Experts advocate new approach to human resources<\/p>\n
By Santi W.E. Soekanto<\/p>\n
UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): A leading scholar advocates
\nan overhaul of the approach to national human resource
\ndevelopment, proposing the use of newer concepts on intelligence
\nand cultural value systems.<\/p>\n
Iskandar Alisjahbana of the Bandung Institute of Technology
\nsaid yesterday that Indonesia should have the courage to start a
\nresource development program which directly utilizes the latest
\nunderstanding of the multiplicity of human intelligences.<\/p>\n
He also spoke of the need to use a curriculum based on new
\nconcepts of education, \"where self-exploration, interactive
\nmultimedia, networking, hands-on-skill training, teamwork,
\ndiversity...are basic components\".<\/p>\n
Speaking in the national convention on education, due to
\nfinish today, Alisjahbana referred to the concept of \"multiple
\nintelligences\" introduced in 1983 by American psychologist Howard
\nGardner.<\/p>\n
In his eponymous book, Gardner argued that the whole concept
\nof the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and of unitary views of
\nintelligence had to be challenged and replaced.<\/p>\n
\"Our society suffers from the bias of focusing on those human
\nabilities that are readily testable, believing that all the
\nanswers to a given problem lie in one kind of thinking, usually
\nlogic or math,\" Alisjahbana said.<\/p>\n
The old concept of intelligence, for instance, would rank a
\nIrianese child from the back of beyond low in the IQ scales,
\noriginally devised in a Western country and thus using cultural
\nparameters he is unfamiliar with.<\/p>\n
Gardner claims there are seven kinds of intelligence with
\nequal weight: linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical,
\nbodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal
\nintelligences. Using this model, a child who is able to navigate
\na boat using the stars is intelligent, even though he may be
\nunable to read.<\/p>\n
\"The purpose of human resource development should be to
\ndevelop intelligence and to help people reach their ideals,\"
\nAlisjahbana said.<\/p>\n
\"The ideal human resource development of the future could be
\nbased on the assumption that not all people have the same
\ninterests and not all of us learn in the same way,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Alisjahbana argued that the view of education is also
\nchanging, with more organizations linking learning to
\nproductivity.<\/p>\n
Instead of a one way information flow, such as a teacher
\naddressing a group of passive students, new teaching techniques
\nare two-way like the Internet, collaborative and
\ninterdisciplinary,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The result is increased flexibility, better retention and
\nlower cost,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He predicted that the old tradition of classroom lectures
\nwould soon give way to individual exploration. Individual work
\nwould be replaced by team learning, which can be made easier with
\nthe use of hi-tech media.<\/p>\n
The concept of the \"omniscient teacher\" can then be replaced
\nwith the teacher as guide, and homogeneity will yield to
\ndiversity.<\/p>\n
\"A keen observer will see some parallel trends and analogies
\nin these changing educational paradigms with the new idea of
\nmultiple intelligences,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Computer expert Dali S. Naga from the Teachers College in
\nJakarta, supported the wider use of sophisticated facilities,
\nsuch as computers.<\/p>\n
He cited a study conducted last year in Canada which showed
\nthat students benefit greatly from the use of the Internet. In
\nthe study, students were assigned to take up some scientific
\nprojects, display the results in their homepage in the Internet.<\/p>\n
Through the network, other schools around the world could
\naccess the homepage and pose questions and suggestions to the
\nstudents. \"A process of learning among those students from
\ndifferent countries then occurred,\" Dali said.<\/p>\n
He maintained, however, that use of computer technology must
\nnot take the \"human factor\" out of the learning process. \"The
\nprocess should combine human superiority with the superiority of
\ncomputer technology for a humane learning process,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"How to deal with the negative impact of computer technology?
\nLook at how we have been dealing with the negative impact TV has
\non our children,\" he said, pointing out that problems will always
\nexist and that people manage as best as they can.<\/p>",
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