Don't rely on outdated intelligence tests

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Dear Dr. Fournier:My first-grade son has difficulty finishing school assignments in the required time. He seems to know the answers, but just doesn't finish in the same time as other children. His teacher allows him to bring some work home to finish, but his test grades are low because he isn't able to get through them. Because his semester grades were low, his teacher suggested we have him tested -- now my husband and I are in shock from the results. Our son was given the Weschler (Intelligence Scales for Children, or WISC) test and diagnosed with an extremely low IQ -- we were told he was a "slow learner." But this is not the child we know. Our son has always been able to figure out things that amaze us -- he does things with his toys that are creative and extraordinary. What do we do? ASSESSMENT Intelligence is the ability to learn new information or skills, and then apply them to new situations. Crystallized intelligence measures the facts and skills your child has learned, and fluid intelligence measures the ability to process information, solve problems, and ignore distractions. The more information your child retains and the more he can apply this knowledge to new situations, the higher his IQ.While the Weschler test is accepted by most teachers and administrators, there is a major deficiency with the test's metrics -- it was designed to test children educated for a 20th century workforce.In the old paradigm, crystallized intelligence was a major indicator of future success. But we can safely say that times have changed. Computer automation and less educated workforces in other countries have usurped these old jobs. Now and in the next 20 years, U.S. employers will want workers who can think creatively. Richard Florida, a leading researcher in employment environments, reports that "some 30 million Americans work in the creative economy, roughly a third of total employment."Teachers and parents would be wise to consider other methods of assessment for intelligence in the new economy. WHAT TO DOI would shred the test. We can no longer accept a measure that was formulated to assess workers for an isolated, industrial-based economy. Our world has changed and will continue to evolve at even faster rates. Other tests give more weight to fluid intelligence, and we should consider creating new avenues for testing as well.Ask the exam administrator to give a test that assesses both types of intelligence, with a focus on fluid intelligence. A testing instrument is only as good as its focus. Just because it is called an intelligence test doesn't mean it tests for the type of intelligence our children will need to survive and thrive in the future. Finally, nurture your son's creativity and encourage his development. If test administrators and school systems won't test and educate your child for the future, then the responsibility lies with you. Be a parent that understands your child's future role in the global economy. You too must undergo an education so that you can pass this knowledge on to your child. Success will not be measured by the facts he has memorized, but by his ability to use these facts to create new information and processes. Begin teaching this to your child now, and he will reap the benefits throughout his lifetime.(Write Dr. Yvonne Fournier, Fournier Learning Strategies Inc., 5900 Poplar, Memphis, Tenn. 38119. E-mail her at drfournier(at)hfhw.net)