What do you think about Multiple
Intelligence at school in Indonesia? What are needed to develop it well? Most
of schools in Indonesia have not facilitated the development of multiple
intelligence for their students (Pandjaitan,
2009).
They generalize the
intelligence of students from a formal test (paper and pencil test). According
to me, improvements are needed to develop multiple intelligence
at school. Start from socializing for the teachers about what multiple
intelligence in educational context is. Then followed by improvement in
teaching methods of teachers and how they do assessment.
Teachers have important role in facilitating the development
of multiple intelligences to enhance students’ cognitive processes (Nurhadi, 2008). However, most of
teachers in Indonesia do not know about what multiple intelligences in
educational context is. Many misunderstandings occur on multiple intelligences
in educational context. In the science of psychology, Howard (1993) interpreted multiple
intelligence as the theory of intelligence.
He divided intelligences someone into eight types; verbal, mathematical,
spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, intrapersonal, interpersonal and
naturalist. But
in educational context, multiple intelligence turned into a learning strategy. Tendency of intelligence that students have
show their learning style. It gives easiness for the teachers to select
appropriate teaching methods for students (Chatib, 2010). It needs to
be socialized for all of teachers in Indonesia.
Having understood the meaning of multiple intelligences in
educational context, teachers can easily determine the appropriate learning
strategy for their students. The way of teachers in teaching should be tailored
to students' learning styles so the students can easily grasp and understand
the material presented by the teacher. With appropriate learning strategy students’
cognitive processes will develop well in
accordance with the tendency of intelligence they had (Nurhadi, 2008). The way that can be
taken by schools to facilitate teachers in facilitating the development of
multiple intelligences of students is by the division of classes based on
common learning styles of students. Thus,
teachers can determine the learning strategies based on learning style of each
class.
Another way that can be taken to
facilitate the development of multiple intelligences is by using many various
kinds of assignment and assessment. Most teachers in Indonesia only use formal
tests (paper and pencil test) for the assignment (Pandjaitan, 2009). Actually it is
effective enough to burn passion of the student in studying because they do not
want to get a bad score, but a creative teacher should not always use formal
tests for every assignment because the intelligence of a child can not be
measured only with the formal test (Herwono, 2009). In order to facilitate the development of students'
intelligences, the teacher should use various kinds of assignment and
assessment, not only paper and pencil test. They should be more creative
and innovative in giving assignment and assessment. Some kinds of assessments
that can help the students to explore their intelligences are presentation,
exhibition, etc. Furthermore there should be a
specific rubric and grade, so the scoring will be more objective and the
students know the criteria seek for in their assignment (Pandjaitan, 2009).
It
is inevitable that most of schools in Indonesia do not facilitate the
development of multiple intelligences for their students. Improvements is needed to be done in order to
facilitate the development of multiple intelligence at school. Before
improving the way of teacher in teaching and how they do assessment, it has to
start from socializing about what multiple intelligence in educational context
is. If any improvement can be implemented well,
Indonesia will have a new generation of young talented with wonderful skills
and intelligences.
References
Chatib, Munif .(2010). Sekolahnya
Manusia. Gresik: .
Gadner, Howard. (1993) .Multiple
Intelligence. United States: Basic Books.
Herwono. (2009). Sudah
Tepatkah Penilaian Kita. Bandung: Jaya Pustaka
Nurhadi, Achmad. (2008). Pembelajaran
Efektif. Jakarta: Pena Merah
Pandjaitan, Joey. (2009, December 13). Retrieved December 29,
2010, from http://joeypandjaitan.wordpress.com/
