Examines the developmental stages or sensitive periods unique to the toddler. Discusses how Montessori practitioners can provide an environment supportive of these periods and encourage self-awareness. (HTH)

Investigated effects of characteristics of service-learning experiences on development of undergraduates. Participants (n=48) in service-learning courses and control students (n=48) wrote pre- and postresponses to social problems. Service-learning students made significant gains on certain cognitive dimensions and had significant increases in…

Explored whether there are changes with age in understanding the specific distinction between natural and human-made phenomena and whether an appreciation of this distinction influences children's beliefs about the possibility of altering or transforming different categories of objects. Found that this distinction, a powerful organizer for adults,…

Proposes a cognitive mechanism that makes forgiveness possible. Revises Piaget's theory that ideal reciprocity is the underlying cognitive operation that makes understanding and appreciation of forgiveness possible. Draws on modern philosophical inquiry, empirical study, and theory to argue instead that abstract identity provides--philosophically…

Results of a systematic investigation into university students' (n=236) misunderstandings of d.c. simple circuit operations are reported. These results provide evidence of various misconceptions present before and after teaching the following topics: a battery as a source of constant current; the functional relation expressed by Ohm's law; power…

An attempt to portray the nature of the learning task in university engineering courses is presented. Introductory courses are described first and are then compared to the upper level courses. Emphasis is put on three introductory courses to determine what skills students bring into the introductory course, what the learning task is, and how…

Alternative programs developed in early childhood education over the years, from Colonial church communities to Montessori to current developmentally appropriate practices, are reviewed. It is suggested that teachers with limited perspectives on curriculum may violate the various ways of young children's knowing. (LB)

A survey of 50 state language coordinators, conducted to examine criteria for determining which students with developmental delays will receive language services, found that decisions were primarily made on a case-by-case basis. The paper discusses the relationship between language and cognitive development and theories of cognitive development of…

In this study of sensitivity to viewpoint, children between the ages of 6 and 14 years were asked to draw an L-shaped array of 3 cubes from 1 of 3 views. At every age, children showed sensitivity to their view in the sense that there were consistent differences between the drawings produced in the three viewing conditions. (SH)

Discusses (1) the new perspective on children's capabilities provided by focus on discourse; (2) conversation with an older member of the culture as a context for development; (3) links between linguistic and cognitive development; and (4) children as a member of a culture from infancy onward. Developmental changes and problems in discourse study…

Presents results of longitudinal study of secondary school students. Focuses on the relationship between students' cognitive development and the understanding of dynamics. Shows that majority of younger pupils show little or no cognitive progress during three-year period whereas older pupils make reasonable progress. Concludes that different…

Examined the relation between contextual risk factors and IQ in children at risk for mental disorder. Maternal teaching style and children's performance on a Luria bulb-squeeze procedure and delayed-match-to-sample task added variance to the risk-IQ equation. Contextual risk was related to children's preschool IQ. (BC)

Examined third and seventh graders during dual tasks to estimate the mental effort required to elaborate accessible noun pairs. Findings indicated that the accessibility difference was limited to the third grade. Findings support a knowledge-base view of developmental differences in elaboration effort. (SH)

This article presents an overview of the literature on the cognitive hypothesis, which sees cognitive development as prerequisite to language development. It suggests that the cognitive hypothesis has had a significant influence on limiting eligibility of students with mental retardation for speech-language pathology services in schools.…

Development of 315 children and quality of their parents' marital relationship were evaluated when children were 3 and 24 months of age. Found marital discord at 3 months did not affect children's emotional well-being at 3 months or 24 months. Behavior problems increased and cognitive performance decreased for children whose parents' marital…