Chapter 13

Abstract:
Chapter 13 mainly talks about 3 other applications of the MI theory that help broaden the perspective and existing understandings of a topic for students. The three mentioned in this chapter are computer technology, cultural diversity, and career counseling. Computers provide us with many opportunities to address all of the multiple intelligences through their software programs. They offer word processing for your linguistic students, draw and paint for your spatial, construction kits for your kinesthetic, and many more. The book mentions that the most exciting technology application is the emerging use of multimedia programs. Using this software, many forms of the intelligences can be used in a unique and interesting way. The second part, cultural diversity, speaks about how our country has changed demographically making the student population very diverse and posing as greater challenges for the teachers. The MI theory provides a model that is culturally sensitive to such differences and allows students to celebrate these different ways in which different cultures think. Each culture values one intelligence over the other, but the eight intelligences exist in every one. The book mentioned holding multi-cultural and intelligence fairs at your school to celebrate differences, as well as developing curriculums that integrate MI theory into multicultural units. The last application was career counseling. This spoke about how the MI theory provides a vehicle to younger students to help them begin to develop vocational aspirations.

Reflection:
I thought this chapter was somewhat repetitive the past chapters we have read in the MI book. We have learned a lot about how to apply the MI theory in the classroom, but I guess it was helpful to know that we could use computers to help strengthen and use intelligences in the classroom as well. However, as a health educator, I’m somewhat torn when it comes to using computers. I’m grateful that we are able to use these powerful tools to help our students broaden their perspectives in a topic, but I will not use them regularly. I think students already spend way too much time on computers, and to say they can develop their kinesthetic intelligence sitting on a computer is somewhat contradictory. The part our team really liked about this chapter was the career counseling. We loved the idea that students could start getting a good understanding at what their strengths are and how that would involve their future. Not only does that important, but know their intelligences can only help further develop and strengthen those areas that need attention.