Your Family Clinic: The Structure of Intellect Model of Learning

During World War II, Dr. J.P. Guilford was called to help select future pilots for the Army’s rigorous training. Since World War II, the Structure of Intellect (SOI) has been used to measure abilities related to learning.

Bob and Mary Meeker have spent their lives developing the SOI and making it useful to everyone. Currently the SOI is being used for Gifted children, children with Learning Disorders, and adults with learning problems. A new company (Bridges Learning, Annapolis, Maryland (800) 639-4432) was created to take SOI to schools throughout the World. In the United States there are currently 200 schools with the SOI being offered to every student. Next year the number will be more.

Why is SOI spreading?

SOI is spreading because it works. It is probably the best method of enhancing learning abilities. It is the only remediation program that was developed based on a theory of intelligence (Guilford's Model). Most people and parents want to improve their ability to learn and help their children learn. SOI is probably the single most effective way to do this.

The SOI method is not tutoring. It is remediation. The first step involves being tested to determine your individual strengths and weaknesses on twenty six ability measures. Each measure or factor of ability is an important ability for learning. Weakness in any one of these factors means that some learning weakness will result. It is common to have at least one or two areas of weaknesses even when you make good grades in school. Children with learning disorders usually have several weaknesses but also several strengths. The results of the test will indicate what areas need to be improved and what areas need to be appreciated.

The next step is to complete remedial exercises to turn the weaknesses into strengths. SOI offers modules to be completed. After the completion of a module the area of low ability becomes an area of higher ability. Many areas require three modules to gain the skill. Some modules can be completed in an hour. Others require several hours of work.

An additional bonus to the SOI program is identifying activities that can be performed as part of everyday living and leisure that will improve learning abilities. For example, folding laundry will help a person who has problems categorizing things, a skill useful in math. Memory games such as concentration or Simon, will help strengthen memory abilities. Once you know what weakness you have, you can do specific things to turn that weakness into a strength. This is exciting to a wide variety of people. The word is spreading.

Where to find more information?

The Family Clinic can provide you with all the information that you need. We can train individuals on how to administer the SOI test and how to remediate areas of weakness in learning. If you live in an area where SOI trainers exist, we can give you a referral. Contact us by E-mail, if you have any questions.

You can also obtain more information though the following link:

SOI Headquarters in Vida, Oregon.

Another service the Family Clinic provides is offering Educational Products that can be purchased through Amazon Books. Most of the Educational Products has an SOI code so that if you have had the SOI test, you can see what products enhance which abilities. Stay tuned for additional pages dedicated to the SOI from the Family clinic.

For more information, check out our section on Neuro-Development We have sections on Attention Skills, Memory and Vision.

The top photograph was by Les Anderson on Unsplash. We are grateful.

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