Mind Brain Education

The Nature of Intelligence

Putting Fairness into the Classroom

Intelligence isn't fixed at birth

Intelligence is multi-faceted

Schools put too much emphasis on psychometric intelligence

Taking Gardner's work and running with it, the All Kinds of Brains framework looks at the neurodevelopment "demands" on the eight constructs of intelligence that teachers place on student's brains. Knowing this, teachers can see that various disciplines have different demands. This knowledge becomes a tool to increase innovative teaching methods that help with motivation and engagement.

The Eight Constructs: Memory, Attention, Language, Spatial Ordering, Temporal Sequential Ordering, Neuromotor Functions, Social Cognition, and Higher-Order Cognition

Variety is Key

    One day may focus on memory and recall while another day focuses on creative synthesis of topic ideas. In this manner, students are challenged to use all of the neurodevelopmental demands. They are challenged and inspired with each new lesson.

Tony Wagner's Seven Critical Competencies

Critical thinking and problem solving

Collaboration across networks and leading by influence

Agility and adaptability

Initiative and entrepreneurship

Effective oral and written communication

Accessing and analyzing information

Curiosity and imagination

IMPLICATIONS

    Wrap up) Teachers need to understand--and buy into--the science that they can help all students by understanding brain plasticity and how to use it in the classroom. Intelligence is individualized and multifaceted. So classroom instruction needs to be varied and include content targeted toward multiple learning styles.

 What's next in the field of neurodevelopment and education?