Visual-proprioceptive intermodal perception using point light displays

Three experiments explored 5- and 7-month-old infants' intermodal coordination of proprioceptive information produced by leg movements, and visual movement information specifying these same motions. The visual information took the form of point light information for leg and feet movements, with visual displays presented in upright, ego-centered on-joint (Experiment 1, N = 48); upright, ego-centered off-joint (Experiment 2, N = 48); and inverted, observer-centered off-joint (Experiment 3, N = 48) orientations. Measures of preferential looking indicated intermodal perception in infants of both ages while seeing on-joint, ego-centered orientations, and for 7-month-olds (and possibly 5-month-olds) while seeing off-joint, ego-centered displays; neither age group demonstrated intermodal perception for off-joint, observer-centered displays. These results suggest that coordination of visual and proprioceptive inputs is constrained by infants' information processing of the displays, and have implications for infants' growing understanding of their self-movement and the development of knowledge of the self.     

‘The conference was awesome’: social justice and a mathematics teacher conference

Professional development comes in many forms, some of which are deemed more useful than others. However, when groups of teachers are excluded, or exclude themselves, from professional development opportunities, then there is an issue of social justice. This article examines the experiences of a group of teachers from a Māori-medium school who attended a mathematics teacher conference. By analysing the teachers’ sense of belonging through their ideas about engagement, alignment and imagination, we are able to describe how different kinds of relationships influence the inclusion/exclusion process. This leads to a discussion about what can be done by the teachers as well as conference organisers to increase these teachers’ likelihood of attending further conferences in the future.