The University of Choice

CHAPTER 2
Cognitive and Language Development

The University of Choice

Learning Goals
1. 2.

Define development and explain the main processes, periods, and issues in development. Discuss the development of the brain and compare the cognitive developmental theories of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Identify the key features of language, biological and environmental influences on language, and the typical growth of a childs language.

3.

The University of Choice

Cognitive and Language Development
An Overview of Child Development
Exploring What Development Is Development and Education

Processes and Periods

Developmental Issues

The University of Choice

An Overview of Child Development

Development: The pattern of biological, cognitive, and socioemotional changes that begins at conception and continues through the life span.

The University of Choice

PERIODS OF DEVELOPMENT INFANCY-18 TO 24 months EARLY CHILDHOOD-24 months to 5 yrs MIDDLE & LATE CHILDHOOD-6-11yrs ADOLESCENCE-12yrs-18 to 21 yrs

The University of Choice

Developmental Processes
Biological processes and genetic inheritance

Development of the brain Gains in height and weight Changes in motor skills Pubertys hormonal changes Changes in the childs thinking Intelligence Language acquisition

Cognitive processes

The University of Choice

Developmental Processes
Socioemotional processes

Changes in the childs relationships with other people Changes in personality

Developmental Issues

The University of Choice

Nature-Nurture Issue

Continuity-Discontinuity Issue
Early-Later Experience Issue

The University of Choice

Cognitive and Language Development
Cognitive Development

The Brain

Vygotskys Theory

Piagets Theory

Myelination

The University of Choice

Myelination increases the speed at which information travels through the nervous system.

Brain Lateralization

The University of Choice

the specialization of functions in each hemisphere of the brain. Verbal Processing

In most individuals, speech and grammar are localized in the left hemisphere.

Nonverbal Processing
Spatial perception, visual recognition, and emotion are localized in the right hemisphere.

The University of Choice

Piagets Cognitive Processes

Schemas Assimilation Accommodation Organization Equilibration Actions or mental representations that organize knowledge

Incorporating new information into existing schemas

Adjusting existing schemas to fit new information and experiences Grouping isolated behaviors and thoughts into a higher-order system A shift, a resolution of conflict to reach a balance

The University of Choice

Piagets Four Stages

Cognition unfolds in a sequence of four stages. Each stage is agerelated and distinctive. Each stage is discontinuous from and more advanced than the previous.

The University of Choice

Piagets Four Stages

The University of Choice

Piagets Sensorimotor Stagebirth to two yrs

Coordination of sensory experiences with motor actions. Object permanence involves the realization that objects continue to exist over time.

The University of Choice

Piagets Preoperational Stage

Symbolic Function Substage-2yrs to 4yrs

Symbolic Thought: Ability to represent mentally

an object that is not present; pretend play

Limitations:
Egocentrism: The inability to distinguish between
ones own perspective and someone elses perspective.

Animism: The belief that inanimate objects have

lifelike qualities and are capable of action.

The University of Choice

The Three Mountain Tasks

The University of Choice

Piagets Preoperational Stage

Intuitive Thought Substage -4yrs-7 yrs

Intuitive Thought rather than logical thinking Centration: Focuses on one characteristic to the
exclusion of others.

Lack of Conservation

Classification: Ability to classify objects according to only

one characteristic at a time.

The University of Choice

Conservation of Liquid

The University of Choice

Piagets Concrete Operational Stage7yrs-11yrs
Logical reasoning replaces intuitive reasoning, but only in concrete situations. Conservation
The idea that some characteristics of an object stay the same even though the object might change in appearance. Coordinate several characteristics rather than focus on a single property of an object. Order stimuli along some quantitative dimension. Combine relations to understand certain conclusions. If A>B, and B>C, then A>C.

Classification Seriation

Transitivity

The University of Choice

Hierarchical Classification
When shown a family tree of four generations, the concrete operational child can classify the members vertically, horizontally, and obliquely.

The University of Choice

Piagets Formal Operational Stage11yrs to 15 yrs

Abstract reasoning: Think in abstract, idealistic,
and logical ways.

Hypothetical-deductive reasoning: Ability to

develop hypotheses about ways to solve problems and systematically reach a conclusion.

Adolescent egocentrism: Heightened selfconsciousness and a sense of personal uniqueness.

Piagets Theory
Teaching Strategies

The University of Choice

Take a constructivist approach Facilitate rather than direct learning Consider the childs knowledge & level of thinking Promote the students intellectual health Turn the classroom into a setting of exploration & discovery

The University of Choice

Criticisms of Piagets Theory

Estimates of childrens competence Stages Training children to reason at a higher level Culture and education

Vygotskys Theory

The University of Choice

Zone of Proximal Development Scaffolding: Teacher adjusts the level of support as performance rises. Language and Thought: Develop independently of each other, then merge. Have external or social origins Self-talk

The University of Choice

Vygotskys Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
Tasks too difficult for child to master even with assistance

Tasks child can master alone

ZPD

The University of Choice

Zone of Proximal developmentUpper limit buds/flowers of development Lower limit fruits of development

ScaffoldingChanging level of support- as student competence increases less guidance is given.

The University of Choice

Language & thought
Private speech (self talk) transition from external to internal speech takes place between 3-7yrs; after a while self talk becomes minimal and they can act without verbalizing; hence this can be called as the transition of egocentric speech to inner speech which in turn are called our thoughts.

The University of Choice

Strategies for using Vygotskys theory

Assess the childs ZPD Use the childs ZPD for teachingWhat can I do to help you Use skilled peers as teachers Monitor & encourage childrens private speech Place instruction in a meaningful context (real world implications)

The University of Choice

Reflection & Observation

Reflection: Identify an experience in which a more competent person helped you learn something you were unable to do alone. How did this person scaffold your learning?

The University of Choice

Cognitive and Language Development

Language Development

What Is Language?

How Language Develops

Biological and Environmental Influences

Language is

The University of Choice

a form of communication, spoken, written, or signed, that is based on a system of symbols.

Phonology

Sound system of a language

Morphology
Syntax

Units of meaning involved in word formationRules for combining words into phrases/sentences--Bob was beaten by James

The University of Choice

Semantics Meaning of words and

sentences-girl and woman

Pragmatics Appropriate use of language

in different contexts-addressing
diff people according to age and relationship

The University of Choice

How Language Develops

Infancy-birth to 2 yrs

Babbling One two words

The University of Choice

How Language Develops

Early Childhood-2-5yrs Phonology Morphology Syntax Semantics Pragmatics
Sensitive to sounds, rhymes Overgeneralize rules (eg foot-foots) Complex rules for ordering words(where daddy is going?) 6-year-old: 8,000 to 14,000-word vocabulary Talk in different ways to different people

The University of Choice

How Language Develops

Middle & Late Childhood-6 to 11 yrs Alphabetic principle: letter-sound Phonology correspondence Morphology Syntax Semantics
Appropriate application of rule(categorizingdog/barks; eat/lunch.transforms to dog/cat & eat/drink)
Complex grammar; metalinguistic awarenessto think about their lang. understand what words are and even define them 12-year-old: 50,000-word vocabulary

Pragmatics

Culturally appropriate language use

The University of Choice

How Language Develops

Adolescence-12 yrs to adulthood

Increased sophistication in use of words Greater understanding of metaphors(implied comparison between unlike things), satire,(irony) and complex literary works Better writers Dialect includes jargon and slang

The University of Choice

Supporting Vocabulary Development Through Technology
Computers
Relate the new to the known Promote active, in-depth processing-learn meaning instead of
memorizing

Encourage reading

Audio Books Educational Television

The University of Choice

THANK YOU