Tag Archives: Intelligence

Chapter 9 First Impression- prompt 1

--Original published at Isabella's Psychology Blog

In school I learned two things about intelligence that has stuck to me today, you need to be excited about learning and be an advocate in making sure you are learning. Since even though school is a place to learn, it doesn’t mean that it is a good is a good place to learn. I was taught this when I was in elementary school and was put in the special class for kids who struggled in school. This classroom was smaller and we had better teacher supervision. The teachers explained that we all learned differently and by being in the smaller class we could get more support. Also, the teachers were more encouraging and patient so I never felt stupid even though I knew I was behind on learning things when compared to other students. My classmates and I were encouraged to be excited about learning and to do essays and research articles about topics we liked. I felt encouraged and excited to learn new things.

 
So I just kept on trying to do better until I only needed some extra writing classes and had a special study hall when I was in middle school. My second year in middle school I had an extra writing class. It was filled with kids from the special classes I had in elementary school and I enjoyed the class. At the end of the year, I ended up getting almost a hundred in the class and was very happy. So you can imagine my surprise when I had to retake the same exact class, with the same exact students the next year. All of the projects and rubrics were exactly the same. The teacher even acknowledged everything was the same and it was not a mistake that I was in the class. I felt confused and sad that even though I passed the class the teacher did not feel that I was smart enough to truly advance to a different course. I talked to my Mom about this and we both talked to the principal about my development in writing. I got transferred out of the class but I felt that the school was holding me back. At the time I was scoring high in the majority of my classes and was known as being the best read student in the school but I was not considered good enough to get out of my remedial classes.

 
In my Freshman English class, the class was out of control and the teacher had no control of the students. So I went to the teacher and Principle to talk about half of the class being wasted by the students and they acknowledged it was a problem and decided not to fix it. Later in the year I left for a week, did two hours of work for the class and ended up being a month ahead of the class.

 
I feel that my experiences in my middle school extra writing class and Freshman English class were very discouraging and unproductive in teaching kids. I feel that performance in the classroom would be increased if the information in the classes were different from each other. Since if you lean the same thing in the same format a couple years in a row, the kids are going to stop paying attention since they already learned the material.

 
Then if the class is out of control to the point a teacher can’t even keep the classes attention for having of the class period it reduces the maximum performance in the class in half, something must be done to correct this. It could be anything from giving the teacher an air horn to having a security officer go to the class, something needs to be done Also if a student feels the need to book an appointment with the principle of the school at address a real problem and there is something that could be done to fix it, the problem should be fixed. Since when the work completed in a month of class equals two hours of work outside of class, there is a serious problem in the class performance.

First Impression Post-Chapter 9

--Original published at RachelsCollegeBlog

Throughout my school career there have been multiple teachers and staff that have affected my life in many ways and most of the time in a positive manner. Teachers were the ones who were fighting to make me love learning as much as they enjoyed teaching it as well as fighting for me to reach my fullest potential. My educators are the reason that I was success in not only my educational career but also in my life after high school on my own. They allowed me to build up a sense of independence and that has made me who I am today.

Though there are always some aspects of the school system that can change to help improve a student’s performance in the classroom. One thing that I would change about the school system would be the little amount of time that a student has outside of the classroom during the school day to receive extra help from the teacher if they are not understanding a concept. There were many times in high school that I was lost in a class or multiple classes and was unsure what was going on. We did have a little break in between classes for a study hall but that only lasted about 30 minutes which was not enough time to visit all of the classes that I needed help in. More time would allow the gaining a clearer understanding as well as allow students to visit more teachers so I they are not as far behind in classes

Another aspect of the school system that I would change would be the lack of freedom in classrooms. There were times in classrooms that I was silent the entire class because the teacher was continuous teaching and I felt as though the questions that I want to ask were non-intelligent and I would be made fun of for asking them. Students should not feel as though they cannot ask questions to gain clarity on topics. Classrooms should be more of a comfortable space that students feel comfortable and not judged.

Ch 9 Intelligence – Option 1

--Original published at AlyssaM

Intelligence can be defined as the information retained and then applied to the individuals life to make it better. For example, learning calculus and then going on to become an engineer. For me, classes were best taught when the teachers were fun, upbeat, joking, and making the learning enjoyable. Much of what some of those teachers taught me, I can’t recall now. So does that mean I am not intelligent? No because we all are in our special ways. I may not recall the material from the course, but I remember the life lessons they wove between the lines and those I can apply to my every day life. My favorite teacher of all, Miss. McCarthy, taught me the most of any one and she was the teacher of Publications (yearbook, and newspaper). She is always full of positivity and would always have the best advice ready for anyone that would need it. She taught me: how to be brave when traveling, she showed me she’s always there and I’ll never be alone, how to utilize my creativity regardless of the situation, not to hate discourage my sometimes crazy imaginative thoughts, how to be strong, to enjoy the sunshine, and so so so much more.

