Moral Education in Early Childhood: The Limits of Constructivism

Broadly speaking there are two polar views on moral education - traditionalism and progressivism. Traditionalists tend to believe that moral values are eternal and universal. They prioritize such “hard” virtues as discipline, courage, restraint, and obedience, and believe in directive behavioral instruction with meaningful consequences for rule-following and rule-breaking. Progressives, the dominant voice in early childhood education, believe that moral values are variable, dependent on social context. They prioritize such “soft” virtues as unselfishness, caring, generosity, and tolerance, and believe virtues are acquired in a “sociomoral environment” of nurturing adults who stress cooperative interchanges and minimal authority. While most programs, despite their “tilt”, acknowledge the need for a balance, they do not specify criteria for making the pedagogical decisions. Without such explicit criteria, a “strong” version of constructivism may demand more of children than they can deliver given their developmental limitations. Two criteria are suggested for determining when traditional methods may usefully supplement constructivist ones: First, one must decide if the matter at stake is a bottom-line non-negotiable value such that a child's dissension is unacceptable. Second, one must determine if the preschooler, given her cognitive egocentricity, moral realism, and “romancing of reality” can make a rational (decentered) choice. There follows a more detailed discussion of blended approaches (traditional and constructivist) within the overall goal of helping children build a moral identity.     

Moral Education in Early Childhood: The Limits of Constructivism

Broadly speaking there are two polar views on moral education - traditionalism and progressivism. Traditionalists tend to believe that moral values are eternal and universal. They prioritize such "hard" virtues as discipline, courage, restraint, and obedience, and believe in directive behavioral instruction with meaningful consequences for rule-following and rule-breaking. Progressives, the dominant voice in early childhood education, believe that moral values are variable, dependent on social context. They prioritize such "soft" virtues as unselfishness, caring, generosity, and tolerance, and believe virtues are acquired in a "sociomoral environment" of nurturing adults who stress cooperative interchanges and minimal authority. While most programs, despite their "tilt," acknowledge the need for a balance, they do not specify criteria for making the pedagogical decisions. Without such explicit criteria, a "strong" version of constructivism may demand more of children than they can deliver given their developmental limitations. Two criteria are suggested for determining when traditional methods may usefully supplement constructivist ones: First, one must decide if the matter at stake is a bottom-line non-negotiable value such that a child's dissension is unacceptable. Second, one must determine if the preschooler, given her cognitive egocentricity, moral realism, and "romancing of reality" can make a rational (decentered) choice. There follows a more detailed discussion of blended approaches (traditional and constructivist) within the overall goal of helping children build a moral identity.     

皮尔士与量词

量词是逻辑学尤其是现代逻辑中的一个核心概念,在逻辑分析和语言分析中有着特别的重要性,不少人认为是弗雷格首次给出了量词的现代逻辑意义,但事实上皮尔士对于量词有着更为清晰、深刻的理解和表述。他提出了代数和图表的两种表现形式、而且还给出了量词的深刻的指号学语境。     

Metacognition and Self-Regulation in James,Piaget, and Vygotsky

This article investigates the intertwined constructs of metacognition and self-regulation as they emerge in the works and theories of James, Piaget, and Vygotsky. To coordinate this exploration, we use an interpretive framework based on the relation of subject and object. In this framework, James’s perspective on metacognition and self-regulation is aligned with the Self, Piaget’s with the other and object, and Vygotsky’s with the medium or agency of language. We explore how metacognition and self-regulation function within the realm of human behavior and development as described in the works of each of these theorists. Key questions or issues that emerge for current research are outlined, and the limitations and benefits of each theorist’s perspective vis-à-vis metacognition and self-regulation are discussed.     

Belief,Doubt and Reason: C. S. Peirce on education

In this paper, we explore Peirce's work for insights into a theory of learning and cognition for education. Our focus for this exploration is Peirce's paper The Fixation of Belief (FOB), originally published in 1877 in Popular Science Monthly. We begin by examining Peirce's assertion that the study of logic is essential for understanding thought and reasoning. We explicate Peirce's view of the nature of reasoning itself—the characteristic guiding principles or ‘habits of mind’ that underlie acts of inference, the dimensions of and interaction between doubt and belief, and his four methods of resolving or ‘fixing’ belief (i.e., tenacity, authority, a priori, and experimentation). The four methods are then juxtaposed against current models of teaching and learning such as constructivism, schema theory, situated cognition, and inquiry learning. Finally, we discuss Peirce's modes of inference as they relate educationally to the resolution of doubt and beliefs and offer an example of belief resolution from an experienced teacher in a professional development environment.     

从记法的观点看逻辑:皮尔士论系词

在某种意义上，逻辑学就是推理的记法体系，记法的不断改进显著推动了逻辑学的发展，特别是现代逻辑的诞生。作为一位终生致力于逻辑记法研究的伟大逻辑学家，皮尔士对于系词记法处理上的持续探索，最为典型地展现了他对于现代逻辑诞生和发展所作出的重要贡献。     

皮亚杰与维果斯基知识建构观的比较

皮亚杰的认知建构论与维果斯基的心理发展理论都深刻影响着建构主义理论的形成和发展。本文在分析两种理论的基础上,对两者的知识建构观进行了深入的比较,并进一步阐释了它们对于教育实践活动的指导意义和作用。     

Piaget, Meet Lilly: Understanding Child Development through Picture Book Characters

Picture books appeal to readers of all ages for many different reasons. As instructors of child development, we use them as one strategy to help students conceptualize the physical, cognitive, and socioemotional growth of children. We use picture books to introduce principles, explain vocabulary, and encourage students to make connections between theory and practice in early childhood education. In this article, we provide examples of picture books that can be used to understand children from infancy (birth–2 years) to early childhood (2–6 years). Twenty-four suggested titles accurately narrate and illustrate early development.     

康德与现代性

康德是近代向现代转变的一个重要转折点.康德的思想,一方面是这种现代性转变的产物,另一方面又是这种转变的推动力.文章拟从同一性原则的崩溃、人类主体性的确立、审美自律与审美现代性这三个方面来论述康德思想与现代性的关系.