Multiple Intelligence Distribution of Prospective Teachers: The case at Yıldız Technical University

Abstract

The aim of this study is to find out whether intelligence distributions differ or not according to gender and departmental variables by determining the dominant intelligence (Multiple Intelligence) distributions of prospective teachers studying at Yıldız Technical University Education Faculty. The population of the research constitutes the prospective teachers majoring at Yıldız Technical University Education Faculty in 2014-2015 academic year. The study group contains a total of 254 prospective teachers selected by random cluster sampling method who have been educated in preschool teaching of primary education department (64 people), mathematics teaching (64 people), science teaching (92 people) and CITE (34 people). In this research conducted based on the screening model, Multiple Intelligence Scale developed by Çeliköz et al. (2008) and composed of 11 different situations and 88 questions was used in order to determine the dominant intelligence areas of the prospective teachers. According to the results obtained from the research, respectively the mathematical-logic, verbal, interpersonal and intrapersonal intelligences of YTU prospective teachers are found to be more dominant and their naturalist and visual intelligence are among the lowest intelligence areas. On the other hand, the sex of prospective teachers is an effective factor on the areas of intelligence and while females have more visual intelligence than males, males are more kinesthetic (bodily). The departments or branches in which the prospective teachers are educated also affect the dominant intelligence areas; Math-logic and bodily-kinesthetic intelligences of prospective teachers in the department of CITE and Mathematics are more dominant than prospective teachers in the department of preschool teaching. On the basis of the results obtained in the research, suggestions have been made for education system, higher education and learning-teaching processes.

Key words: Multiple intelligence theory, prospective teachers