EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT ASPECTS OF THE SOMATIC INTELLIGENCE

Somatic intelligence is a type of human intelligence that includes self-regulation, emotional awareness, and listening to the body. Analyzing the scientific literature, it becomes clear that there are few theoretical works and empirical studies of somatic intelligence in Lithuania, but this does not mean the absence of discourse. Recently, the concept of somatic intelligence has been actively explored in the foreign scientific field using concepts such as somatic awareness, body awareness or interoceptive awareness; creating different models that enable detailing and structuring the concept of somatic intelligence; when constructing assessment systems (questionnaires). The concept of somatic intelligence, from a theoretical point of view, is a new and rarely studied phenomenon that requires in-depth research on a global and (especially) Lithuanian scale. Analyzing the research field of somatic intelligence, it was found that somatic intelligence is of interest to many researchers in various aspects related to the topic of kinesthetics: concept development and modelling, evaluation, education and management processes. The aim of the research – to reveal the features of kinestethic and sensory cognitive processes as the somatic intelligence parts in the educational management. The method of empirical research of the work is qualitative, which is based on phenomenological methodology. The qualitative research method (instrument) is a semi-structured individual interview. For the qualitative research, questions were prepared based on the model of somatic intelligence. The research results showed that, the somatic intelligence of primary school students in Klaipėda city formal education institutions is developed in a rather complex way. Methods and means of developing sensory intelligence include: creating a positive atmosphere, creating a sense of trust and security; the use of educational senses to create knowledge, cultural and environmental knowledge, training of critical thinking; involvement of students' and teacher's feelings, use of feelings for the development of critical thinking. Kinesthetic intelligence training methods include: training of fine and gross motor skills; methods and tools promoting discipline, methods and tools for overcoming stress and solving problems; physical involvement through role playing and other games. Research results related to other aspects of somatic intelligence (emotional and spiritual intelligence) will be presented in next article.