30 Days to Better Thinking and Better Living Through Critical Thinking,Revised & Expanded: A Guide for Improving Every Aspect of Your Life. Elder,L., & Paul,R. (2013)

The recognition of patterns and creativity are two characteristics associated with mathematical talent. In this study, we analyzed these characteristics in a group of 37 mathematically talented students. The students were asked to find the pattern the Braille code had been built upon and reinvent it with the aim of making its mathematical language become more functional. Initially, the students were unable to identify the formation pattern of Braille, but after experiencing the difficulties that blind people face when reading it, they recognized the generating element and the regularity. The results were in contrast with those of a control group, and it is noted that the students with mathematical talent were more effective in using visualization to identify the regularity of the pattern and their invention proposals were more sophisticated and used less conventional mathematical content.     

A Tribute to Richard Paul

Recent research on the brain and how it functions indicate that education methodologies can be altered to expand a student's intellectual capacity.     

Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined. Kaufman,S. B. (2013)

Word Class is a method of modifying a spelling curriculum to meet the academic needs of gifted learners. This strategy combines a self‐selected approach to spelling instruction with thinking skills. Word Class enables gifted learners to make choices about their learning and engage in creative, high level thinking. It also teaches thinking skills and provides gifted learners with more authentic thinking and writing experiences.     

Implicit sequence learning in dyslexia: a within-sequence comparison of first- and higher-order information

The present study examines implicit sequence learning in adult dyslexics with a focus on comparing sequence transitions with different statistical complexities. Learning of a 12-item deterministic sequence was assessed in 12 dyslexic and 12 non-dyslexic university students. Both groups showed equivalent standard reaction time increments when the sequence was unexpectedly changed, suggesting that learning of the sequence took place. However, a novel analysis comparing transitions of differing complexity within the learning blocks indicated that dyslexic participants were impaired only for higher-order but not first-order sequence learning. No difference was found in the explicit awareness contribution between the two groups and this was found not to correlate with reaction time performance. This result suggests that statistical complexity of the sequence may account for intact and impaired learning performance in dyslexia.     

Development of an Instrument to Assess Student Opinions of the Quality of Distance Education Courses

This study describes the development of a learning process of genetic counseling and basic genetics using an e-learning model and its application to a group of psychologists in the state of Parana in southern Brazil. The aim was to analyze the impact on the increase of knowledge in the presented subjects and the possibility of applying this project on a larger scale. The results of two observations were compared. The observations consisted of scores on the same exams, applied before and after taking the course. Results indicated that the remote education process is indeed a viable alternative for genetic counseling education and is validated for application in large scale together with Centers for Family Health Care Assistance of the Brazilian Ministry of Health Care.     

Comparing effects of different writing activities on reading comprehension: A meta-analysis

The purposes of this review were to determine: (1) if different writing activities were more effective than others in improving students’ reading comprehension, and (2) if obtained differences among writing activities was related to how reading comprehension was measured? Meta-analysis was used to examine these questions across studies involving students in grades 1–12. Nineteen studies were located that met inclusion criteria, resulting in 4 writing activities comparisons with 4 or more studies per comparison: summary writing versus answering questions (k = 5), summary writing versus note taking (k = 7), answering questions versus note taking (k = 4), and answering questions versus extended writing activities (k = 6). Effect sizes calculated for each writing activities comparison indicated there were no statistically significant differences for any of these comparisons when effects were averaged over all reading comprehension measures, excluding treatment-inherent measures. However, statistically significant differences were found for two of the comparisons on specific measures. Extended writing enhanced reading comprehension better than question answering on measures where comprehension was assessed via an extended writing activity, whereas summary writing enhanced reading comprehension better than question answering on a free recall measure. The results provide limited support for the theoretical viewpoint that writing activities are differentially effective in improving reading comprehension based on how closely the writing activities are aligned with a particular measure.     

Science education and affect

Thought experiments are tools often used by physicists. Learning authentic physics then also means that students need to develop a familiarity with the reasoning processes of thought experiments. This study examines the nature of learning processes that involve communication about image‐based micro‐worlds in optics. The results of this study show that students’ investigations often have the structure of thought experiments. Thought experiments that use computer‐based microworlds are powerful because they capitalize on the human capability for imagery that allow learners to ‘see’ the physical processes and construct qualitative understandings. In this study, the structure of students’ activities as thought experiments arose from their collective efforts which started with the construction of an optics simulation. In the course of the activities, students’ understanding evolved from fragmented views of optical situations to system views that included multiple components. Collaborative thought experiments are therefore emergent phenomena, triggered by the events as a whole rather than being pre‐designed. In the course of the activities, students who participated in collective problem solving gradually adopted shared graphical representations and meanings.     

Action Research on Hybrid Courses and their Online Communities

English: This article reviews a study conducted to establish the psychological basis for user responses to digital videoconferencing. Left and right brain laterality and the demographic factors of age and gender were examined as possible predictors of user response. Behavioural and affective responses were measured in a small group of distance learners (n=60). Affective measure ‘A’ concerned user perception of equipment functionality and usefulness, and the intention to repeat the experience, whilst behavioural measure ‘B’ examined anxiety level and self-consciousness. Significant differences were observed between age groups with older participants expressing greater satisfaction with functionality and less anxiety overall. A lesser effect was observed between males and females with the latter reporting higher satisfaction levels and lower anxiety with the technology. No significant difference between left and right brain lateralities was observed.

Francais: Cet article rend compte d'une étude conduite pour établir la base psychologique pour les résponses des étudiants à la vidéoconférence digitale. On a pris en compte la latéralité gauche et droite du cerveau et les facteurs démographiques d'âge et de sexe afin d'essayer de mieux prévoir les réactions des usageurs. Les réponses concerenant les attitudes et les réactions affectives ont été mesurées chez un group limité d'étudiants à distance (n=60). La mesure affective ‘A’ concernait la perception de la fonctionalité de l'équipement et de son utlité, ainsi que l'intention de répéter l'experiénce, tandis que les mesures d'attitude ‘B’ examinait le niveau d'anxieté et de conscience de soi. Des différences significatives ont été observées entre les groupes d'âge, les participants plus âgés exprimant davantage leur satisfaction de l'équipement et faisant preuve de moins d'anxiété en général. Un effet moindre a été observé entre les hommes et les fammes, ces dernières étant plus satisfaites et étant moins anxieuses devant la technologie. Aucune difference significative entre les latéralités droite et gauche n'a été observée.

Deutsch: In diesem beitrag wird uber eine studie berichtet, die zur herstellung einer psychologischen basis für nutzerreaktionen auf digitales videoconferencing diente. Linke und rechte hirnhälften und der demographische faktor bezüglich alter und geschlecht wurden als mögliche voreinstellungen für das nutzerverhalten untersucht. Das verhalten und affektive reaktionen wurden in kleinen gruppen (N=60) von distance-lernern gemessen: die affektive messung ‘A’ bezog sich auf nutzereinsicht in die ausstattungsfunktionalität und - nützlichkeit sowie die einstellung zu einer wiederholung des experiments, während die verhaltensmessung ‘B’ angstlevel und selbstbewusstsein untersuchte. Signifikante unterschiede wurden festgestellt bei gruppen mit älteren teilnehmern mit höherer zufriedenheitsrate bei der funktionalität und weniger angstüberschuss. Ein geringerer effekt wurde zwischen frauen und männern beobachtet, wobei die ersteren uber höhere zufriedenheit und geringerer technologieangst berichteten. Kein signifikanter unterschied wurde zwischen der linken und der rechten gehirnhälfte beobachtet.