Multimedia, Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences and Cooperative Learning

Back on blog...again! 😊

Wishing you are all well and safe, the topic for today is about Multimedia, Gardner’s Theory of Multiple  Intelligences and Cooperative Learning. As we all may know, intelligence is defined as our intellectual potential, something we are born with. Something we increase or improve over time. The theory of multiple intelligences transforms the way schools work. It helps or at least suggests that all teachers be able and prepared to present a lesson in different ways. For example, the teacher  may use objects, music, role play, multimedia, and many other ways that can make the lesson more interesting and entertaining. 

The theory of Multiple Intelligences has grabbed the attention of many educators , and hundreds of schools are beginning to use this philosophy to improve and redesign the way it educates  students. But the problem is that some teacher keep using traditional ways of teaching, presenting the lecture in an unmotivating environment. The idea is to get this theory out to many more teachers, school administrators so that they can have the opportunity to present the lecture in harmonious ways so that the child feels motivated and comfortable during the class.    

One of the most remarkable features of the theory of multiple intelligences is how it provides eight different potential pathways to learning. If a teacher is having difficulty reaching a student in the more traditional linguistic or logical ways of instruction, the theory of multiple intelligences suggests several other ways in which the material might be presented to facilitate effective learning. This is an advantage of this theory. There are various ways you can present the lecture without affecting the teaching process.   

But even tho there are so many ways to use, it doesn’t mean that you have to teach or learn something in in all eight ways.  You have to be somewhere in the middle. You have to see all the possibilities you have, and then decide which is the best and which interests you the most. But most importantly which is the most effective one in teaching or learning tools. 

The theory of multiple intelligences is so intriguing because it expands our horizon of available teaching/learning tools beyond the conventional linguistic and logical methods used in most schools like for example lecture, textbooks, writing assignments, formulas, etc. To get started, put the topic of whatever you’re interested in teaching or learning about in the center of a blank sheet of paper, and draw eight straight lines radiating out from this topic. Label each line with a different intelligence. Then start brainstorming ideas for teaching or learning that topic and write down ideas next to each intelligence. This way could be more effective and help you understand which is best to use and how am i going to deal with it. 

Another topic i would like to focus on, is Cooperative Learning. We can well describe it as group work also but not only. The key to cooperative learning is  keeping students on task. And doing such so, we help them be more responsible and interactive as well. Cooperative Learning is very interesting and challenging at the same time. Students are allowed to move around the class and talk/discuss to each other, they are not asked to be quiet. This is very common during this method because that’s the idea, letting students cooperate with each other, discussing ideas or opinions, working together on different task and so on. For example, in the materials that the teacher sent us is explained in details cooperative learning and also are given examples with students. We see how they work together, what do they do, how do they deal with the tasks and most importantly how do they feel about this kind of learning. They seemed  so happy, they say that this kind of learning helps them to gather ideas opinions and interact with each other. So they enjoy working together and exploring the curriculum in group. 

Cooperative learning is quite different from the independent one. Students are put on the same side, helping each other, and celebrating each other successes, rather than isolating them in their own work. Using Cooperative Learning we see an immediate increasing in results year after year. When implemented well, cooperative learning encourages achievement, student discussion, active learning, student confidence, and motivation. The skills students develop while collaborating with others are different from the skills students develop while working independently.

So at the end we can say that cooperative learning can be very successful if it is used properly. The heart of collaborative learning, therefore, is the cooperative foundation of students working together to maximize their own and each other’s learning. 

This is all for this week. Hope you enjoyed it and feel free to comment and speak your mind as always! 

Stay positive! 🤞