.Table of Contents
MI-News, Spring 2001, Volume 3, Number 1
.
1 For your intelligences only by Clifford Morris1 For your intelligences only by Clifford Morris
2 Lesson planning strategies and MI by Clifford Morris and Branton Shearer
3 A late Christmas present by Clifford Morris
4 A Danish version of The MIDAS by Branton Shearer
5 Some multiple intelligences links by Clifford Morris
For those of you who are visiting us for the first time, welcome. Here are a few comments about the newsletter. The MI-News is provided free by Dr. Charles Branton Shearer's Multiple Intelligences (MI) Research and Consulting. The main objective in publishing this newsletter is to provide you with theoretical and practical information about Howard Gardner's MI model and how this model of the human mind is currently being implemented throughout the world. We, your MI-News team try to explore MI applications via discussion, contact and sharing. If you have an interesting idea, lesson plan, or practical MI suggestion, please email me with your comments. If your information is applicable to our readership, it will be considered for publication in the Summer 2001 issue, that is, Volume 3, Number 2.2 Lesson planning strategies and MI by Clifford Morris and Branton Shearer
In this issue, we continue the practice of bringing to your attention a series of ideas associated with the whole notion of classroom lesson planning and possible teaching strategies that approach the Multiple Intelligences of Howard Gardner. Some of the lesson plans are directed to special education students, while others are geared towards the regular elementary and high school student. To view these ideas, click here.3 A late Christmas present by Clifford Morris
I am not in the habit of bragging about receiving late Christmas presents. Those of you who know me well would agree that when if comes to commenting about a late gift from Santa Clause, I tend to be a rather humble chap. However such can not be the case during this Christmas past. On December 30, 2000, I received a special present and I would like to take this occasion to share its contents with you.4 A Danish version of The MIDAS by Branton ShearerThe parcel arrived in my mailbox, wrapped in a large white envelope. The return address was: 1078 Cedar View Drive, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55405-2129. Inside was one of the best presents an editor could possible receive: a hard covered book all about improving learning by comprehending emotional learning, that is, learning by promoting Howard Gardner's social-interpersonal and introspective / intuitive-intrapersonal intelligences. As there was a huge snowstorm abrewing outside my Kanata, Ontario home, I simply settled down in my favourite chair and read the complete text. To read my review, click here.
The "MIDAS dk” is a Danish project aimed at developing a Danish version of MIDAS which is both adapted to Danish educational settings and developed in an electronic version as well.5 Some multiple intelligences links by Clifford MorrisThe project started in January of 2000 and will be completed June of 2001. Several different educational institutions are working in collaboration: the School for Social and Health Workers in the city of Randers, Randers Technical and Vocational School, the Guidance Service for Young People in Randers, Aarhus Production School, Randers Production School and the Department for Research and Development of Youth Pedagogy at the Royal Danish Institute of Educational Studies in Odense. The project is supported financially by Denmark’s Ministry of Education and Social Ministry.
At this point in time (December 2000) the majority of the work taking place is based on pilot runs of the Teachers’ Guide, the computer software and the Danish equivalent of “Stepping Stones”. Teachers and guidance counselors in all of the participating institutions are working with students to create MIDAS Profiles and formulate plans of action based on these profiles.
The computer software is designed in such a way that it is possible to produce statistics on all the answers. This will in turn make it possible to adjust the wording of the questions where necessary. It will be possible to produce statistics from both the main and the specific areas as well as regarding gender, age, school background and ethnic background. The program itself will attach a code for the institution administering it as well as a serial number for each questionnaire.
The experiences gained during the pilot runs will be reflected upon and discussed in the project group during the next few months so that final corrections can be made and the materials produced for distribution at the end of the next school year (June 2001).
Certification courses will also be held during the next months in order that an appropriate number of teachers and guidance counselors at the involved institutions become qualified to continue working with MIDAS. The development of certification courses is also an important element in the efforts of the project to ensure proper ethics in relation to usage of MIDAS in the future.
The software is also designed with the built-in possibility of exchanging Danish with another language as it is the intention of the project to collaborate with educators in other European countries in the usage and further development of the MIDAS-concept.
For more information on "MIDAS dk", contact Barbara Day at day.larsen@teliamail.dk