Intasc Standard III Artifact: Gardner and Levine

INTASC Standard III ARTIFACT: Gardner and Levine INTASC Standard III: Adapting Instruction for Individual Needs -- The teacher understands how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners. This artifact demonstrates mastery of INTASC Standard III by demonstrating understanding of what the leading experts in the needs of alternate learners, Howard Gardner, Ph.D., and Melvin Levine, M.D., have to say.

They both recognize that children can vary significantly in learning style and that good teachers address a variety of learning styles. This artifact demonstrates depth of knowledge regarding the backgrounds of these experts; it delineates not only what their ideas are but also how they came to develop them. It demonstrates the need to look beyond I.Q., and shows respect for children and their variations, and shows advanced knowledge about how Gardner came to his conclusions about multiple intelligences.

It demonstrates understanding of the criticisms made of Gardner's theory and discusses them in detail. The artifact also discusses Mel Levine. He explains Levine's approach to children's learning difficulties, which focuses on finding solutions for a child's struggles rather than labeling the child. He also provides information for both parents and teachers so they can understand how children's brains may vary and how to teach them most effectively. Taken together, the two authors embody Standard III, the need to adapt instruction for individual needs.

He demonstrates understanding of Levine's book A Mind at a Time, including the detailed information about children's neurological development. Finally, this artifact analyzes the similarities and differences between the two approaches, making it possible to use both approaches to best effect for a particular student or group of students. However, the importance is the similarities, because those similarities help validate both views (although the artifact notes other validations as well). Thus this artifact demonstrates deep knowledge regarding the standard, including the validity of noting learning variations among students.

ARTIFACT: Applying Gardner INTASC Standard III: Adapting Instruction for Individual Needs -- The teacher understands how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners. This artifact explains in more depth how Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences can be used in the classroom to enhance students' learning. This artifact explores how to incorporate Gardner's approaches into the established curriculum, assuring that students cover all the needed material but arguing in favor of a wider variety of teaching strategies so.