All schools need educators like her that go out of their way to teach not what the book says, but also valuable survival lessons. Educators can get creative in the way they present the required material and shape it that the students learn a valuable life lesson from it. For example, I never flew in an airplane before that instant and I have to admit I was a bit nervous. I was 16 and yes I did have a few friends on the trip with me, but not my close circle and no family was going. At that time, I never left the East Coast so I was nervous about many things, but also excited. We were seated on the plane alphabetically, which thankfully put Miss. McCarthy beside me. She could sense I was afraid, so she turned it into a joke and was telling me how it was like a roller coaster and she added sound effects. We were laughing and I relaxed. She talked to me like a mother with a child walking them through something. I really liked take off and she knew my mind was eased. From that I gathered how to be bold with traveling, especially now that I know what to expect. She understood I needed to hear everything would be fine, and provided that. Educators would benefit if they knew how to read their students without a word spoken and creatively teach them, it’s okay. From there intelligence will gradually grown within the individual and they will continue to grow from the life lessons first taught to them through their educators at school.

Chapter 9 Intelligence – First Impression Post: Option 1

--Original published at Rachel Bickelman's PSY 105 Blog

The educators I’ve had throughout school were the ones who foster my love for learning. Each year, especially during high school I grew more appreciative and inspired by the teachers I had. They made a huge impact on my attitude towards school and definitely were influential and helpful in fostering my education and passions.

Though I had a wonderful experience in high school there are a few things I would change. I liked that in my courses we always were studying relevant literature and topics. At times I feel that school emphasizes important authors and figures but fail to highlight the bigger picture and allow students to form their own ideas and worldview. I felt like I never knew what I though about the material we were learning rather, the only viewpoint I had was the teacher’s or an objective textbook standpoint. Something that really helped me improve my performance in school was talking to my teachers asking them questions about both life and academics. This helped me to think critically and also gain new perspectives on life.

During high school I felt my time was very split and while I enjoyed all the activities I was a part of, it sometimes took away from academics and caused me a lot of stress to maintain good grades, grow my knowledge, but still do the things I liked. I would have changed the homework structure at times I felt I was doing unnecessary work and while I learned some great study skills a lot of my time went towards busy work. Meaningful homework that practiced skills and readings which made me think were the most helpful. I would also mimic the college structure of classes where each day is planned and the class time is used to its maximum potential.

The last thing I would change is students ability to freely speak. Often times classrooms were awkwardly silent with only a few outspoken students speaking. I know I always had to muster up the courage to speak up and put in my opinion. I think facilitating more conversations and debates would have been helpful for students to feel heard and also give them a chance to develop their own thoughts.

First Impression- The Mozart Effect

--Original published at Sydney’s Side

The Mozart effect seems a little too good to be true when first reading about it. It makes sense that the child may grow up to be a classical music fan because of classical conditioning. But, playing classical music when a child is young does not seem like it would make them smarter. I do not know much about the effects of music on the brain but I have heard that it can make you happy and soothe you. This makes sense but I see no biological reason as to why it can make you smarter. The New York Times article included information from other psychologist who claim there is not sufficient evidence to make the claim that classical music will make a child smarter. I think this theory has a lot to do with the fact that individuals who listen to classical music regularly are stereo typically smarter.

The fact that the Governor of Georgia wanted to spend so much money on a theory that is not scientifically proven seems a bit preposterous. He also seems biases toward the subject because of his family history involved in music, as well as his so-called natural  fascination. Although $105,000 is a small portion of the $12.5 billion budget, the money could go to other more important things.  If there were more research behind the Mozart effect I would think this is a great idea, but there isn’t.

Intelligence is not determined by what type of music you listened to as a child. There are many different biological and environmental factors that can affect this. Children must make connections and start learning about the world around them.

 

Chapter 9 First Impression Prompts – Intelligence

Hand writing on a notebook

Here are the two prompts for this week. Regardless of which prompt you choose, please use the tag “Intelligence.”

Option 1:

Many people consider intelligence to be largely determined by genetics, but there is substantial evidence that the environment and social processes play a large role as well. Since schools are a place where children try to determine how smart they really are, it is important for educators to understand the impacts of their subtle or not-so-subtle interactions with students. In your blog post, reflect on your interactions with educators throughout your school career, and discuss what changes to the school system could improve students’ performance in the classroom.

