week 2 Intelligence

During your own education, my school "intelligence" has been assessed in a very traditional manner. Tests, papers, midterm exams and final exams determined my final grade. Only until I discovered online and blended learning opportunities like this MOOC, I've noticed I can direct my own learning. And with that have the possibility to learn just in time.

For a job as a manager I've had an "real" intelligence-test" once. It was about the different kind of intelligences like spatial intelligence and social intelligence. I thought doing this test was fun (I've got the job). But I didn't think it was an important test, because I don't belief in testing intelligences. Like Professor Gordon Stobart said abilities develop during your whole life. And I think you can measure how far a person is in his or hers development. For another MOOC I have done some research at proficiency based learning and I think that is exactly the kind of education that measures the development of students. Proficiency Based assessment and instruction is the practice that can probably improve learning based on the development of the individual student.

I consider myself as a learner. I even consider myself as a lifelong learner. I’m still learning with MOOC’s and small courses. My way of showing my mastery at a specific level is creating blogs, infographic or other creative ways. When I teach I try to motivate the students to think creative and innovative. They have the tendency to use powerpoint to make presentations and I want them to use other , more creative, tools.

Hello

This first assignment for the MOOC What future for education is a very interesting one. I may answer what my ideas are about the future of education. But first I’ll answer the first part of the question from the course. What do I think I’ll be able to get out of this course? I’m a researcher and I’m a lecturer. I hope I will meet other teachers and discuss the possibilities for education. Because I think there will be a lot of changes the next 5 years. A whole new group of students are entering the arena of education. Students, who are used to work, read and interaction with the help of a broad selection of devices. These students don’t need traditional forms of education. They need education that suits their way of communication and learning. I want to find out what other teachers think and do when they meet these students. I think teachers must make the paradigm shift and start to believe they do not need to have all the knowledge. The Internet has all the knowledge. Teachers must become guides.

My ideas for future education are linked to these “new” students and the new role of teachers. We must teach our students to act responsible on and with the net. There is lots of information when you know where and how to look for it.  

Sylvia Schouwenaars