Structure of Intellect (SOI) Theory
The Structure of Intellect model of human intelligence was developed by Dr. J. P. Guilford and, later, refined by one of his graduate students, Dr. Mary Meeker and her husband, statiscian Dr. Robert Meeker. (Robert Meeker also created one of the most successful reading programs for overcoming difficulties understanding symbols, called LOCAN.)
Structure of Intellect (SOI) Testing
The SOI Assessment is one of the most common assessments given at the McNatt Learning Center. While a HANDLE® Screening or HANDLE® Assessment gauges everyday learning efficiency, the Structure of Intellect Assessment measures ability and/or willingness to demonstrate learning capability at the time of testing. The SOI Assessment provides a baseline of intellectual performance, and it guides selection of training materials for use in tandem with many students' HANDLE® Programs.
Structure of Intellect (SOI) Training
Learners discover which thinking skills they most need to improve—and which they're strongest in—from an SOI Assessment. In addition to Structure of Intellect training booklets (called "SOI Modules") from SOI Systems, the McNatt Learning Center, Inc., often recommends a few training games for each learner as we explain a his or her SOI profile (at which time we also explain the three-letter abbreviations for SOI Abilities). Here are some of the resources we recommend, along with the abilities they train:
Board Games
Board Game Geek: Tons of information from board game enthusiasts about their favorite (and not so favorite) board games. Information on many of the unusual games used in the McNatt Learning Center, Inc., including links to computer versions, can be found here.
The Academic Games Leagues of America promotes Wff 'N Proof games, noted for their ability (by design) to keep every player involved at every moment of the game. This site also provides rule modifications of , which we use in the learning center, for various ages of students.
About.com's Board Game Pages: Another online board game headquarters.
OCTI and OCTI Extreme: Games often included in cognitive training programs due to unique ability to train NFI, OCTI and OCTI Extreme are great learning tools.
ICOSAGAME: One of Matthew's favorite childhood games, re-released and available from the learning center, ICOSAGAME is a great CFI training tool. Other good CFI training games include Fibonacci and Abalone. (Click here to explore Abalone variants.)
Trinity: A favorite EFT + EFI training game used in the learning center.
Proteus: A favorite EFI + NFC training game used in the learning center.
Plateau: Matthew's favorite board game, Plateau trains DFT and is available from the learning center.
Lexogon One (Grade School through High School) and Lexogon (Junior High through Adult): Excellent CMU + CSR Training games, the Lexogon series trains vocabulary, spelling, and critical thinking skills.
Internet Game Stores
Terrific Toy Catalog is a great resource for intelligence-building games, puzzles, and activity toys. Terrific Toy Catalog is selective—they carry good products—and very helpful. They even have online instructional videos!
Fun Again Games carries many European and abstract strategy games.
Are You Game? offers a wide selection of regular and educational games.
Live and Learn Speciality Game Catalog offers old fashoined wooden toys and unique educational games.
Computer Strategy Games &
Puzzles for Intelligence Training
(For older children who already get plenty of exercise and
real-life play)
Designs for Strong Minds Online Games: Online versions of visual thinking puzzles, similar to those used in Feuerstein's Instrumental Enrichment, with explanatory solutions to missed problems. Excellent!
Puzzle Beast: A collection of engaging, computer-generated puzzles.
Mind Medley: A collection of 16 mini-games to build memory and spatial reasoning skills. (Windows only)
Puzzle Parlor: Kadon Enterprises' online puzzle collection. (Kadon also manufacturers some great games, including Proteus, mentioned above.)
Computer Games for Particular
SOI Abilities
(For older children who already get plenty of exercise and
real-life play)
Follow the Square: Fine-motor, visual AFS Training. Just click on the square, and try to keep your mouse inside it while it moves. How many seconds can you last? Click "Recommencer" to play again.
Neko Puzzle Maze: Introductory EFS Training.
Aargon Deluxe: Intermediate to Advanced EFS Training, similar to the boardgame Khet.
Theseus and the Minotaur: Intermediate to Advanced NFS + EFS Training.
Chocolate Castle: Introductory NFC + EFT Training.
AlphaQUEUE: EFT Training (Highly Recommended).
Rotate Mania for PC or Rotate Mania for Mac: CFT+ NFT Training.
Zen Puzzle Garden: EFI Training—an excellent computer game!
Jigsaw Puzzle Player: CFU Training (Make your favorite pictures into jigsaw puzzles, and "work" them on your computer.
Tranquility: Relaxing CFS Training.
Norbyte "Tetris" Variations: CFT Training.
HextriX: CFT Training ("Tetris" with Hexagons).
Blue Dojo's Buboids: CFT Training (Challenging).
Runic One: CFT + NFT Training (Challenging).
Adventure Inlay: Safari Edition: NFT Training.
BreakQuest for PC or BreakQuest for Mac: CFS Training.
Sveers: MFR Training (Unfortunately fast and garish, but very entertaining).
Super Word Power Vocabulary Builder: CMU Training.
Super Text Twist: Great DSR Training. In many ways, a computerized version of the board game WordXchange. (A computerized version of Scrabble is also available.)
Super Letter Linker: Great CSR + CFS Training. In many ways, a computerized version of the board game Keesdrow.
Online Gaming Communities
Logic Mazes: Robert Abbott's collection of interactive mazes.
Super Duper Games: Computer versions of abstract strategy games.
Boardspace: Online versions of OCTI, Plateau, and the GIPF Project Games.
Mind Games: More computer versions of board games.
Free Origami Resource
3-D Papercraft Town: CFU + CFT Training.
Construction Toys
Cuboro Wooden Blocks & Marble Runs, available in the U.S. from Oh! Toys, provide hours of fun play and exceptional training in spatial awareness and cause-and-effect reasoning.
Zome is an excellent building toy for understanding mathematical shapes, planes, and rotations. Curriculum is also available for using Zome in science class to build models of molecules and to teach basic engineering principles.
LEGO is a classic construction toy that can build spatial reasoning and reading comprehension skills. (Some instructions for models can be quite complex!) LEGO Mindstorms robotics kits take the exploration and challenge to a whole new level, including interscholastic lego robotics teams and international competitions sponsored by the First Lego League.
Structure of Intellect (SOI) & Mediated Learning
Regardless of the materials used for training, the McNatt Learning Center, Inc., frequently uses an approach called "mediated learning" in training cognitive abilities, particularly evaluation. The principles of mediated learning were initially recognized and clarified by Dr. Reuven Feuerstein in a program called "Instrumental Enrichment," which presents learners a series of challenges that have undergone extensive longitudinal testing, which have been shown to increase I.Q., and which Matthew McNatt often uses with students in the learning center.
In mediated learning, a teacher/mentor guides a student as the student considers how to approach, remember, manipulate, evaluate, and create with different types of multi-faceted stimuli. Mediated learning cannot be reduced to "using workbooks." With mediated learning the primary interaction occurs through carefully selected learning challenges but, nevertheless, hinges on mentor-student interaction.
In being guided through each learning challenge, students experience success—sometimes a first when encountering a truly "tough" problem. Sometimes, students are guided to perceive the need to choose a different strategy when a strategy they have been using no longer seem effective. By learning how and when to use cognitive strategies and then repeatedly practicing their effective use, students develop the ability to guide and structure their own learning. These strategies, the capacity to shift between them, and the cognitive abilities needed to use them in diverse settings are all developed in our Cognitive Training.