Question

the concept of intelligence is so important, so controversial, and so often misunderstood in education.

Do you agree with that that statement or disagree? Please post sound educational rational to support your claim.

Answer 1

• The concept of intelligence is very important in education but it is quite controversial and often misunderstood. Intelligence is a key construct employed to know how individuals differ from one another. It also provides an understanding of how people adapt their behaviour according to the environment in which they live.
• Intelligence is the ability of an individual to cope with his environment. It may be thought out as a composite of organisation or an organisation of activities to learn, to grasp broad and subtle facts especially abstract facts with alertness and accuracy to exercise mental control and to display flexibility in seeking the solutions of problems.
• Some psychologists believe intelligence is a basic ability that affects performance on all cognitively oriented tasks. will do well in computing mathematical problems, analysing poetry, taking history essay examinations, and solving riddles.
• Spearman suggested that intelligence consisted of a general factor (g-factor)and some specific factors (s-factors). The g-factor includes mental operations which are primary and common to all performances. In addition to the g-factor, he said that there are also many specific abilities. These are contained in what he called the s factor. Excellent singers, architects, scientists, and athletes may be high on g-factor, but in addition to this, they have specific abilities which allow them to excel in their respective domains.
• According to Gardner, all human beings possess at least eight intelligences.Thus, intelligence is not a single entity; rather distinct types of intelligences exist. Each type of intelligence is independent one. It means, if a person exhibits one type of intelligence, it does not necessarily indicate being high or low on other types of intelligences. Gardner also put forth that different types of intelligences interact and work together to find a solution to a problem.
• Every theorist has their own interpretation of intelligence which is why it has become an abstract and subjective concept to understand since everyone has their own meaning attached to it.
• Also measuring IQ has been controversial,since if someone gets a low IQ that doesnt necessarily means that the person is mentally retarded or is unable to lead a normal life.
• Intelligence testing has emerged as a widely used tool that has led to developing many other tests of skill and aptitude. However, it continues to spur debate and controversy over the use of such testing, cultural biases that may be involved, influences on intelligence, and even the very way we define intelligence.
• Despite the substantial interest in the subject, there is still considerable disagreement about what components make up intelligence. In addition to questions of exactly how to define intelligence, the debate continues today about whether accurate measurements are even possible.
• While the subject of intelligence is one of the largest and most heavily researched, it is also one of the topics that generates the greatest controversy.
• While psychologists often disagree about the definition and causes of intelligence, research on intelligence plays a significant role in many areas. These areas include decisions regarding how much funding should be given to educational programs, the use of testing to screen job applicants, and the use of testing to identify children who need additional academic help.
• While there has been considerable debate over the exact nature of intelligence, no definitive conceptualization has emerged. Today, psychologists often account for the many theoretical viewpoints when discussing intelligence and acknowledge that this debate is ongoing.