Today, while browsing for some
good quotes for my teachers’ workshop, I focused Albert Einstein and the very
first quote I saw was “Everybody is a genius but if we judge a fish by its
ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is
stupid”. The quote I have read many times and ignored, caught my attention and
forced me to dive in to the ocean of thinking.
Dear Einstein, thank you so much for identifying the core issue of world’s
education system. You are truly a genius.
The mentioned quote truly represents our Education system where every student
has been judged with his/her math and language ability. The teachers focus and
use the same approach for all and expect the students to pay attention and give
good result. Resultantly, many intelligent minds after getting education fail to
get desired positions and contribute to the society.
After reading the above quote, I planned my session on “Multiple Intelligence”.
A brain theory introduced by Harward Gardner who has the similar thinking and
views. The world will always admire him for his endless contribution in
education.
Harward Gardner who through his theory brought a storm in 1983 when he published
a book “The frames of mind” that awaken the educational world and changed their
direction.
Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University suggested to
change the traditional concept of intelligence and shared that human has eight
intelligences; (Verbal/Linguistic, Logical/Mathematical, Musical,
Visual/Spatial, Body/Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal) that help them
to explore and contribute to the world. He defined intelligence as “The ability
to solve problems or to create products that are valued within one or more
cultural settings”. Gardner believed that all Eight intelligences are equally
valuable and practical. He suggested the teachers to use such activities that
fulfil the needs of all intelligences and provide students an opportunity to
learn with fun and polish their inner potential. Despite critique on this
theory, I still believe that it not only widens the thinking horizon of the
teachers but gives a clear direction for producing active and competent human
resource.
Sadly, still in majority schools, the teachers follow jug and mug theory. They
believe that students do not know much so they need an adult to help and pour
knowledge from a full jug to an empty mug. Still the schools encourage and
promote lecture method to acquire good result and come up with confused,
non-confident and less creative students.
Whereas, schools are built to ignite the thinking process of the students and
help them think out of the box for personal and social change.
Darling Hammond (2000) stated that student learning “depends, primarily, on what
teachers know and what they can do. Teachers are the nation builders. They are
the one who change the fate of a nation with their wisdom. Thus, this profession
demands passion, preparation and patience for professional development and
students best learning.
Today’s contemporary world demands tireless efforts from teachers to help
students reach their full potential and contribute to the world. Thus, teachers
should update their knowledge of different theories and use various activities
that can fulfil the need of every individual. The teachers must give themselves
tough time and develop such lesson plans that not only provide knowledge of a
specific topic but lead a student beyond for discoveries and creation.
For effective teaching, the teacher should provide experiential learning
opportunities by engaging students from head to toe and help them dive in the
ocean of knowledge for exploration.
Dear Teachers, please develop reading habits, please read books, students
abilities, students interest; demand of the era and change your practices. We do
not want to repeat and give the same experiences that we had as a learner. Lets’
not judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree rather by swimming in the water.
Let’s change our practices and bring innovations in teaching and produce genius
minds. Let’s make VAKT (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile) part of our
daily classroom activities to develop the students holistically.
Dear Teachers, we need creative thinkers not Parrots.
Dear School owners, please arrange professional development opportunities for
your teachers. Please encourage creativity and positive competition. Please make
sharing and exploration a norm of staff room. Please share updated knowledge
with your staff. Please develop multiple intelligence zones so students can
spend their leisure time and enhance their skills further.
This world not just only needs doctors and engineers but researchers, athletes,
musicians, philosophers, environmentalists, entrepreneurs etc. as well.
Dear parents, please do not discourage your children for what they show
interest. Rather, provide a platform where they can improve their skills with
encouragement and appreciation.