Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2009. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: A, page: . Advisers: Jose Ignacio Hualde; Peter S. Golato. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-156) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Psy.D.)--Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2001. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 62-01, Section: B, page: 0597. Chairperson: Judith Kaufman. Available also in print.

Magister Educationis - MEd / In this study I researched the effectiveness of a ‘Thinking Schools’ initiative at a local primary school between April 2010 and September 2011. I looked at how the school began the journey, what has changed in the school, the contextual factors that have influenced the process and what has sustained the school’s progress. As background to the study I discuss the importance and relevance of learned intelligence as explained by Vygotsky, thinking skills and cognitive education, and the whole school approach as opposed to individual teacher initiatives, as introduced by Burden in the United Kingdom. A local adaptation of Lipman’s ‘Philosophy for Children’ was the focus of this study, as it was chosen by the school as the starting point on their road to becoming a Thinking School. A qualitative research approach was used, using a constructivist paradigm and case study methodology, following the guidelines established by Stake (1995) and Yin (2003). The participants included the principal, together with selected teachers and learners and a curriculum advisor. Data collection took the form of interviews and a rating scale. The study found positive changes in teacher and learner thinking, supported by the ethos and stability of the school environment. The major challenge was that not all stakeholders were involved.

El presente proyecto empresarial consiste en la comercialización de kits educativos para niños en edad inicial, inicialmente ubicados en Lima metropolitana. Estos Kits constan de juguetes didácticos y clases por medio de nuestra plataforma virtual llamada Jugando Ando. El motivo por el cual estamos llevando este proyecto a cabo es porque hemos detectado que en este último siglo la tecnología se ha vuelto un eje importante para nuestras vidas, sobre todo para los niños que forman parte de la nueva generación Alpha. Generación compuesta por nativos digitales que ven en la tecnología como una manera de ver el mundo. Por este motivo, si bien los medios tecnológicos dentro del núcleo familiar son considerados como un distractor para ellos, podrían ser de gran importancia como medio de enseñanza para su desarrollo. Por ese motivo, deseamos contribuir al brindar contenido educativo de calidad a través de internet y así con ello poder generar mayor demanda en el mercado. En este sentido, para llevar a cabo este cometido e iniciar nuestro negocio contamos con capital propio, sin embargo, requeriremos de un accionista inversor que cubra el 16.67% del total de las acciones con un monto de 19,367 soles. Tal monto estará destinado como inyector de capital para los próximos periodos según el incremento de ventas. Creemos que nuestro proyecto tendrá el éxito deseado porque según nuestros análisis, este es atractivamente rentable para los accionistas. De igual manera, porque Jugando Ando se mantendrá en constante innovación con nuestros servicios y lanzamientos de nuevos productos. / This business project consists of the commercialization of educational kits for children of the initial age, initially located in metropolitan Lima. These Kits consist of educational toys and classes through our virtual platform called Jugando Ando. The reason why we are carrying out this project is because we have found that in the last century technology has become an important axis in our lives, especially for children who are part of the new Alpha generation. Generation is made up of digital natives who see technology as a way of seeing the world. For this reason, although technological means within the family nucleus are considered a distraction for them, they could be of great importance as a means of teaching for their development. For this reason, we want to contribute by providing quality educational content through the internet and thus be able to generate greater demand in the market. In this sense, to carry out this task and start our business we have our own capital, however we will require an investor shareholder that covers 16.67% of the total shares with an amount of s/ 19,367 soles. This amount will be used as a capital injector for the next period according to the sales grow. We believe that our project will be successful because according to our analysis, it is attractively profitable for shareholders. And, because Jugando Ando will keep in constant innovation with our services and new product launches. / Trabajo de investigación