Option 2:

In 1998, the Governor of Georgia, Zell Miller, proposed spending $105,000 of the state’s budget to distribute a cassette or CD of classical music to the parents of each new child born in Georgia (see the NY Times article). Governor Miller was a staunch believer in the Mozart effect, a theory that listening to Mozart can increase intelligence. Discuss whether or not you think Governor Miller’s decision was a good one.

I look forward to seeing what you write!

Header image: CC by Flickr user Caitlinator

Spotlight Blog 3 Prompts

Regardless of which option you choose, make sure to use the tag “Spotlight” on your post. Also include the tag listed for the option you choose below.

Option 1 – Use the tag “Social”

People are often told to resist peer pressure and think for themselves, but as we’ve learned, this is more easily said than done. Too often, especially for teens, this advice is not followed with concrete recommendation about ways to resist pressure from others. I want you to identify three websites that provide methods for resisting peer pressure and discuss how likely you think the strategies they provide are to be successful. Make sure to explain your rationale using what we’ve learned in class and your textbook. Each of the three websites need to be targeted at a different audience but you may select the audiences you want to use (e.g., college students, athletes, parents, artists). Make sure to include links to the websites as part of your post.

Option 2 – Use the tag “Mental Illness”

Television shows like My Strange Addiction, Intervention, True Life, and others have turned some mental illnesses into entertainment. In particular, the shows Hoarders and Hoarding: Buried Alive showcase people with hoarding disorder trying to get their lives, homes, and relationships back in order. What do you think about this type of show? Is it ethical to do? Does it exploit people with mental illnesses? Here is a sample clip from Hoarding: Buried Alive in case you’re not familiar with how these shows work. Find at least two sources that argue these shows are helpful for the people on the show and/or the general public and at least two sources that argue these shows are harmful. Discuss the evidence each source provides, assess the credibility of the sources, and explain your own perspective on shows like this. Make sure to include links and/or citations for your sources.

Option 3 – Use the tag “Mental Health Treatment”

One of the biggest questions when deciding to seek treatment for a mental health condition is to pick between seeking psychotherapy (e.g., counseling, therapy) and medication. Major depressive disorder is the most common mental illness in the US, and can be treated effectively using either method. Find at least two sources that argue psychotherapy is a better treatment option and at least two sources that argue medication is a better treatment option. Discuss the evidence each source provides, assess the credibility of the sources, and explain your own perspective. Make sure to include links and/or citations for your sources.

Option 4 – Use the tag “Intelligence”

There has been a lot of controversy around the way our educational system works to improve learning outcomes for our children. For this post, you are going to investigate one of these issues and present your conclusions based on the evidence you review. You may select either year-round education (i.e., whether or not there should be a long summer break) or single-gender education (i.e., should boys and girls have separate classrooms). You will need to find two sources arguing for year-round education/single-gender education and two sources arguing against it, review the evidence in each source, and present your conclusion on the issue. Make sure to cite your sources.

I look forward to seeing what you write!

Header image: CC by Flickr user Thomas Hawk

Chapter 9 First Impression Post

--Original published at KatieMillerPSY105

For this first impression post, I chose to discuss the first topic of reflecting on my own experiences with educators in the school system. I can not really complain about my schooling experience, but there are some things that I look back on and think that there should be some changes.

From the time I was in elementary school, we would take tests in order to see where we should be placed in our classes (highest to lowest math and language arts classes). Throughout school, I had been one to learn at a quicker pace than some of my peers in these subjects, so I do think that this system was well placed. This would give kids the opportunity to go at the pace they felt comfortable with learning. Every teacher in my elementary school that I had interacted with were genuinely excited to see what the future would hold for us. They really cared and wanted us to learn. They also enjoyed being able to teach students and start their education.

In middle school, we would take a test to see what math class we would be put into. Also, if you had higher grades in your science classes in seventh grade, you would be put into an advanced science class. My school was very into placements and trying to put kids where they needed to be in order to get the most out of their education. In those same years, I was able to be around teachers who enjoyed what they were doing and wanted what was best for the students. I had always seen that the teachers wanted to be there for the students and help them no matter what.

