Intelligence tests are controversial, partly because they sometimes determine important aspects of people’s lives.

Intelligence tests are controversial, partly because they
sometimes determine important aspects of people’s lives. For example,
intelligence test scores have factored into determining school placement,
identifying giftedness, and diagnosing mental retardation and learning
disabilities. Even when an intelligence test shows that a child has normal
intelligence, there might be speculation of a learning disability due to him or
her falling behind in academic achievement. A child’s biology and environment
influences his or her academic achievement, as well. Children from different
cultures and socioeconomic status have diverse experiences, beliefs, and
attitudes that affect their academic achievement. There are also differences in
skills that caregivers emphasize during a child’s development that contribute
to a child’s school readiness, which influences intelligence and academic
achievement.
Intelligence and academic achievement are often used to determine
many aspects of a person’s life, including the diagnosis of a learning
disability. Most identifiers of learning disabilities are seen within the realm
of intelligence and achievement. The Individuals with Disabilities Education
Improvement Act of 2004 is an example of a federal mandate that allows for
identification of indicators of learning disabilities, such as limited response
to intervention or a meaningful discrepancy between a student’s intelligence
and achievement scores. When diagnosing a learning disability in determining a
child’s intelligence, a combination of indicators is more accurate than a
single test score.
For this Discussion, you will explore the differences between
intelligence and academic achievement (as opposed to other types of
achievement). You also will examine environmental and/or biological influences
on intelligence and academic achievement.
To prepare for this Discussion:
·
Review this week’s Learning Resources related to intelligence and
academic achievement and consider environmental and biological influences.
·
Select two influences: environmental and/or biological (you can
select two of either category or one of each) that have been associated with
intelligence and academic achievement.
By Day 4
Post an explanation of
the difference between intelligence and academic achievement. Then, briefly
describe the two environmental and/or biological influences you selected.
Explain the effects of each influence on intelligence and academic achievement.
Be specific and provide examples from your Learning Resources. Use proper APA
format and citations.

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