Text in Afrikaans / Die huidige onderwyssituasie in Suid-Afrika bied 'n uitdaging om te besin oor die relevansie van bestaande kurrikulurninhoude. 'n Paradigmaverskuiwing is nodig om aan alle leerders die geleentheid te bied om hulle leerpotensiaal te optimaliseer. Hierdie studie fokus op 'n paradigmaverskuiwing in preprimere onderwys. Die verslag van die studie begin met 'n literatuurstudie wat vanuit 'n opvoedkundig-sielkundige en neurosielkundige perspektief fokus op toereik.ende leer. Die uitkoms van hierdie fokus toon die volgende kemaspekte: Kognitiewe en metakognitiewe vaardighede is 'n voorvereiste. Die opvoeder se rol as begeleier is van kardinale belang. Kognitiewe vaardighede stel die leerder in staat om sy eie logiese denksisteem te konstrueer. Die intrinsieke motivering van die leerder tot deelname aan die leerhandeling is belangrik. Neurologiese gereedheid, wat onder andere hemisferiese integrasie sowel as inter- en intrasensoriese integrasieprosesse behels, is 'n voorvereiste vir toereikende leer. Vir die opvoedkundige sielkundige wat horn ten doel stel om hierdie kognitiewe benadering tot toereikende leer in die praktyk toe te pas, is dit nodig om ontoereikende kognitiewe funksionering te identifiseer. Daar is in hierdie studie gepoog om 'n werkswyse vir die identifi.sering van ontoereikende kognitiewe funksies daar te stel aan die hand van die Junior Suid Afrikaanse Individuele Skaal. 'n Onderrigmodel wat voorsiening maak vir die ontwikkeling van kognitiewe vaardighede en neurologiese gereedheid is voorgestel. Die onderrigmodel behels die integrering van die "Bright Stan Cognitive Curriculum" van Carl Haywood en Paul Dennison se "Brain Gym" in die normale dagprogram van preprimere onderwys. Die empiriese navorsing is daarop gemik om vas te stel of dit moontlik is om die onderrigmodel in die normale dagprogram te implementeer, aangesien dit 'n bydrae sal lewer tot algemene praktykverbetering en die optimalisering van die leerpotensiaal van elke voorskoolse leerder. 'n Uiteensetting van die navorsingsontwerp en data-analise is verskaf en uit die empiriese studie kan gekonkludeer word dat die program, met noodwendige aanpassings aan die bestaande preprimere dagprogram en ook die onderrigmodel, wel 'n positiewe bydrae sal maak tot praktykverbetering en die optimalisering van die leerpotensiaal van die skoolbeginner. Hierdie aanpassings wat juis die paradigmaverskuiwing behels, is vervat in die aanbevelings wat uit hierdie studie voortvloei. / The present situation in education in South Africa offers a challenge to consider the relevance of existing curricula. A paradigm shift is necessary to provide all learners with the opportunity to optimise their learning potential. This study focuses on a paradigm shift in preprimary education. The report of the study commences with a theory framework from an educational and neuro-psychological viewpoint that focuses on effective learning. The key concepts that emerged from this study were the following: Cognitive and metacognitive skills are prerequisite to effective learning. The educator's role as mediator is of cardinal importance. Cognitive skills enable the learner to construct his own logic system for effective learning. Intrinsic motivation of the learner towards participation in the learning process is important. Neurological readiness for learning including among other aspects, the intra- and intersensory as well as hemispheric integration, is fundamental to effective learning. For the educational psychologist wishing to apply this cognitive approach to effective learning, it is necessary to be able to identify cognitive dysfunctioning. In this study an attempt is made to establish a methodology for the identification of cognitive dysfunctioning using the Junior South African Individual Scale. An educational model making provision for the development of cognitive skills and neurological readiness is proposed. This model involves the integration of "Bright Stan Cognitive Curriculum" by Carl Haywood .and "Brain Gym" by Paul Dennison into the normal preschool programme. The empirical research is intended to determine the feasibility of implementing this educational model within the existing preschool programme. A presentation of the research design and the data analysis is included in the study. From the results of the research it can be concluded that, with approriate adaption of the existing pre-primary programme and the educational model, the programme would make a positive contribution to an enhanced curriculum and thereby also the optimisation of the learning potential of the schoolbeginner. The required adaptions that will result in a paradigm shift are included in the recommendations arising from this study. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

A Sociedade e o mercado de trabalho exigem de cidadãos e trabalhadores, nos últimos tempos, um perfil de desempenho diferente daquele até então aceito. As principais carências do trabalhador dizem respeito, dentre outras necessidades, ao desempenho de certas competências pessoais e a melhoria do funcionamento cognitivo. As escolas, responsáveis pela preparação dessas pessoas para viver em Sociedade - o que inclui a preparação para o mundo do trabalho - não costumam realizar ações educacionais intencionais na direção da melhoria do desenvolvimento cognitivo de seus alunos. O foco do presente estudo está na possibilidade da Escola realizar intencionalmente o desenvolvimento cognitivo de estudantes, futuros trabalhadores. utilizando um programa já existente, criado e estruturado para essa finalidade por Reuven Feuerstein. No final da década de 1940, coube a Feuerstein a tarefa de educar centenas de crianças e jovens, órfãos da guerra, para que se tornassem cidadãos autônomos e produtivos. Diante da necessidade real de modificar o desempenho cognitivo e resgatar a cidadania dessas pessoas, Feuerstein criou - a partir de sua visão de mundo, de um conjunto de