High school was the turning point where I noticed things that I thought should not have been done. We were able to choose which classes we wanted to be in whether it was college prep or honors. This is where it got to be a little troubling. Our guidance counselors did not want to put kids into higher classes because they felt that the student may not have been ready. This may sound like they were helping, but they were not placing kids in challenging enough classes. There are three of the four counselors who knock down kids’ ideas about where they want to go after high school and try to promote schools that were not as interesting to the student. It was a big concern that our own guidance counselors were in a way “putting down” the schools that we wanted to go to. It not only happened to me, but many others including many of my other friends who wanted to go to schools out of the state. The teachers, for the most part, were very concerned with the students education and wanted to make sure they were doing their part to prepare the students for their next steps into the future. There were some teachers who would pick favorites in the class and everyone else in the class knew the favorites, but that did not affect anything in the classroom. Overall, I do believe that all the teachers I had cared about my future as well as my peers futures.

One way that I could see improving the school system would be to try to help students who have different ways of learning. Some people are visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners. I think that if educators, mainly at the middle school and high school level, could help students find the style that they learn best, could help to improve their performance in the classroom.

Chapter 9 impression

--Original published at Loretta Gabrielle

In school, my first positive experience was with my 2nd grade teacher who knew I had test anxiety. When I finished 2nd grade and had a state wide test in 3rd grade, my 2nd grade teacher pulled me out of class and had me do cartwheels in the hallway. She knew I loved gymnastics and so she used this in order to allow me to relax when I was anxious. This is an example of improving a students performance in the classroom.

In high school, I had straight A’s for the most part and had a pretty good work ethic but I was never in the highest classes. Comparison kills and we all do it, but there was never a point where I felt smart. I was never given the chance to be challenged based off of one test when I was in 8th grade. I tried to move up but it never worked, until I just gave up. I wasn’t challenged or given the chance to be challenged until I was in college. Once I got to Elizabethtown, professors for the most part, treated me with respect, asked for my advice, want me to go to extra credit events just to take attendance on who was there, and more. I was given a new set of responsibility which I never was trusted to have before. This is probably a main factor as to why I am so hard on myself. I never had this respect before.

I strongly believe that education is impacted in places outside of the classroom. The first interaction about my intelligence wasn’t inside of a school but at home. My father was very strict and at anytime on the weekends or when we didn’t have any homework when we wanted to watch television, we had to read in equal amount of time. I had a lazy eye and undiagnosed ADD which made school harder, especially in comparison to my sister. He would continuously compare my sister and I together and refer to me as the pretty one and her as the smart one. He would also comment on how beauty fades and to marry rich and young. Welcome to the 60’s. It was often when he said comments like these to my sister and I. She grew up thinking she was fat and I grew up thinking I was unintelligent. The dream team.

Until I reached Elizabethtown, I never knew how far I could go. I didn’t really question it, I just assumed I would be a subpar student. Now when I get a low grade, I question everything to where it becomes personal. I am still mad I was placed in a harder English class and got a B+ when my college essay got me a scholarship. Talk about irony. My life becomes revolved around succeeding in my career and in academics, not because I am an ultra perfectionist who needs it, but it is as though I am making up for prior encounters along with receiving approval from myself. I don’t need any adults approval, but my own. From this, I would conclude that the environment where someone is, largely impacts the growth and development of success in school and a future career. School systems could provide trust in their students to succeed while challenging them appropriately along with realizing the additional challenges they could be facing.

Chapter 9 First Impression Post

--Original published at Jenna'sPSY105blog

For this week’s first impression post, I chose the first prompt which discusses the school system and how to promote better learning. Throughout my school career, I definitely feel that the school system was disinterested in my success. It really seemed like in elementary school it was determined who the academically top ranked students were, and from then on out they were given lots of attention and pushed to challenge themselves and they really wanted those kids to succeed. While I was a very smart kid and did most of my academics with the “gifted” kids, I was never actually in the “gifted” program and it felt I was seen as lesser because of it. I was lumped with the average kids and treated fine by my teachers, but I was never pushed or even encouraged to step out of the box and challenge myself. I was never urged to take AP or even advanced/honors classes by my teachers or counselors, they just automatically signed off on whatever classes I chose was best for me to take.

 

I feel that there are some flaws in our education system. For starters, I think that a lot of times teachers go into teaching with predetermined assumptions about their students. For example, if they know one of their students comes from a family of poverty, they often times assume that the child is not smart and will have trouble succeeding in their classroom. Going along with that, teachers can assume that these students will not be academically successful due to their limited resources or their lack of family members who are involved in their education.

 

Another thing that I think would make the school system more efficient is taking note of how each student learns the best. Some students are visual learners, some are auditory learners, and some are tactile learners. Some kind of testing should be done to determine this for each student, then the teachers could teach their students accordingly. This could better suit students’ academic needs in order for them to be as successful as possible. Every child is unique and different in their own way, and it is important that the school system pays attention to their needs.