Different types of hierarchies in the learning of mathematics and criteria by which they might be judged are examined. Current works on mathematical learning hierarchies are illustrated and in particular the work of the mathematics team of the research project "Concepts in Secondary School Mathematics and Science" is examined. (MP)

Suggests that future pedagogy should search for methods to develop conscious thinking and to connect detailed learning with creative, utility-oriented human activities. Different pedagogical forms should be applied to a greater extent in universities and ordinary adult education. (JOW)

The study suggests that developing greater facility in linguistic skills may well produce greater cognitive differentiation and enhance the process of objectification. (Author)

The Interactive Learning Model illustrates how we process information (cognition), perform learning tasks (conation), and develop a self when performing difficult learning tasks (affectation). Individuals approach learning tasks with varying degrees of sequence, precision, technical reasoning, and confluence. These ingredients are embedded in the…

Presents a model that describes how students reconstruct geological transformations over time. Defines the critical factors influencing reconstructive thinking: (1) the transformation scheme, which influences the other diachronic schemes; (2) knowledge of geological processes; and (3) extracognitive factors. (Author/KHR)

Asserts that several of the assumptions underlying Noam Chomsky's and W. V. O. Quine's theories of language acquisition and development are misleading or false. It is argued, among other things, that children do not "acquire" language, but rather learn how to participate in the linguistic community surrounding them. (99 references) (MDM)

Reviews Karmiloff-Smith's "Beyond Modularity," suggesting that her work highlights phenomena that seem counter intuitive when regarded from current developmental frameworks, and advocates that understanding them requires more complex perspectives than can be supported by either extreme nativist or domain-general models of cognitive…

This in-depth examination of a line explores several ways that the infinite nature and finite representation of a line can be perceived. These attempts to understand the nature of the line give insights into the nature of understanding itself. (MDH)

Evaluates two competing explanations for the phenomenon of cognitive triage, or the fact that easy-to-retrieve memories do not come to mind before hard-to-retrieve memories during recall. Reports experimental results that support an optimization model of recall rather than an effortful-processing model. (PAM)

Explores how a developmental framework can be used in teaching college students learning strategies. Suggests that a developmental framework can add to educators' effectiveness in assessing students' needs and providing appropriate instruction, as well as in showing them how to help students acquire academic literacy and learning strategies that…

Dual task procedures--elaborative strategy use and finger tapping--were used to examine both recall and mental effort demands of elaboration strategy use among second and third graders. Results indicated that boys and girls did not differ in recall of arbitrarily paired items, but for feminine pairs, girls recalled more than boys; for masculine…

Neuropsychology professor Steven Petersen describes what scientists are finding out about brain development, synaptic growth and wiring, intentional and incidental learning, the role of emotion in learning, and declarative and implicit memory systems. Neuroscience has only the broadest outline of principles to offer today's educators. (MLH)

Habituated 2-, 5-, and 8-month-olds to visual stimuli following statistically predictable pattern, then showed the familiar pattern alternating with novel sequence of identical stimuli. Found significantly greater interest in novel sequence at all ages. Results support likelihood of domain general statistical learning in infancy and imply that…

This research extends the range of domains within which children's gestures are found to play an important role in learning. The study involves children learning about balance, and the authors locate children's gestures within a relevant model of cognitive development--the representational redescription model (A. Karmiloff-Smith, 1992). The speech…

Three experiments examined children's knowledge of harmony in Western music. The children heard a series of chords followed by a final, target chord. In Experiment 1, French 6- and 11-year-olds judged whether the target was sung with the vowel /i/ or /u/. In Experiment 2, Australian 8- and 11-year-olds judged whether the target was played on a…