crenças por ele estabelecido e de sua experiência - duas teorias: Modificabilidade Cognitiva Estrutural e Experiência de Aprendizagem Mediada e três sistemas inter-relacionados, ou seja, um sistema de avaliação: Avaliação Dinâmica do Potencial de Aprendizagem, um sistema de intervenção: Programa de Enriquecimento Instrumental e um sistema de manutenção: Modelagem de Ambientes Modificadores. Avaliar o efeito do primeiro nível do Programa de Enriquecimento Instrumental (PEI I) no desenvolvimento cognitivo de estudantes da 3ª série de Escolas pública ou privada de Ensino Médio é o objetivo amplo desse trabalho. Em resumo, foram envolvidos no projeto 96 estudantes (54 rapazes e 42 moças) de duas Escolas de Ensino Médio: uma privada e outra pública. Sessenta e sete desses alunos participaram dos grupos experimentais que se submeteram ao PEI I e as outras 29 pessoas integraram grupos de controle, não participando, portanto, da aplicação do Programa. Todos os estudantes participaram de uma avaliação inicial diante de seis instrumentos, sendo que alguns deles permitiam avaliação dinâmica. Da análise dos resultados dos instrumentos, que envolviam avaliação dinâmica, foram levantadas necessidades e estabelecidos procedimentos de intervenção. Os alunos dos grupos experimentais foram submetidos ao primeiro nível do Programa de Enriquecimento Instrumental (PEI I). Durante a aplicação do PEI I, alunos participaram de avaliação intermediária, realizada a partir da aplicação de instrumento de avaliação e ou de questionário para levantamento da percepção dos estudantes sobre o PEI. Finalmente, todos os participantes foram submetidos a uma avaliação final. Os resultados foram analisados de forma descritiva e estatística. Os testes U ou de Mann- Whitney e o teste t de Student foram utilizados para indicar semelhanças e diferenças prováveis entre os desempenhos dos grupos de alunos. A partir da discussão desses resultados foram montadas proposições que justificaram as seguintes conclusões: A modificabilidade cognitiva estrutural dos estudantes dos grupos experimentais foi ampliada. O desenvolvimento cognitivo demonstrado pelos estudantes dos grupos experimentais foi maior que o desempenho cognitivo demonstrado pelos alunos do grupo de controle. / In the recent past, both society and labour market are demanding from citizens a performance far different from those accept until then. The major lacks of workers may concern, among others, to the development of specific personal competences and to the improve of the cognitive process. Schools, responsible for the preparation for life in society - including the life in the labour market - don\'t usually take intentional educational actions aiming the improve of the cognitive development of their students. The focus of the present study is mainly on analyzing the possibility of Schools to make an intentional effort to develop student\'s cognitive habilities, future workers, using a preexisting program created and structured for this meaning by Reuven Feuerstein. In the late 40\'s, Feurstein took the task of teaching hundreds of children and teenagers, war orphan children, to become autonomous and productive citizens. Facing the real need of improving their cognitive habilities and rescuing their citizenship, Feuerstein came up - using his own wide world perception, personal beliefs and experience - with two theories: Structural Cognitive Modifiability (SCM) and Mediated Learning Experience (MLE) and three interrelated systems, or an evaluation system: Learning Potential Assesment Device (LPAD), an interventional system: Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) and a maintenance system: Shaping Modifying Environments (ME). The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effect of the first level of the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE I) on 3rd grade public or private High School student\'s cognitive development. Summing up, there were 96 students involved in this project (54 boys and 42 girls) from two different High Schools: one private and one public. Sixty seven of these students were placed on experimental groups that were submitted to FIE I and the other 29 kids took part on control groups, staying away from the program application. All the students participated on an initial evaluation, facing six instruments, some of then allowing a dynamic evaluation. From the instrument result analysys, needs were raised and intervention procedures were established. The students\'s experimental group was submitted to the first level of the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE I). During its application, the students had an intermediary evaluation, made by the application of the evaluation instrument and by a questionnaire to measure the student\'s level of perception about the (FIE I). Finally, all the participants were submitted to a final evaluation. The results were analyzed in a descriptive statistical way. The U or Mann-Whitney tests and the t for Student test were used to indicate probable similarities and differences among the student\'s groups performances. From its discussion were put together propositions to justify the following conclusions: The student\'s experimental group structural cognitive modifiability was raised. The cognitive development shown by the student\'s experimental group was higher than the cognitive performance shown by the student\'s control group.

