Workshop
6 -- The Mind's Intelligences
Download Workshop 6 in
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In
this workshop, you will explore Howard Gardner's theory of multiple
intelligences and see his theory being applied in a variety of different
classrooms. Gardner will also discuss the importance of the disciplines
and share his thoughts on educational reform in America.
Howard
Gardner
Professor
of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
and the author of many books and several hundred articles, Howard
Gardner is best known in educational circles for his theory of multiple
intelligences. During the past fifteen years, he and his colleagues
at Project Zero have been working on the design of performance-based
assessments and education for understanding. Gardner's book, Extraordinary
Minds, case studies of exemplary creators and leaders, was published
in 1997, and his latest book, The Disciplined Mind: What All Students
Should Understand, will be published in the spring of 1999.
Workshop 6 Timeline
Getting Ready
-- 30 Minutes
30 minutes--Moon Discussion
By now you have
had an opportunity to observe the Moon over an extended period of
time. What patterns have you noticed about the behavior of the Moon?
Do these patterns involve time? Shape? Location? What predictions
can you make about the Moon's behavior over time?
Think about your
learning style as it relates to the Moon Journal activity, and share
it with your colleagues. Are there similarities in learning styles
among the people in your group? Differences?
What connections
can you make between your colleagues' learning styles and experiences
with the Moon Journal and the learning that happens in your classrooms
with your students?
Watch the Workshop
Video -- 60 Minutes
Going Further
-- 30 Minutes
30 minutes--Perspective
Here's a good
entry point for a lesson on Sun/Moon/Earth relationships:
Choose a partner
and sit on opposite sides of a table or desk. Place two or three objects
on the table between you. Without moving from your seat, sketch the
objects from your own perspective, from your partner's perspective,
and from a bird's eye view.
When everyone
has completed the drawings, discuss the following as a group:
- What problems did you encounter?
- What strengths did you need?
- Which students in your class would excel in this activity?
- Which students would have difficulty?
What additional
activities or entry points could you build for this lesson that rely
on other strengths?
Is it important
for a student who does not have a particular strength to do an activity
that requires that strength? Why or why not?
For Next Time
Homework
Assignment
Think about how
you normally group students for activities, projects, seating, or
other purposes. What criteria have you used in grouping? Make a list
of the different ways you have used. Now consider ways you could group
students according to Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences (MI).
Do you think grouping students according to MI criteria would affect
student performance? Try it!
Please
bring a deck of cards with you to Workshop 7.
Reading Assignment
In preparation
for Workshop 7, please read"Technology for Life-Long Kindergarten"
by Mitchel Resnick. (All readings are included in the Appendix.)
Moon Journal
You might want
to take some time to look at the features on the surface of the Moon
and consider the following questions:
- Does the Moon's behavior affect our perspective of the features
on the Moon?
- Do features appear to "move across" the Moon from observation
day to observation day?
- Does the Moon's behavior affect the visibility of features we
can see on the Moon?
Here are more
suggestions for reflecting on your own learning:
- What methods have you been using to make sense of your Moon observations?
- Have you noticed any patterns in your learning behavior that you
use in this kind of learning situation?
Suggested Activity
Observing
the Features of the Moon
Sketching
Features of the Moon
Materials:
Pencil, Paper, or sketch pad, Binoculars (optical), Moon
Map
Instructions
Before using
the Moon Map to identify features on the Moon, sketch the features
you observe. When the Moon is not full, you should notice that the
Moon is divided by a line -- the terminator line -- that separates
the Moon's sunlit side from its shadowed side. The features on the
Moon's surface stand out best near the terminator line. These features
are even more apparent when using high-powered binoculars. Use your
Moon Map to help identify interesting features on the Moon.
To observe a
feature on the Moon over time, use your Moon Map to identify a feature
close to the "curved" edge of the lit portion of the Moon.
Examine this feature over a week or two. Is the feature always visible?
Does the feature change its relative position? Does the feature seem
to "move" across the Moon or stay in the same place?
Challenge
How do your observations
help you to learn something about the revolution time of the Moon
as compared with the rotation time of the Moon?
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