Recognizing "Smart" Performance Can Be Difficult

 

 Recognizing "Smart" Performance Can Be Difficult


The word "smart" is thrown around so often nowadays it has become almost useless. For a performance to be "smart," you need to be able to judge it against a baseline; otherwise, the word just becomes semantics. But when it comes to the way we treat people with learning disabilities, we seem to fall into the trap that anyone who "sounds" less-than-normal must be less-than-smart.

This is made worse by the misunderstanding that having an IQ of over 80 means you're "smarter" than someone with a lower score--which is actually false, since intelligence is highly polygenic, meaning that while a high IQ would be advantageous one gene out of literally thousands.

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So when it comes to assessing intelligence and even "smartness," a cutoff creates false dichotomies. And when false dichotomies are made, social biases come into play--as is the case with people with learning disabilities. Because we're so often faced with putting people in boxes, we tend to explain away anomalies for people with learning disabilities as a lack of intelligence, rather than what it really is--a different kind of intelligence.

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Rubin, L. H. (2009). The Difference: Growing up with a learning disability in a sighted world . New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing Inc.

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How would you define "smart"? Are there any areas where people with learning disabilities can show more creativity or innovation than others? Is there a danger in labeling someone as smart or intelligent? ...more notes Notes are private! recommender none votes 13 # times read 1 owned purchase location condition format Paperback actions view (with text)

checkbox position cover title What Reading Does for the Mind: The Science of Literary Experience author Smith, Kathryn A. isbn 0307366070 isbn13 9780307366073 asin num pages 547 pp avg rating 4.17 num ratings 3,839 Todd's rating really liked it my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves review This is about as in-depth an look at the enduring benefits literature has on the mind as I've seen. It basically covers all areas where som This is about as in-depth an look at the enduring benefits literature has on the mind as I've seen. It basically covers all areas where something that can be measured scientifically can be found. Considering how many different subjects are included (child development, education, neuroscience, language acquisition, etc.) this is a massive undertaking which comes together really well.


I've read in a recent Scientific American article that reading literature is better for your brain than watching television. I disagree with this; in fact, I think there's a lot of evidence that suggests the opposite is true. Consider the amount of focus required to read a book and keep up with what's going on vs. just sitting back and watching TV where you don't have to pay attention at all... not to mention all of the significantly more complex visual stimuli television provides. My opinion is that this is probably the reason why people report feeling "lighter" after reading a good novel vs. watching TV--because they're giving their brain more fuel to process new information and develop thought patterns in different areas that they might not be used to working with.


Additionally, it's been shown that reading literature helps you understand other literary works better; even if you don't read it in its original language, you're still left with a better understanding of the complexities of the prose and emotions being conveyed by the author.


The more I read about the benefits of reading, the more I want to increase my own. ...more notes Notes are private! recommender none votes 10 # times read 1 owned purchase location condition format Paperback actions view (with text)

checkbox position cover title The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference author Gladwell, Malcolm isbn 0385482199 isbn13 9780385482190 asin num pages 311 pp avg rating 4.14 num ratings 61,845 Todd's rating it was ok my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves review This book made me realize how much I've been getting wrong about how people get things. Have you ever noticed the "tipping point" where the This book made me realize how much I've been getting wrong about how people get things. Have you ever noticed the "tipping point" where the behavior starts becoming a trend? I think Malcolm Gladwell is probably right.


This is a good book to give you a wake up call about how much influence you have on the people around you. The key point is that you don't need to be smarter, better looking or more interesting than someone else to make them think in a certain way. You just need to make yourself into something that's worth paying attention to--whether it's an item at the dollar store or something as insipid as Snooki from the Jersey Shore.


The main thing I didn't like about this book is how it seems like Gladwell tries too hard to fit everything into his theory of how life works without being able to back them up enough with research or practical examples.

Conclusion: read it, but don't take everything in there as fact. ...more notes Notes are private! recommender none votes 10 # times read 1 owned purchase location condition format Paperback actions view (with text)

checkbox position cover title The Interpretation of Murder: A Novel author Perry, Rachel * isbn 0385523184 isbn13 9780385523188 asin num pages 404 pp avg rating 3.61 num ratings 9,145 Todd's rating really liked it my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves review This book is the first fictional novel I've read that teaches you how to think like a detective.

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