What’s New at MI Research
and Consulting, Inc.?
January, 2004
C. Branton
Shearer, Ph.D.
Hello ~
I wish you a fine start to 2004 and hope that the past year has been beneficial and fulfilling. Many projects at MI Research and Consulting have been progressing apace. It has been a busy year and there is much to report.
I want to welcome Rebecca Nassar as my new webmaster. She and I have been toiling for several months to completely remodel the MIDAS website. You can look forward to its debut very soon. A goal for 2004 is to have the MIDAS Online Assessment Center functioning by the end of the year. My thanks to Clifford Morris for all the work he did in the past few years on the website and MI Newsletter. You might have noticed that the Newsletter has been on “sabbatical.” Unfortunately, the distributor disappeared and I do not have a record of subscribers email addresses, so…Rebecca and I will be working in ’04 to rebuild our subscriber list. Please notify me if you’d like to resume receiving the MIDAS Newsletter.
An especially gratifying experience for ’03 was the 20th Anniversary Commemorative Symposium at AERA that marked 20 years since the publication of Howard Gardner’s landmark book, Frames of Mind. Over 2400 people attended a strand of sessions that examined the impact of MI on education, science and the world. We were privileged to hear an international group of world-class neuroscientists, educational researchers and educators share their insights and experiences. This symposium was organized by the MI-SIG of AERA and I’d like to thank the fine group of people on the Program Steering Team for their assistance in this great endeavor. Over 2 years of planning and commitment paid off very well, indeed. If you’d like more information about the MI-SIG activities go to their website www.geocities.com/Athens/Column/7568/
If you’re interested in reading a selection of papers that were presented at the MI Symposium then I am also very pleased to report that the respect journal from Columbia University Teacher’s College Record will publish an entire issue devoted to the MI Symposium. I am the editor for this selection of papers. Howard Gardner provides an Afterword where he lays out his thoughts about the future directions for MI theory. This is essential reading for any serious-minded MI researcher. You may order your copy or subscribe to TCR E-mail: subscrip@blackwellpub.com
There are a lot of MI and MIDAS news and developments that I’d like to briefly share with you. If you have any news that you'd like to share please email it to me.
I appreciate your interest in MI and hope that The MIDAS will continue to grow in ways that will bring the power and promise of MI to enhance human potential to all who choose to use it.
Cheers for 2004!
Branton Shearer
MIDAS™ News Update
MIDAS in High Schools
It is gratifying to me that The MIDAS is being implemented in my own backyard as well as internationally. Here are a few places:
-- Kent Roosevelt High School
-- Bridges “At Risk” Student Program
-- Freshman Explorations program
-- Ravenna High School
-- Freshman science classes
-- Tallmadge High School
-- All Freshmen
-- Waterloo High School
-- All Freshmen Career Explorations
International Translations
and Adaptations
MIDAS Chinese Translation
Profession Wu-Tien Wu of National Taiwan Normal University is now working with the Psychological Publishing Company in Taipei, Taiwan on the translation of the MIDAS into both traditional and simplified Chinese language.
MIDAS in the UK
Speaking of England….My visit to the UK in May of 2003 was quite successful. Mike Fleetham and his colleague Chris Neanon organized a wonderful daylong conference for teachers. I am now working with Mike and the folks at Vision Matrix to bring The MIDAS to both the corporate and educational worlds. Vision Matrix is now pilot testing an online version of the MIDAS.UK for use in businesses. Mike is having a CD-ROM version of MIDAS created that is used by parents as their young child enters school. For more information on either of these projects contact Mike Fleetham <mike.fleetham@ntlworld.com > or Sarah Lowey at sarah@visionmatrix.com
MIDAS Singaporean Adaptation
Speaking of MIDAS adaptations….the Singaporean MIDAS.SG adaptation was recently completed with the assistance of my friends at One Education and Chinese High School. One Education is now in the final stages of testing the MIDAS.SG online version. It should be ready to go “live” very soon. Watch this site for an announcement.
The MIDAS is being used at this fine private school for a number of interesting purposes including: leadership development, freshman self-insight and assisting ‘at risk’ students.
MIDAS Persian Translation
A researcher in Iran has recently completed her master’s program where she translated and administered the Teen-MIDAS to university students.
