DP - Developing as a learner

Question 1

Brain development

Maturation theory

Answer 1

Brain development is the result of genetic mechanisms
Brain development and maturation occurs over time Interaction with the environment may promote or hinder this maturation process.

Question 2

BD Study #1
Chuggani

Answer 2

Aim: Research development of infants and young children
Method: PET scans to
determine areas of brain activity, by measuring glucose metabolism in different brain regions on babies and toddlers in different ages.
Findings:
- A baby’s brain develops neuronal connections from the back to the front
- Glucose metabolism in the brain of a newborn baby is 30% lower than that of adults.
- Window of opportunity –> 3-10 yrs old glucose metabolism,
and activity and neuronal growth, is 2x than in adult

Question 3

BD Study #2
Giedd

Answer 3

Participants: 95 males and 66 female
Method: MRI scans on healthy children using a longitudinal research design. Scans were every 2 years on children between 6 years and 20 years of age
Findings:
He found that 95% of the brain structure is formed when the child is around 5-6 y/o but areas in the prefrontal cortex start growing again in adolescence.

Question 4

Cognitive development

Piaget Theory

Answer 4

4 stages:
Sensory motor stage (0-2): Hear, smell, taste and touch. Develop habits. Learn to do things intentionally.
Pre-operational stage (2-7): Speak, understand words, symbols, play pretend (symbolic thinking) . Understanding how everything works →Intuative age.
Concrete operational stage (7-11): Logic, write, math, thoughts and feelings are unique =empathy.
Formal operational stage (12+): Abstract concepts, understanding of our own identity and morality, why people behave the way they do = become more compassionate, deductive reasoning, plan our live = know what you want.

Question 5

Piaget Study #1
Piaget and Inhelder

Egocentrism

Answer 5

Aim: Piaget and Inhelder (1956) wanted to find out at what age children decenter( no longer egocentric)
Method: The child sits at a table, presented in front are three mountains. The mountains were different, with snow on top of one, a hut on another and a red cross on top of the other. The child was allowed to walk round the model, to look at it, then sit down at one side. A doll is then placed at various positions of the table. The child is then shown 10 photographs of the mountains taken from different positions, and asked to indicate which showed the dolls view. Piaget assumed that if the child correctly picked out the card showing the doll’s view, s/he was not egocentric. Egocentrism would be shown by the child who picked out the card showing the view s/he saw.

Findings: Four year-olds almost always chose a picture that represented what they could see and showed no awareness that the doll’s view would be different from this. Six year-olds frequently chose a picture different from their own view but rarely chose the correct picture for the doll’s point of view. Only seven- and eight-year-olds consistently chose the correct picture.
Conclusion: At age 7, thinking is no longer egocentric as the child can see more than their own point of view.

Question 6

Cognitive Development

Vygostky

Answer 6

Main component: Social interaction (Culture, peer group, school, home environment, language opportunities, shared meanings with others.)

Question 7

Cognitive Development

Vygotski Study

Answer 7

Aim: Find out if children working in groups would learn more effectively than if they were working alone.
Participants: 90 high school students randomly allocated to one of three groups for a semester.
- Group 1: Half semester traditional lecture and half semester cooperative learning.
- Group 2:Half semester one cooperative group learning and half semester of traditional lecture.
- Group 3: Full semester of traditional instruction.
Results:
Groups 1 & 2 showed higher motivation than group 3. Motivation was at its highest during cooperative group part of instruction.
Both collaborative classes had higher achievement than in the control group (group 3). Group 2 (gracias zoe) experienced a slight decrease in achievement scores after they converted to a lecture format.
Limitations: The study measured motivation, not performance

Question 8

Piaget Study #2