Student Learning Center

In what practical ways can a media-infused presentation help foster the development of both the disciplined and synthesizing minds?

According to Gardner, approaching a topic in a number of ways allows teachers to introduce materials to address students learning style through varied entry points. Through these points, students may immerse themselves in stories, debate, dialogue, humor, role playing, graphic representations and video (Gardner, 2008). Learning opportunities like these encourage us to nourish the abilities of all students to foster a disciplined mind. Our goal is to draw on several intelligences and through the use of web 2.0 tools we can effectively create digital presentations with a variety of media that may be used as Independent Learning Centers.

Tools like Prezi allow teachers to effectively introduce content without ever interacting with a student. Teachers may now present information to students through the use of mobile technology or a computer. "The ability to knit together information from disparate sources into a coherent whole is vital today", (Gardner, p. 46). Teachers can easily provide rich media presentations that include audio, video, graphic representations and infographics. With this varied approach, students are able to make deeper connections, think critically about the material they are learning and work at their own pace. Using a variety of digital media, teachers can make age appropriate presentations that provide multiple sources of representation preparing our students for the future. “The synthesizing mind takes information from disparate sources, understands and evaluates that information objectively, and puts it together in ways that make sense to the synthesizer and also to other persons” (Gardner, p. 2). Students can access this content while in class or at home as many times as they see fit. If they didn’t understand the material, they may rewind and watch it over and over until they understand the concept. When a teacher is giving direct instruction, students hear the material once and unless they ask for clarification, the idea is gone. Here’s where Independent Learning Centers that teachers create for their students make for more meaningful learning opportunities.    

Through activities like these, teachers are able to reach more students, while demonstrating a deeper understanding of content. We are no longer looking to memorize facts, instead ways to process content with an understanding of its application. These strategies have certainly shown a shift in pedagogy that allows students to make meaning of their learning as they develop both the disciplined and synthesized mind.  

Gardner, H. (2008), 5 minds for the future. Boston: Harvard Business Review Press.

Plane Shapes Prezi