Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Blog # 5
In the lecture the most intriguing part was to see how heredity can play a role on intelligence. Before listening to the lecture and reading the chapter I was unaware of this factor. The twin study was also very interesting to read about. It amazed me how twins who were brought up in different environments still had similar IQ scores. Personally I would have thought there would have been a difference because of the role that environment can play. When looking at environment and how it can affect intelligence it gives me more motivation to provide my students with a stable environment and also giving them the best possible education that I can. In the lecture she talked about what can change IQ's and it was parenting style, early intervention; nutrition, learning, and motivation. As teachers we need to do our best not to let these factors affect our students. I know that parenting style is something that unfortunately we can not change but we can change our teaching style.
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Blog # 5: Response to readings and lecture/Intelligence
ReplyDeleteThe topic for this week on intelligence and the theories behind intelligence was of great interest to me. I personally defined intelligence as the minds ability to encompass knowledge through various ways and abilities. I defined achievement as ones accomplishments or being successful in several areas or specific skills. I found it interesting that intelligence does have a genetic factor and that 50 present comes from something else. I see this as the struggle between nature versus nurture. I found the theories by Sandra Scarr to be fascinating and learning about the passive, evocative, and active. I enjoyed the Triarchic theory of Scarr because she discusses the balance of effects that change from child and environment and all the elements involved. I found the Flynn effect to be interesting also because it talked about how IQ has changed from generation to generation and the factors involved as to why they have changed. Although, I believe understanding the bell curve and IQ chart is essential I also believe that it is important to support students at any ability to achieve their personal goals. I believe that it is so important to not let children think that their IQ is going to hold back their occupational success or be a determinant for what kind of person or work ethic they may develop. I truly think with support, the right tools, early intervention, and effective teacher’s students can do well in school and take certain skills into life.
to meeting student's needs.
Blog 6: response to Sandra
Sandra I found the same points and the studies on the twins to also be interesting. I also thought the environment would have played a bigger role in changing or influencing the twins (identical) IQ's. My fiancé’s dad is an identical twin and I am always asking them questions about their DNA and genetics. It is so fascinating that genetics plays such a large role in IQ. I also think that as teachers we are called to help students despite their factors or socioeconomic status. By being prepared, hard working, and differentiated instructions for students we can become closer
I liked how there were many different ways to describe knowledge and that they all in their own way were similar yet had a great different idea of word choice to describe each. On page 211 it explains the intelligence scale and The five factors that are measured. I did not realize that measuring intelligence had such a rigorous scale. It explains about both scales and the different areas that are measured. I ound Gardners eight intelligences very interesting. Beign a fine art student I like that music is included as an intelligence area along with academic and social intelligences. I feel like the sometimes some areas that people succeed in are seen as inferior to others, but in this all are equal.
ReplyDeleteThis is in response to Sandra. I to did not realize how much hereditary was an influence on intelligence. If my family was to be used as a study for this I would definitely not fit into there aspect. I am good with rythms and movement and the rest of them are math geniuses. I was not surprised to see that enviroment influences students especially their learning enviroment, social aspect and surroundings.
ReplyDeleteBlog #5
ReplyDeleteThe most interesting part of this lecture to me is the topic of intelligence and how it relates to nature vs. nurture. The idea has always fascinated me when relating to an individuals upbringing and seeing how it can shape ones life. Often times we are presented with the ideas that intelligent and great leaders are the product of a prestigious upbringing form their intelligent parents. Yet there are just as many cases that could be made for the opposite case when a child experiences tremendous success as they rise from a hard upbringing from parents that would be considered anything but intelligent. This also leads me to idea of different forms of intelligence. Whether it be the so called "street smarts" or the "book smarts," intelligence can take many forms and it is vital to understand that these can all be integral parts of a balanced individual.
I thought that this chapter was very interesting, and can be debated on at great lengths. The part that I found to be the most interesting was when the book it discussed how, "genes may set the upper and lower limits for intellectual development, but the environment may explain variations in development with that range." I agree with this statement whole heartedly.
ReplyDeleteBlog 6-in response to aecampbe.
ReplyDeleteI think you have a valid point when you talk about people rising from hard or troubled environments and becoming successful, however I don't think you are looking at it from all aspects or factors. There are many different environmental factors that play into intelligence. Just because the parents are not smart doesn't mean that genetically they are not smart or that they don't have the potential to be "smart." Maybe their parents have brain damage from a fall, maybe they did drugs, the list can go on in on. I will agree with you that people use coming from a trouble background as an excuse to fall short, but I don't think it has anything to do with intelligence necessarily; it could be that they didn't have good role models, etc.
I also agree with you that parents do effect childrens inteligence. Parents can change thier childs IQ's with differneces in parenting style, early intervention, nutrition, learning, and motivation. AS a side note I personally believe that parents should be responsible and helpful in thier childs education. As teachers we can do our best to also encourage students in these areas as best as we can.
ReplyDeleteI also found this study interesting. I am always at a debate if "it's" nature vs. nurture. In this study it seems that nature was the factor since the twins had the same IQ scores but had different environments. I think that one's IQ is due to nature but their motivation to learn and succeed is based on their environment and nurture.
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