Get Your Students Hired
The ability to analyze situations and effectively find solutions that will apply in their careers.
Philippe,
I think this is a great idea because you are letting them use their skills and knowledge to be creative. If they have a solid foundation then this assignment should be no problem to them, if not they are going to be challenged and this is as it should be.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I am a chef instructor to be intelligent in my profession you have be able to work without recipe.
I practice this with my student I give them a mystery basket for the final and they have to develop a menu and cooked in a specific amount of time
Dario,
Thank you for the comment about limitations. We do need to understand them within ourselves and how those limitations impact how we will approach our work. This way we can focus on our strengths and provide the best patient care possible.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
My definition of intelligence in relation to my career would be knowing my limitations. I am a dental assistant. Along with knowing all of the aspects of my profession, knowing my limitations is very improtant when in patient care. I try to communicate that with my students. It is ok to say "I am not sure of the correct answer, let me check with the doctor."
Tracy,
I like the way you expand the definition of intelligence. I think we in education for too many years have defined intelligence in a very narrow way that does not give enough opportunity for students to develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Intelligence in my career field encompasses knowledge, skill and assessment. The knowledge of the science of dentistry and human biology, the skill of instrumentation, and the assessment of patient care and patient needs.
Robert,
I like this approach to problem solving because it makes sense and easy to understand. The more experience the students have in these three areas the better prepared they are going to be when they step out into the real world and are in charge. It is at this time they have to have the ability to think critically and problem solve or they won't be there long.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
In my field of the culinary arts it is essential that my students use one or all three intellegences as stated by Steinberg to achieve, "Successful Intellegence" and the ability to attain success in life as they see it.
Through Analyzing the problem,( ie. How to keep the three tiers of wedding cake from falling to the floor);being Creative in the ability to invent a new solution to the problem, and using their Practical intellegence along with common sense, the student can research how others have solved the problem in the past and find the best fir to create a magnificant wedding cake that hopefully all of their peers will aprove of and admire.
Mabel,
Like your definition. I think it is a good way to look at how you are helping your students to use their intelligences to be successful in school and life.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I teach in several disciplines, but in general, my definition of intelligence (as related to the programs) would be: the WILLINGNESS and ability to LEARN and USE that learning to better your world.
Deborah,
This is a very important point because I am encountering more and more students that seem to lack common sense. They want a formula to follow that will yield the same results over and over again. As you know from your years in the field, medicine or humans beings for that matter do not respond to formulas. Students need to be able to do reflective and critical thinking as they approach different situations. This will be how they become successful in their field.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Alot of issues in the medical field require a knowledge base that I feel is common sense. Some students however do not share what I would percieve as common sense since they come from different ethnic backgrounds. Therefore a more in depth discussion with different outcomes are used in my dicussions on thinking thru senerios.
Teresa,
Yes, this expertise does take time to develop. Students need to realize that graduation is only the start rather than the termination of their education. The ones that do are the ones that have the most successful and rewarding careers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Eduardo,
Thank you for this concise and complete description of critical thinking for your field. This gives a model for instructors to follow to help their students to become critical thinkers.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Aprilyn,
This is not unusual for some students. They want to make sure they are completely accurate and they feel they can only be if they memorize a standard answer to a problem. Critical thinkers are very seldom in settings that let them use a formula. They are required to think through and come up with answers so they need to step away from formulas and start using their thinking skills to problem solve. For many this is easier said than done.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Nursing intelligence is a composite of time, continuing education, and "hands-on" experience. When a nurse graduates, s/he is competent, but certainly would not be expected to manage a severely compromised patient. Instead, through time and experience, s/he gains wisdom to ensure that the patient has the most optimal outcomes. This comes with time and has a reflective component that clarifies the most effective manner in which to manage the patient.
Intelligence in my career can be defined as being able to strategizing, making good decisions with the least collateral possible. and do it all in the most time efficient manner possible.
Some of my students "overthink" and focus on memorizing details so much sothat they don't really absorb and understand the basic concepts of the topic that I am teaching. Whenever they answer a question with a rote memorized answer they have read in the text book, I always ask them why they chose the answer. I do this to get them to start understanding their knowlege or lack of knowlege of the subject matter. In my opinion, intelligence is knowing you having more than one way or method to learn.
As a Chef Instructor I must use intelligence as a way to know the material, know the practical application, know how to relate the material to a varied adult audience, know how to then explain the why we do things a certain way, and finally to assess the students application of the material. In doing these tasks intelligence means knowing the how, when, why, and what for when it comes to the material I am presenting. Also knowing how to assess each individual and relate to them on an individual basis when each person is of varied intellect, education and life experience. This may be teh single greatest use of intelligence in my daily work. Using my education, and experience to relate the material to students.