet, I was able to update my plan and I uploaded my plan on Friday. Like Arbi, I also learnt from some of the project plans posted early at the week.

Finally, I will continue to hope that our learners will emerge as “digital natives ‘, although there is quite a percentage who are less fortunate and technology is like ,as Arbi said , “science fiction” to them.
I will miss most of the action that happened during each week. Sure I will miss my colleagies most.

Yours

Hanan