Professor Suan Yoong has created a validated MIDAS.BM translation for use in Malaysia. He hopes to create a national database in the near future. I have been pleased to note that there is a LOT of interest in implementing MI in this country and I will be returning there to conduct a second series of MIDAS workshops.
Several researchers in Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon have created Arabic translations that are being validated with various age groups at this time. See contact information below.
MIDAS.DK Training in Denmark
Teachers at ‘Production Schools” in Denmark continue to receive training in using and understanding their students' MIDAS.DK profiles. The people at MI- Danmark have created a beautiful MIDAS.DK CD-ROM that students use to take the assessment in Danish. http://www.mi-danmark.dk/
MIDAS Research Projects
MI “Thinking Styles” Inventory and the BBC Leonardo da
Vinci Website
Over 180,000 people have completed the MI Thinking Styles Inventory that I created for the BBC Science website. This inventory also included a brief school satisfaction questionnaire. I am sorting through these data and in the near future will share the results both in England and on my website.
MI Leadership Scale
The MIDAS Leadership Scale is being used regularly at Kent State University with Learning to Lead and MBA leadership classes. Student feedback is very positive. The goal is to provide a means to describe, discuss and enhance individual student Leadership abilities. MI provides the guidance to develop Leadership capabilities not just for the elite, but for all students who can take on Leadership positions in their chosen fields. Howard Gardner’s writing in Creating Minds provides inspiration that a “strengths-based focus” can bring out the best in us all. A draft of the MIDAS Leadership Handbook will be available in the near future.
Multi-National, Multi-Cultural Research Project
Over 2000 people in more that 12 countries participated in a multi-national, multi-cultural study of the MIDAS scales. James Jones and myself are still combing through the results which are fascinating but complex. It has been a good affirmation that both MI and the MIDAS have validity among many different cultures. Preliminary results were presented by James at the MI Symposium at the AERA conference this past April. Additional analyses are forthcoming. For more information please contact James at jjones@bsu.edu or myself for details.
MIDAS-KIDS: My Young Child
The revised My Young Child version of MIDAS-KIDS (completed by the parents of 4 – 8 year old children) continues to undergo validation. Pilot sites are needed.
MI and Emotional Intelligence
Have you ever wondered what the relationship is between MI and emotional intelligence?
A draft of research results are now are available that describe a study where the MIDAS was administered along with the EQI assessment to three different groups of adults, university and high school students.
Multiple Intelligences and Interests
Many people confuse MI with interests. This is natural given that most MI assessments are brief checklists more closely resembling interest inventories than standardized tests. The MIDAS focuses on skills and abilities rather than merely interests. The Teen-MIDAS was recently given to nearly 300 8th grade students along with the IDEAS interest inventory as part of their career exploration guidance program. These results will soon be available.
MI Education and Training
Web-based Online MI Learning
My WebCT Multiple Intelligences online workshops at Kent State University continue to grow in both number of participants and quality. I am slowly figuring out how to use more and better MI-inspired teaching ideas in the online environment. It has been a great challenge (as well as a great black hole of time!) . Hey, no one ever said that high quality MI teaching was going to be quick or easy, but I have definitely found it to be much more rewarding and worthwhile to both myself and the learners. It is an investment in time and energy and imagination that keeps paying dividends even when the stock market is in the tank. It does get easier once the basic MI framework is in place, so take heart all you newbie MI teachers out there.
> M.I. WebCT Preview page www.personal.kent.edu/~sbranton/
> Kent State Univ. KSU College of Continuing Studies http://ccsweb.ccs.kent.edu/
MIDAS Researchers Around the
World in 2003
Many people have been using The MIDAS for a wide variety of research projects over the course of the past year. I hope that my revised website and resurrected MIDAS Newsletter will serve as a means for researchers to share their results in the coming year. For MI theory to evolve in its effective application and acceptance, I believe that it is essential for people to share their successes as well as their challenges. Science moves along as we work through problems, correct mistakes and step-by-step reveal what is true. Here is a list of current MIDAS researchers.
