Thank you to Dana, Ed, Rebecca, Dave, and Peg--Spatial and visual intelligence proved to be very interesting. I also find it very interesting that a person can be talented in one area of an intelligence but not in another area. I know it must all be interconnected in some way and maybe the particular area we shine at is one that we have had much exposure too. For instance, when Dana was speaking of looking at a pattern and being able to see lots of possibilities for that one particular shape. I have always found that to be so much fun--to see the beauty in something before it is put together. That was always easy for me and made me feel creative and wise. And that is visualizing. But--looking at a house plan that an architect has created and trying to see how it will all fit together has been difficult for me (not so in Dave's exercise because the house he drew on the board I lived in for 21 years). I remember when we were building our house and the basement was sitting there all open and the openings for the stair cases were there and I couldn't for the life of me see how that was going to work and all fit together. And that must be spatializing! Anyway I find looking at these intelligences extremely helpful and interesting. It's amazing. See you next Thursday.

-- Anonymous, March 19, 1999

Answers

Spatial/Visual intelligence as presented by our very able cohort members on Thursday night made me realize that I do use that intelligence a lot more than I realize. I don't think it is one of the intelligences that I am particularly gifted in but I guess I do use it more than I imagined. I know I have used it in arranging a room and I have also made several of the animal shaped cakes like the bunny when my children were little. As I sat there on Thursday night I wondered if confusion over left, right and directions such as east and west is part of spatial/visual intelligence. That has alway been something that I have really had to think about before I can move ahead. It has become a standing joke between my husband and I.

All of these discussions on the different intelligences have been very informative and helpful. I really believe that it has been well worth my time. Thank you to everyone for all the great input.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 1999

As we go over these intelligences, I think all of us are probably trying to decide whether we "have" that particular form of intelligence. With the spatial-visual, I'm confused because some parts of it I'm very comfortable with (home decorating, drawing, etc.) but there are some spatial things I just don't get -- the east and west, like Barb said, or maps or construction projects. This might be crazy, but I wonder if there are TWO kinds of spatial-visual intelligence.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 1999

Thank you to the presenters! Thank you to the folks who supplied the additional food items (like the bunny cake!).This cohort has an abundance of people gifted in many ways. (As I am writing this my cat is playing with the remote and clicking on and off the TV/VCR...I wonder what kind of intelligence she is displaying!) I felt a little funny not being able to "claim" musical intelligence so I could share some insights. I know I must have some. My father was very musical. However, growing up I was not fortunate enough to have opportunities to learn to play piano or other instruments. When I was five I wanted to be an opera singer, but I was not blest with a particularly pleasing singing voice.....I always tell people I am a cross between Carol Channing and Rex Harrison.

My children are all very musical. My husband teaches choral music at Denfeld. My oldest son also teaches music and composes. I have have some knowledge and background of music simply by being around it these many years. As an adult I have taken classes to see if I could learn to play an instrument or learn how to sing better. (Not much success there, but one teacher said she would give me a "B" just for my efforts :) !

I will be very interested to hear everyone's views on this intelligence.

As far as visual-spatial intelligence, I was intrigued with the way Dave and Dana use this skill in their work. I have mostly associated talent in this area with artists and math teachers. I love maps, and I am the navigator in my family because I have a pretty good sense of direction, but it does not "feel" like visual-spatial intelligence. It feels like another kind of knowing. I continually rearrange the spaces I work and live in, but I am not sure that is a sign of intelligence...

-- Anonymous, March 21, 1999

Dana and Ed -- Congratulations on taking Frank's directive and providing us with fun exercises and meaningful information! Dave, I really enjoyed listening to what you do and teach about fire rescue. You become energized when you described the process. Peg, thank you for the long article on the autistic woman. I have yet to read it, but I appreciate your sharing information that is "near and dear" to your work.

I hadn't planned to contribute my "schtick." It wasn't until all the others had spoken that I realized that my students would be using this talent to accomplish the assignment I had just given that day.

With each activity we did or listened to, I found myself looking for the other intelligences involved with the activity. Has anyone else done this?

-- Anonymous, March 21, 1999

Well, I think I finally found my way here! Dana, Dave, Ed, Rebecca and Peg, you all did a nice job talking about visual-spatial intelligence - thanks! I really found this chapter to be interesting. I hadn't thought a lot about it until now but I do find I use a lot of visuals in my lessons at school. We make character webs in reading and make "function" machines in math. I think this intellegence ties in nicely with Melanie, Wade and Jackies thesis. They are teaching the kids to visualize when breathing correct? My son is teaching me to play chess. Once I get the hang of it, it would be fun to teach the kids at school to help them exercise their memory skills and visual spatial intelligence. See you Thursday. Sandy Pearson

-- Anonymous, March 21, 1999

As opposed to mathemagical stuff, the visual spatial things have always just "been" there. Kind of like Cathy's "knowing". I cannot always adequately describe how the picture forms in the minds eye and then is transferable to paper or action. It is just there. When I was doing technical theatre work it was a big plus because things just seemed to fit into place whether it was construction or dressing a set of creating a light plot. Its also about simple things like packing a car for a trip or just "knowing" if some thing will fit some where. I think that there is a close connection with people who are kinesthetic learners also, as we both (all) like to manipulate things and find the relationship in space to other things. All of you amaze me with the things you bring to class every week, and Ed, if someone like you taught me math, I bet I would have done a whole bunch (spatially thats a large amount) better.

