Reaction for: MI and Teaching Strategies by Danah

Most computer science courses (as well as most science courses) focuses around two forms of learning: linguistic and mathematical. Although I question our ability to tap into all intelligences, I am certain that we can reach other groups. Although some courses tap into spatial intelligence, it is possible to do far more with that. Many assignments could be completed in drawing and/or sketches. Although some lectures do an excellent job at incorporating drawings into their lecture slides, all should be encouraged to do so... Body kinethetic intelligence is rarely recognized. This is where sections can be most useful. Get people up and explaining concepts, so can Turing machines! Musical intelligence.. ok, I am at a loss. Interpersonal -> more group work, please. Each course should have some element of group work / collaboration.

Convincing profs of this should not be impossible because that is certainly how industry works. Intrapersonal intelligence - I really like the idea of giving students' choices (ie: give two different problems about DFSMs, explained two different ways, and let the student choose which one she does [think: exams of choice!]).

I really liked this reading. A lot!!! But, I do like learning styles.. I think that much of what we are doing to fix other courses should be considered. I think that we can incorporate almost all of the learning styles into a teaching program. This will attract as many people as possible without preconceptions.


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Matt C:

See my reaction to Amanda's for more on my views on Kinesthetic. For exams and the like, I personally believe that students should be able to show what they have learned through whatever suits them best. More and more schools are having large projects (semester long) that are supposed to demonstrate the understanding of the material. Those can be done in whatever way works best. So if a student could explain a Finite State Machine best through a dance, maybe that's what they need to be able to do to convince others that they understand the material.


MY NAME: Matt Amdur

MY COMMENTS: I think more group work would be a good thing, but I am also wary of it. Group work too early in an introductory course can result in one person carrying the group, or a group failing because one member doesn't apply themselves. While I think that more group learning would be a good thing, I think it must be very carefully monitored.


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