1- The Implementation of MI
Activities through Differentiated Instruction into English and Mathematics
Classrooms in One Pennsylvania Middle School
Researcher / Contact: Harvey Christopher Pollock cpolloc@ucf.k12.pa.us
2- Assessing
the Relationship Between The MIDAS and Tests of Creativity
Researcher / Contact: Mindy Sloan msloan@bumail.bradley.edu
3- Comparing
MI Profiles of University Students in Chemistry and Science Classes
Researcher / Contact: Gloria Wright Brown gloriabw@yahoo.com
4- Comparing
the MI Profiles of 4th and 5th Grade Students
Researcher /
Contact: Karen Spengel bcdspenger14@charter.net
5- A
Study of the Effects of a visual /Spatial and Musical Intelligences Curriculum
on Student Performance in Math
Researcher / Contact: Andrea M. People < drandie2@gwu.edu>
6- An
Investigation of the Relationship Between Attrition of Adults in Web-based
Distance Education Vocation Related Courses and MI
Researcher / Contact: Christine Mulhollen cmulholl@pct.edu
7- Exploring the MI Profiles Among Students and Their Learning
Researcher / Contact: Jean McDonald jeanmm@bgnet.bgsu.edu
8- Using
The MIDAS Profile to Enhance Adult Learning
Researcher / Contact: Ana Taggart taggarta@hutchcc.edu
9- Multiple Intelligences and Cisco Network Academy
Researcher / Contact: Valerie Schmitz Valerie@execpc.com
10- Learning Style and Usage of Computers
Researcher / Contact: Kiranmayi Padmaraju kiranmayip@yahoo.com
11- Multiple Intelligences, Science Major, and Gender: What are the Trends?
Researcher / Contact: Catherine M. Miller reharkcm@hotmail.com
12- The Relationship Between MI and the High School Student Athlete
Researcher / Contact: Jason P. Sherlock radnorbaseball@hotmail.com
13- A Comparison of MI Test Results of High School Singers and Non-singers
with Implications for Teachers of Singing
Researcher / Contact: Deborah Stark dlstark@bsu.edu
14- Listening to Selected Auditory Conditions and Increased Reading Achievement
Researcher / Contact: Donna Dawson dawdon@mail.wilson.k12.pa.us
15- Vocational Preferences, Personality and Multiple Intelligences
Researcher / Contact: Kristi Wolfe kjordan1@aol.com
16- Comparing the MI Profiles of Three Adult Expert Groups
Researcher / Contact: Tara Land tara@flow-interactive.com England
17- Types of MI Predominant in the Juvenile Institution of Puerto Rico
Researcher / Contact: Ana Melba Villanueva Matos vabmel@yahoo.com Puerto Rico
18-
Investigating the Relationship Between the Iranian Adult English Learner MI
Profiles and their Use of Language Learning Strategies
Researcher / Contact: Kobra Hosseini bahare_h@mahvar.com Iran
19- Using The MIDAS Profile for Young Children in Turkey
Researcher / Contact: Nazan Coskun iletisim2@yahoo.com Turkey
20- Studying the Differences in MI Profiles Between Theoretical and Applied Science College Students
Researcher: Rana Koshaha ranakoshaha@hotmail.com Place: Cairo, Egypt
21-
The Correlation Between the social Self-efficacy and the Personal
Intelligences Among Women College Students
Researcher: Maryam Allhyane mere200@hotmail.com Place: Makkah Al-Mukararmmah, Saudi Arabia
22- On the Dynamic MI Informed Personalization of Learning Material
Researcher / Contact: Declan Kelly dkelly@ncirl.ie Place: Dublin, Ireland
23- Creating a Bahasa Indonesian Translation of the MIDAS Assessment
Researcher / Contact: Purborini Sulistiyo purborini_sulistiyo@yahoo.com Indonesia
24- Using MIDAS to Predict Academic Performance of Freshmen University Students
Researcher / Contact: Fernando Rosas frosas@lamolina.edu.pe Peru
25-
MI in the High School Foreign Language Classroom
Researcher / Contact: Jennifer Barnett jupiterjab@aol.com Spain
26- Investigating the MI Profiles of 13 and 14 Year Old Students
Researcher / Contact: Tricia Raper peteraper@aol.com England
27- Creating a Validated MIDAS Arabic Translation
Researcher / Contact: Hind Alqisi hind12345@hotmail.com Jordan
28
Effect of Accelerated Strategies in the Development of MI in Students
Resarcher: Zilda Diaz de Plumacher zidiplu@telcel.net.ve - Venezuela