THE SYNTHESIZING MIND

According to Webster's Dictionary, the definition of synthesizing is:

"to form a material or abstract entity by combining parts or elements"

Stopping to think about this definition, I have come to realize that many of the curriculum that I employ require the students to synthesize information.  They must gather information from the realms of communication, construction, production, transportation and bio-technology to complete or explain how items work or how processes are completed.

I am going to use an example from my Architectural Modeling class that works well with synthesis.

Wait a minute!

Architecture is simply building, right?

How can you study multiple items in Architecture?

Aside from the obvious answer:  Masonry, carpentry, electrician, plumbing, etc. (the parts that make up a house), there are also the less considered. 

These can include finance, design, decor, safety, codes & inspection, home ownership, etc.

While this lesson within the class is only a "Searchlight" project, as opposed to a "Laser" project (ref. Gardner, laser vs. searchlight intelligence), it is still a good synthesizing project.

Of the many websites that I use for my Architecture, one which covers a diverse range of topics not actually dealing with the design of the structure itself is from Ginnie Mae.

Click on image to visit this site!

This website provides a veritable wealth of information and activities for students.  Not only in the sense of building a home (the architect), but also as a homeowner, a banker, and even an inspector.  In addition to being used as a technology project, it can also be adapted into economics, personal finance, business, home maintenance or even history curriculum. 

Let's explore!

As Gardner states, "One might even speculate that various forms of intelligence gravitate toward different forms of synthesis."  He then goes on to describe the linguistic, logical, spatial and kinesthetic minds, and how they synthesize differently.  This website can actually accommodate each of those types of minds...

COOL STORIES talks to the linguistic mind...



...BRAIN FOOD talks to the logical and/or spatial mind

...and the GAME CENTER provides a kinetic balance between stories and straight up facts. 

According to Gardner, there are four components that are at minimum required to obtain synthesis:

A goal  -  A starting point  -  A strategy  -  A feedback / result

I find this to be very similar to a systems flowchart which I use and require students to maintain on their projects:

 Using this system flowchart, as well as a targeted assignment (ex: "How do you obtain a mortgage?", "What are the benefits of home ownership?", "How do you calculate equity?"), students can synthesize the information in whichever format (linguistic, logical, spatial or kinetic) best suits their style.