-- Anonymous, March 21, 1999

Well, I am finally adding my contribution to the Alco site. I have found this book very interesting and helpful. Because of the limited time I have with the students in the classroom, (30 to 45 min. max.) I am always thinking of the best ways to transmit meaningful information in a limited amount of time and also ways for the students to have active participation. This book has given me great ideas like using the different graphic representations to organize the information. One thing that has worked for some of my lessons is that when I am going to read the students a book, I have them first visualize where the story is going to take place. For instance if it is in Puerto Rico, I show them Puerto Rico on the map. We talk of the location of the country, the climate, vegetation, etc., I tell them to close their eyes and see themselves in that place. This has really helped the students be more involved and to concentrate on the reading better.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 1999

What a variety of ways spatial/visual learning takes place as we saw with all the examples in class Thursday. Imagine not having sight! I know that others senses are more refined then but that is the one capability of myself I would never want to lose or compromise. I feel exercises in having students "visualize" is great for their overall learning. It makes them tap into the abstract. I still think out new Coke container idea was a good one. I think it had more potential than that "scarf" thing! Just kidding you guys - I applaud you for your "efforts". Dana

-- Anonymous, March 22, 1999

Thanks for the great activities and discussion last week. I have usually had trouble with spatial activities-- I always think things are bigger than they really are, and have a hard time estimating how many feet or yards there are. Anything after 20 feet is beyond me! I decorate a lot of cakes (or at least I did before I started this cohort), and I can easily see how those will turn out. I have no problem determining the best combination of layers for a wedding cake or how many people it will serve. I can cut and shape cakes for children's cakes easily, too. So, I guess I have a certain level of visual-spatial ability. It's great to see how we can incorporate this type of intelligence into everyday activities.

-- Anonymous, March 22, 1999

Thanks to all the presenters on Thursday evening. It was interesting to see how folks can use visual/spatial intelligence tot each a task. As I stated in class I have difficulty figuring out where the students I spend most of my time fit into these intelligences. Most of them have bits and peices, and many deficits, which becomes very challenging to the classroom teacher. I guess that's why I have a job, to assist the regular ed teacher in finding ways to modify and adapt in order to make a lesson meaningful for that individual. In some cases we have had to make the entire classroom environment 'visual' in order for the student to even function in that situation. This intelligence is probably my strongest area. I have a very easy time visualizing floor plans, sewing without a pattern etc. I wonder if some of my own education would have been more successful had things been presented in this fashion instead of the ttypical read the book and take the test method.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 1999

I also think there may be two parts to visual-spatial intelligience. Artists were not mentioned last week. They certainly have a visual intelligience. I look at my 5 year old son's drawings. The way he thinks is certainly very interesting. I need to show everybody a drawing of his grandma that he did recently. He must have inherited his creativity from me! Ha! I use visual intelligience when I make a shopping list for my husband. He actually has offered to do this. Anyway he needs a list. I visualize where every thing is located in one particular store and make my list in order of the aisles. Makes shopping a little easier for my husband. I use a pentominoe activity with some of the students. I brought this home one day. My husband could easily put the puzzles together, but I had a more difficult time. I think he could do this easily, because his job requires him to problem solve when fixing a roof or in other areas of construction.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 1999

One thing I am beginning to realize is that each intelligence involves many parts and that one can find a part of each intelligence that they can be successful using. It becomes important for children to realize this and for teachers then to try and find what part of an intelligence they are using successfully and make them aware of it. I grew up feeling I was not intelligent in many areas, when now I see that I have many intelligences. I may not be successful at all skills of any one , but I am learning through our discussions that I use all of them to some extent each day. I hope with this new awareness I can help children see that there are many ways to be intelligent and that they need to try many approaches when faced with a new learning expereince. As I try some of the ideas presented in the book and class in my classroom I an discovering that I have open new doors for both my students and myself as learners.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 1999

Thanks to everyone for being such good students. I enjoyed being able to show a little of what I do in class to use the students' visual/spatial intelligence. My students have a much easier time doing the work when they are given a model to work with. I know if I had to do the Coke container without 12 cans in front of me, it would have been much more difficult.

I think the next Cohort should be more involved in doing small presentations in class. I was worried how it would be for me, but it turned out to be a good experience. I can't wait to see the next presentations.

-- Anonymous, March 24, 1999

I too really enjoyed the spatial/visual intelligence evening (of course, I got to lick lots of frosting off my fingers). :-) My sister and I are both considered the "artists" of the family (perhaps we should discuss the idea of family "jobs" someday). My sister is, in a traditional sense, much more artistic than me. She has always had a sense of color (something I greatly lack) and form. She got a degree and worked many years in commercial art and she has pained and drawn some beautiful pieces. Funny, though, she doesn't believe that she's very good. Wish I could help her believe otherwise. I like to mess around with art and would probably be considered "crafty" though I'm not into most of the crafts you see sold. I just love creating things that look nice but don't cost a lot--usually by adding personal touches. I'm just thinking of some wallpapering and painting projects I've done. I'm seriously thinking about taking some art classes when the thesis thing is done. I'm REALLY interested in tromp l'oeil (I haven't a clue how to spell it, but it means fool the eye), and I'd love to be able to draw well enough to create some of my own eye-foolers. Anyway, I've really drifted off course here. . .The cool thing about every one of these chapters and discussion evenings is that I leave with lots of great ideas for helping my students. Thanks everyone!

-- Anonymous, March 27, 1999