I believe that a teacher’s job is to promote learning for all students in the class. For that goal to be realized the teacher must be able to utilize a variety of teaching strategies. Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences shows us that people excel at learning in a variety of different ways. It is the job of the teacher to make sure all of these approaches to learning are utilized in the classroom setting, making learning equally accessible for all students. I believe that following the philosophy of eclecticism can easily allow this to become a reality. Through a combination of philosophies, mainly progressivism and essentialism the classroom can become an inviting, child-centered place in which to learn. I believe that what is needed is active engagement in constructing one’s own knowledge (progressivism) and getting down to the basics in subject matter (essentialism,) along with a bit of social consciousness from reconstructivism and the pursuit of truth, rhetoric and logical reasoning from perennialism. Technology is the perfect aid to this end.

The integration of technology into the school curriculum allows for a variety of multiple intelligences to be addressed at the same time, thus giving more learners the opportunity to learn in their own personal style. Learning that takes place in your preferred method of instruction is the learning that is best remembered and easily attained. Using the Internet, drill and practice software and cognitive learning strategies available on the computer a student can tap into information in a multitude of ways.

A student who is a reader of words can easily take charge of his own learning and find information to assist him/her anywhere, but a student for whom music is the primary intelligence will be more challenged through traditional methods of teaching. In this way, technology can level the playing field and give equal opportunity for all students to learn in his/her own way. Although it is generally more work, the teacher should act as a facilitator, allowing as much hands-on, constructive learning as possible, but all the while knowing that there is a time and place for direct instruction and when that time comes it should be used. Students should be able to derive personal meaning from learning. Again technology can aid this. A student whose intelligence lies in the realm of interpersonal can read real stories about the way of life in Ancient Egypt in order to gather an understanding of Egyptian history. After finishing reading the stories, students can respond to the stories in their journals. Students should see how the subject matter relates to their future and how it builds on their own past experiences. This helps them to internalize the information. Carl Rogers said children need the freedom to learn. I believe this is true. The purpose of teaching should be to promote learning, and a healthy learning environment is one that gives the students’ choices about what they will learn, but more importantly how that learning will come about.