Some Current Perspectives on Intellectual Quality

Now, back to the episode of “Learning in the Challenge Zone” by Pauline Gibbons. Today’s focus will be on “Some Current Perspectives on “Intellectual Quality”. School reform in countries such as the U.S., U.K and Australia have recognized that all students (ELLs included), need to be of given the same equal access to a high quality education and the curriculum should be designed to develop higher-order thinking skills. Researchers, such as Newmann et al. (1996) have identified essential criteria that make up what they define as “high-quality instruction”. First, “construction of knowledge” is based on prior knowledge, but is not the mere reproduction of knowledge. The reproduction of knowledge model is more consistent with a traditional pedagogy, which  does not constitute intellectual quality in and of itself. Construction of knowledge uses prior knowledge to summarize and synthesize information from a range of sources, then use it to make connections to create a new context, or use it to construct something completely different.

The second essential quality is “disciplined inquiry” which also incorporates  prior knowledge base, the development of in depth understanding, and expressing one’s ideas through elaborated communication. Expressing one’s ideas through elaborated communication also goes against the grain of traditional instruction where students were asked to display superficial awareness of various topics. The third essential quality is “value beyond school”, which is outside factors such as standards curriculum framework, etc. that make learning relevant to the world around us.

Traditionally, pedagogy emphasized the competence of individuals through tasks such as quizzes, tests and individualized tasks. Conversely, achievement in the real world goes beyond individual achievement. The world around us functions cooperatively and individual actions affect others, such as working together to find a cure for cancer, designing a building together, etc. According to Gibbons, “In authentic work  in school, students also make connections between what they are learning and the real world, and their achievements actually influence others.” These examples help us to be mindful of intellectual quality.

Newmann suggests that the intellectual quality is inclusive of these qualities:

1)   Higher order thinking- students construct knowledge. This requires the student to manipulate information and ideas in order to transform ideas.   This would include synthesizing, hypothesizing and drawing conclusions.

2)   Deep knowledge and deep understanding- knowledge is “deep” when students can define, explain and make use of crucial ideas in a particular topic or subject.  This is not just the demonstration of facts.

3)   Substantive conversation-showing evidence of deep knowledge and conversation in teacher-student and student-student interaction. With this quality, students are able to generate questions and ideas for discussion.

Gibbons makes reference to Vygotsky (1978) and speaks to his different theories of “transmission” (which is the more traditional model, where the teacher lectures and ‘transmits’ skills into students’ empty minds) vs “progressive” (where learners construct their own knowledge) approaches. Transmission works against the central principals of language development because when acquiring language, interaction with others is so important to first and second language learning. Vygostky’s theory of the “zone of proximal development (ZPD)” describes the gap between what ELLs can do alone, and what they can do with scaffolded help. 

According to Gibbons, scaffolded help should be seen as “temporary”, where learner can move to concepts on their own. It shows a learner, “how to do something”, not just what to do. Last, scaffolded instruction is “future oriented”, which is the notion that what a learner can do today with support is what he/she can do tomorrow on their own.

            Well, folks, that’s a look into today’s lesson, of “Thinking in the Challenge Zone”. We’ll see you again soon!