Since last week's class I have been in deep thought about what how we learn effects how we communicate with other people. It has been more reflective of how I see myself and my relevance as an instructor and as a human being. I know that this may sound intricate and over the top but in actuality, it isn't. Looking at the formation of Multiple intelligence and the cycle of learning (exposure) that the learner goes through, I began to look at the process of learning and connection that I develop with my students.
I am interpersonal and linguistic and have known that for sometime. However, as I didn't realize that it was ok to use these pieces to my benefit until I left home and attended a HBCU(Historical Black College or University-founded before the Civil War). I was away from home, living in OHIO and learned that my sensitivity to people and how they felt was just a part of who I was (am). I discovered that I had the distinct abililty to talk to anyone and pick up on how people felt, what they needed and how to address that need. As I have grown, I am learning the perfecting your emotional intelligence has everything with knowing who you are and how you function from situation to situation. It doesn't mean that you are always "in your feelings", but it helps you to gauge your starting point of where you are as a person.
I am a firm believer that how you learn and process information has everything to do with how you convey that information to others. I am more conscious now of making sure that I am aware of how I process info effects the outcomes of my students and ultimately the choices they make. This again brings me full circle to Emotional Intelligence as described by Daniel Goleman.
I was amazed at the comparisons between those who have excelled in academics were not a good indicator if they were successful in life. In fact, those who were "successful" were those who were not as academically successful but were more emotionally tuned into their environments and showed greater overall life success. Education places such value on academic acheivement that those children who are more skilled in emotional responses, such as controlling their reactions to disappointments, critical thinking and abililty to empathize with peers are not viewed as possessing a valuable skill. Grades detemine the effectiveness of whether a concept or competency is understood. However if a child/adult has the wherewithal to be less compulsive in making decisions and is more reflective in understanding the tone of environment surrounding a situation it is ignored or dismissed.
The strongest piece of this concept is the fact that we aren't making the smooth transition from academic to emotional intelligence and function. People who are able to perform what the article referred to as "dutiful" in the heart of a system gives NO determination of whether that individual will be able to have the kind of resiliance when the winds of life begin to rage. If we decide to change the definition of what brilliance is and look at the social stability of adults and children, we can change the face of education as we know it. I know it may sound far fetched but it is definitely possible. If we had work environments made up of people who were more aware of how their actions effected the overall success of a company, these personal values will be manifested in the work perfomed and the relationships that are formed.
When looking at the foundation of emotional intelligence, self help books came to mind. The objective is to provide steps to applying emotional tools that help people overcome the issues of life; while applying the principles in an academic format. Since this is the case, how can the success of theses various self-help principles be gaged as effective in changing the emotional awareness/intelligence of those who uses these tools to become more emotionally aware?
In so many other situations, it looks like we value academic achievement above growth and awareness. Gardner's idea that if we took the time to help children areas where they flourish and have the potential to excel that ultimately they can strengthen their own abilities to achieve and master. What a concept; grown and progress through skill assessment and application! Knowing who you are has everything to do with how you function as a human being and how you effect the lives of others.
Here is a link that I thought would be interesting to look regarding Emotional Intelligence in the workplace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7NcSiOiy4o&feature=related
Hi Monica-
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post and sharing your experiences and impressions. Like Joanna, I love your last line, "Knowing who you are has everything to do with how you function as a human being and how you effect the lives of others." I think this is a fantastic way to describe the benefits of emotional intelligence.
Tobi
Monica,
ReplyDeleteFantastic post! Neat insight. I really appreciate your sharing. I, too, thought your observation about knowing who you are is interesting, especially in light of the importance of being self-aware to the concept of Emotional Intelligence. Would you permit me to build on that concept, though? I would like to suggest that, for some, it may be about knowing who you are, but for others, it may be about knowing who you CAN be. That is, the ability to self-reflect may (in some cases SHOULD) lead some people to realize that some work is needed. So it would certainly start with knowing who you are, but also should work with knowing who you have the potential to be. That's my thought, anyway.
Your post also made me realize one thing that I think we are all guilty of doing, which is sometimes assuming that academic excellence or high IQs and Emotional Intelligence are mutually exclusive. And, of course, this is not necessarily the case. But, to use the same quote I used in Juli's post, as Warren Bennis says, "IQ is a threshold competency. You need it, but it doesn't make you a star. Emotional intelligence can." I think this is what you seem to be pointing to in your post.
I really value your suggestion about changing the face of education, though. I think it starts with our discussion from last week and certainly includes this concept. It is time to begin opening the field to the possibility that people learn differently, people are intelligent differently. I am thrilled to know, though, that you all in this class are taking these concepts to heart and applying them in your everyday interactions. Ripples make waves!!
Great post, thanks!
Allison