Intrapersonal intelligence can be described as being self-aware and self-motivating. An individual with intrapersonal intelligence is very critical and usually analyzes everything. Individuals that have intrapersonal intelligence know themselves very well, and can explain why and how they participated in a particular action or event. Intrapersonal intelligence is beneficial because those individuals have the ability to be self-disciplined and self-motivated so they can accomplish what they put their mind to. Individuals with intrapersonal intelligence realize that the lives of human beings have a meaning and they understand and have compassion for other individual's lives (Jackson, Gaudet, McDaniel, Brammer, 2009. p. 74). It has been found individuals whith a high intrapersonal intelligence will have better problem solving-skills (Jackson, Gaudet, McDaniel, Brammer, 2009, p. 74). All of these skills and abilities would help an individual be successful in school, however many schools have often ignored the development of intrapersonal intelligence and focused the development on others (Jackson, Gaudet, McDaniel, Brammer, 2009, p.74). Thanks to the integration of technology in schools, intrapersonal intelligence will be able to improved upon in classrooms, especially in a social studies classroom.
Research has shown that individuals with high intrapersonal intelligence learn best in school classrooms from individualized instruction and completing activities like journaling, research, concept mapping, and graphic organizers. Technology can be used in all these activities and can be beneficial in this type of instruction. With the use of computers in a classroom, individualized instruction can occur. Teachers could create a wikipage that contains PowerPoint or Prezi and have students take notes or complete a worksheet to accompany the presentation. Also, students could complete a webquest and learn the content that way. Journaling is very important to a person with high intrapersonal intelligence because often times that is how they express themselves. Online journals, or blogs can be used in a classroom with these types of learners. Blogs are a great tool for interapersonal learners because blogs "allow students to express thoughts and feelings in an ordered way" (McCoog, 2007, p. 27). Often times, these types of learners create great and creative projects, but have difficulty sharing them with others. Blogs can enable a students to share their creativity without having to stand in front of the classroom (McCoog, 2007, p. 27). Students with high intrapersonal intelligence also benefit from research. The internet and computer have made the process of researching convenient and teachers can have students research on their own and incorporate many projects with research into the curriculum (McCoog, 2007, p. 27). Lastly, intrapersonal learners excel at concept mapping and graphic organizers. With the use of computer programs and online programs, one can make a concept map or graphic organizer quickly. One program in particular is Inspiration. It is an easy access and usable program for any individual to use. It has many different features, so a person can get involved and detailed as one would like to be.
Intrapersonal intelligence is very important in a social studies classroom. Students need to have compassion and understand what events people in the past have lived through and how it probably felt. Intrapersonal learners can usually do this. An individual needs to have good analytical skills to study history as well, which intrapersonal learners also have. If a person does not have a great intrapersonal intelligence, technology can enable and help an individual. All of the technological tools in the above discussion can greatly benefit a social studies classroom. Blogging would be a great technology to integrate into a social studies classroom. Students could hold discussions on a blog as well as post their feelings about a particular subject. Concept maps and graphic organizers are very common teaching elements in a social studies classroom. These elements often help students organize main ideas and events easily.
Overall, technology is a great asset to any classroom, especially social studies, to help develop intrapersonal intelligence in students. If students already have a high intrapersonal intelligence, technology enhances the individual and allows for other experiences to occur.
References:
McCoog, I.J. (2007). Integrated instruction multiple intelligences and technology. The Clearing House, 25-28. Retrieved September 25, 2012 from https://onlinecampus.edinboro.edu/d2l/lms/content/viewer/main_frame.d2l?ou=716681&tId=5664017.
Jackson, A., Gaudet, L., McDaniel, L., & Brammer, D. (2009). Curriculum integration: The use of technology to support learning. Journal of College Teaching & Learning, 6, (7), 71-78. Retrieved September 28, 2012 from Education Research Complete database (EJ895070).
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