A course is described that is designed to encourage exploration, conceptual invention, and expansion of an idea. Results are given that relate to curricular experimentation with chemistry. (SA)

Research shows the close relationship between cognitive development and changes in moral judgments. This relationship explains some of the crises of mid-life career change. (Author)

The traditional concept of work-study programs as a lower-class, menial task, rote-learning program is undemocratic and nonproductive in terms of developmental growth and should be restructured to provide interactional cognitive development and a broad range of career option experience to all students. (MB)

Reexamines Yoruba children from educated and traditional families after five years, finding that those growing up in a privileged environment showed increasingly superior mental scores. (Author/JM)

Examined role of linguistic demarcation of numerals on cognitive representations of numbers with Caucasian children, 5-7 years old. Theorized that the linguistic paradigm does not always support the idea that language affects number concepts and that children's performance is shaped by other constraints. Results suggest that the task reflects…

The Early Childhood Project is a longitudinal investigation of contexts in which children from different sociocultural groups learn to read. Data collected from 41 families showed some consistency between parental beliefs on fostering reading development (entertainment versus skills perspective) and nature of experiences made available to…

Compared the use of microcomputers, providing either substantial or minimal scaffolding, to traditional resources on preschoolers' cognitive development over eight weeks. Found that computer assisted instruction software increased verbal and language skills, but not math skills, and only as a function of substantial scaffolding. Software with…

Considers the role of evolution and natural selection in the functioning of the modern human brain. Natural selection equipped humans with a mental toolbox of intuitive theories about the world which were used to master rocks, tools, plants, animals, and one another. The same toolbox is used today to master the intellectual challenges of modern…

Investigates the perceptions of first-year, undergraduate women at 23 two- and four-year colleges. Results indicate several negative relationships between perceived chilly climates and women's cognitive growth. Negative relationships were more pronounced for women attending two-year colleges than for their counterparts at four-year institutions.…

Rehabilitates teaching techniques that exploit both the meaning-driven and form-focused potential of reformulation and reconstruction tasks in English-as-a-Second-Language classes. Argues that the potential for focusing learners' attention on form has received little attention in instruction models. (30 references) (Author/CK)

Presents a model for understanding children's formation of schemas of self, other, and how self and other do and should communicate emotion. Attributes important roles to families' tendencies to display or not display emotion and to their rules regarding desirability and importance of communicating emotion. Notes that child characteristics and…

Reviews studies comparing short- and long-term effects of language-based socially and cognitively interactive play enrichment in day care and the home during infancy. Found that both day care and home children experiencing intervention advanced to high levels of language and cognitive functioning compared to control children. Advantages of home…

Claims that role play has a crucial role in early childhood education. Discusses the essence of play, child development, and the concept of frame play, whereby children and teachers plan and play together. Provides two examples of frame play and discusses their educational implications. (MOK)

Notes the differences between kindergarten and first grade in terms of children's learning styles and curriculum. Points out that play can be useful in kindergarten and also first-grade classrooms. Suggests the use of child-initiated learning centers to provide age-appropriate and individually appropriate activities. Gives examples of…

Describes research on brain development and its relationship to music education. Discusses how music helps some people organize the way they think and work and how music helps them develop in other areas, including mathematics, language, and spatial reasoning. (10 references) (LMI)