The Role of Executive Functions for Dyadic Literacy Learning in Kindergarten

The current study used a dyadic and coconstructive approach to examine how to embed exercises that support executive functioning into early literacy instruction to empower its effects. Using a randomized controlled trial design with 100 children, we examined the effects of dyadic activities in which children scaffolded each other’s learning and behavior through structured questioning procedures. This group was contrasted with a control group whose dyads observed each other while working with the same literacy exercises and with a business-as-usual control group. Research Findings: Results showed that the experimental group showed greater progress in letter knowledge. Further analyses indicated that these results were mainly driven by children with higher levels of executive functions. Practice or Policy: These results suggest that young children are able to regulate each other’s learning behavior during preacademic exercises in dyadic contexts but may need more external control from a teacher when their executive function levels are low.     

Distinct Age‐Related Differences in Temporal Discounting and Risk Taking in Adolescents and Young Adults

Age‐related differences in temporal discounting (TD) and risk taking, and their association, were examined in adolescents and young adults (n = 337) aged 12–27 years. Since monetary rewards are typically used in TD and risk‐taking tasks, the association between monetary reward valuation and age and decision making in these tasks was explored as well. TD declined linearly with age, with a particularly sharp decline from 15 to 16 years. In contrast, risk taking was not correlated with age and TD. Reward valuation was not associated with TD and risk taking, and age‐related differences in TD remained significant after controlling for reward valuation. Together, these findings suggest that risk taking and TD are two separate constructs with distinct age‐related differences in adolescence and young adulthood.     

Students’ perception of frequent assessments and its relation to motivation and grades in a statistics course: a pilot study

This pilot study measures university students’ perceptions of graded frequent assessments in an obligatory statistics course using a novel questionnaire. Relations between perceptions of frequent assessments, intrinsic motivation and grades were also investigated. A factor analysis of the questionnaire revealed four factors, which were labelled value, formative function, positive effects and negative effects. The results showed that most students valued graded frequent assessments as a study motivator. A modest number of students experienced positive or negative effects from assessments and grades received. Less than half of the students used the results of frequent assessments in their learning process. The perception of negative effects (lower self-confidence and more stress) negatively mediated the relation between grades and intrinsic motivation. It is argued that communication with students regarding the purpose and benefits of frequent assessments could mitigate these negative effects.     

Two secondary teachers’ understanding and classroom practice of dialogic teaching: a case study

Dialogic Teaching (DT) is effective in fostering student learning; yet, it is hard to implement. Little research focused on secondary teachers’ learning of DT and on the link between teachers’ understanding and practices, although these two are usually strongly intertwined. Using a wide range of evidence, this case study systematically investigated and compared two secondary teachers’ understanding and practice of DT during their participation in a continuing professional development programme (CPDP). The CPDP appeared effective to some extent. The History teacher’s understanding of DT, i.e. being a co-learner, appeared highly effective in implementing DT, whereas the Mathematics teacher’s understanding of DT, i.e. creating a democratic learning environment, seemed only effective to some extent. Focusing on both teachers’ understanding and practice when developing DT seemed fruitful in explaining differences in practice. Future research could further explore to what extent understanding DT as being a co-learner facilitates professional development.     

Un enfoque genético del diagnóstico del razonamiento en una muestra de retrasados mentales

Resumen

El artículo pone de manifiesto la imposibilidad de evidenciar la estructura y la dinámica intelectual de un sujeto o de un grupo a través de una prueba de diagnóstico puramente empírica como el test de Terman.

Partiendo de la teoría psicogenética de J. Piaget, se han realizado transformaciones en dos ítems del test—«Discriminación de formas» y «Selección de objetos por el uso»—, que permiten un tratamiento clínico de los mismos. Los resultados obtenidos en una muestra de 8 sujetos deficientes mentales ponen de manifiesto la existencia de una organización cognitiva subyacente a los resultados puramente numéricos, así como la génesis que conduce a la construcción correcta de colecciones.