Students commonly find the language of chemistry challenging and a barrier to developing understanding. This study investigated developments in chemical language understanding by a group of non-traditional students over the duration of a one year pre-undergraduate (Foundation) course at a UK university. The chemistry course was designed to include…

Study 1 explored associations between multiple measures of language and symbolic gesture development across ages 3 and 4; Study 2 measured more finely which aspects of language relate to the symbolic representation of actions with objects, and explored associations between symbolic gesture and general intellectual ability. Results showed…

A 2 1/2-DAY CONFERENCE WAS HELD TO EXPLORE AND ASSESS THE PROMISE OF A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF EXPRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE ARTS. TEN WELL-KNOWN ARTIST-TEACHERS AND 10 WELL-KNOWN BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS WERE INVITED. AS PRACTITIONERS THEY HAD OPERATED AS ARTISTS AND AS TEACHERS, OR AS SCIENTISTS WHO HAD DEALT WITH THE ARTS OR EXPRESSED INTEREST IN DOING…

Infants were exposed to symbolic gestures from their parents beginning at 11 months of age. In bimonthly interviews, mothers reported their infants' use of gestures and words. Results indicated a smaller but reliable difference between the onset of infants' use of symbolic gesture and the onset of their use of words than earlier research…

This longitudinal training study explored impact of social scaffolding on emergence of graphic symbol functioning and links among graphic, language, and play domains in symbolic development. Findings support view that graphic symbolic development can be influenced by cultural scaffolding, that more extensive training is needed early rather than…

Examines, through a longitudinal study, the temporal correspondences of 4 Japanese children, aged 7 to 11, in the attainment of specific milestones in play and language. All children proceeded through the same sequence of stages, but the rate of development was different depending on their environment. (34 references) (GLR)

This longitudinal study investigated the ways in which two groups of eight students used spreadsheets to represent and solve algebra problems and related this to their previous arithmetical experiences and evolving use of symbolic language. The spreadsheet environment supported students to move from specific to general thinking. Includes story…