Many people (especially teachers) are aware of the multiple intelligence theory developed by Howard Gardner: there are eight basic ways people learn, and a ninth is subject to debate.
Verbal/Linguistic
Mathematical/Logical
Visual/Spatial
Musical/Rhythmic
Bodily/Kinesthetic
Naturalist
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal
(Existential)
Now, this post isn’t about the multiple intelligence theory per se, rather I’m wondering if there is a tenth intelligence that has to do with technology, computers, button-pushing. Let’s call it Gizmo, and let’s just say that my children don’t have it.
I’ve been trying to figure out how technology fits in with the intelligences. Looking briefly online for some information, I read a lot on how technology can help teachers use multiple intelligences to teach their students. But what about students that are bad at technology?
Usually, technology is lumped in with Mathematical/Logical, but it doesn’t really fit here. I love playing around with computer programs and pushing buttons on the newest gadget, but I needed special help in school math, and “mind—bender” logic puzzles are my least favorite pastime. My kids are good at math, my son especially is probably going into a field of engineering and science. Yet, neither of my kids can figure out modern technology without memorizing steps and praying nothing odd happens.
Some people consider computers visual/spatial because so much of modern software is visually based. But my kids are both artists. In fact, I think that is my daughter’s strongest talent. And she cries at the computer screen quite often, sitting there helpless until someone else figures out what went wrong.
I teach electronic music to lots of different groups of kids, and all of them will have several songs at the end of the program. However, some are three steps ahead of everyone else, even if they’ve never seen the software before. And others are constantly having trouble each step of the way. This often has nothing to do with music; the most beautiful songs will come from a variety of learners. I just don’t understand how some kids can easily find the correct buttons on the screen, and more importantly, find their way back if they make a mistake, while others can’t move the mouse without getting into trouble.
What I’m not saying is that my kids lack computer skills. They check their email, make presentations on PowerPoint, edit music and movies, and have never known a world without these appliances. I laugh at parents who say they need to give their young children “computer time’ so they can learn how to use the mouse and such. Did it take us adults years of practice games to learn Word or Gmail?
My four year old niece can turn on her TV, pop in a DVD, grab the remote and easily find the section of her show she likes. As recent as last year, my kids were stumped to remember which channel to turn the TV to so they could watch a movie when I went out. They didn’t spend any time trying to figure it out either, they just shrugged their collective shoulders and read their own novels for the evening. Now I can hear someone saying,” Good! Reading is better for them!” But that’s not the point. They have to use technology in our world. It’s as necessary as reading road signs and understanding your credit limit.
There will always be people who have a physical issue that prevents them from doing things. My mother is dangerous around machines. She has to wear a wind-up watch because any watch dies within a week on her wrist. She has a computer, but it regularly does very, very strange things that my nephew fixes every time he visits (my nephew is a poster child for Gizmo). My kids do not have this problem. They just…I don’t know. Is there a Gizmo intelligence? Is it simply expecting technology to always be perfect, and when it doesn’t they don’t care to fix it?
Help me out here, people. Am I expecting too much of my kids to play around with programs and try to fix their own problems? Is there something we’re born with that gives an ease to figuring out technological gadgetry? Or am I just a tired parent with teenagers?
