Aiming for intelligence: A new conception of education based on the Pentad Model

There are numerous notions about the aims of education and these different perspectives often lead to confusion and conflict. The purpose of this thesis is to step back from these entrenched ideas in order to present a new conception: The aim for education should be to develop and maximize a comprehensive form of the remarkable intelligence that makes us so unique and capable. At present, this aim is not a focus of our educational systems in any real sense, and the social, economic, and environmental consequences of this shortcoming are becoming increasingly apparent. To further this aim, I developed the Pentad Model of Intelligence along with the associated concept of Environmental Intelligence (ENVI). This model describes intelligence in terms of i) an anatomical structure that ii) produces cognitive capacity that iii) can be directed towards multiple operations that iv) can be improved through numerous cognitive tools with v) the overall functioning being impacted by cognitive habits and beliefs. The Pentad Model provides a more complete view of intelligence than conventional conceptions and offers a useful guide for educational reform.