Text in Afrikaans / Die huidige onderwyssituasie in Suid-Afrika bied 'n uitdaging om te besin oor die relevansie van bestaande kurrikulurninhoude. 'n Paradigmaverskuiwing is nodig om aan alle leerders die geleentheid te bied om hulle leerpotensiaal te optimaliseer. Hierdie studie fokus op 'n paradigmaverskuiwing in preprimere onderwys. Die verslag van die studie begin met 'n literatuurstudie wat vanuit 'n opvoedkundig-sielkundige en neurosielkundige perspektief fokus op toereik.ende leer. Die uitkoms van hierdie fokus toon die volgende kemaspekte: Kognitiewe en metakognitiewe vaardighede is 'n voorvereiste. Die opvoeder se rol as begeleier is van kardinale belang. Kognitiewe vaardighede stel die leerder in staat om sy eie logiese denksisteem te konstrueer. Die intrinsieke motivering van die leerder tot deelname aan die leerhandeling is belangrik. Neurologiese gereedheid, wat onder andere hemisferiese integrasie sowel as inter- en intrasensoriese integrasieprosesse behels, is 'n voorvereiste vir toereikende leer. Vir die opvoedkundige sielkundige wat horn ten doel stel om hierdie kognitiewe benadering tot toereikende leer in die praktyk toe te pas, is dit nodig om ontoereikende kognitiewe funksionering te identifiseer. Daar is in hierdie studie gepoog om 'n werkswyse vir die identifi.sering van ontoereikende kognitiewe funksies daar te stel aan die hand van die Junior Suid Afrikaanse Individuele Skaal. 'n Onderrigmodel wat voorsiening maak vir die ontwikkeling van kognitiewe vaardighede en neurologiese gereedheid is voorgestel. Die onderrigmodel behels die integrering van die "Bright Stan Cognitive Curriculum" van Carl Haywood en Paul Dennison se "Brain Gym" in die normale dagprogram van preprimere onderwys. Die empiriese navorsing is daarop gemik om vas te stel of dit moontlik is om die onderrigmodel in die normale dagprogram te implementeer, aangesien dit 'n bydrae sal lewer tot algemene praktykverbetering en die optimalisering van die leerpotensiaal van elke voorskoolse leerder. 'n Uiteensetting van die navorsingsontwerp en data-analise is verskaf en uit die empiriese studie kan gekonkludeer word dat die program, met noodwendige aanpassings aan die bestaande preprimere dagprogram en ook die onderrigmodel, wel 'n positiewe bydrae sal maak tot praktykverbetering en die optimalisering van die leerpotensiaal van die skoolbeginner. Hierdie aanpassings wat juis die paradigmaverskuiwing behels, is vervat in die aanbevelings wat uit hierdie studie voortvloei. / The present situation in education in South Africa offers a challenge to consider the relevance of existing curricula. A paradigm shift is necessary to provide all learners with the opportunity to optimise their learning potential. This study focuses on a paradigm shift in preprimary education. The report of the study commences with a theory framework from an educational and neuro-psychological viewpoint that focuses on effective learning. The key concepts that emerged from this study were the following: Cognitive and metacognitive skills are prerequisite to effective learning. The educator's role as mediator is of cardinal importance. Cognitive skills enable the learner to construct his own logic system for effective learning. Intrinsic motivation of the learner towards participation in the learning process is important. Neurological readiness for learning including among other aspects, the intra- and intersensory as well as hemispheric integration, is fundamental to effective learning. For the educational psychologist wishing to apply this cognitive approach to effective learning, it is necessary to be able to identify cognitive dysfunctioning. In this study an attempt is made to establish a methodology for the identification of cognitive dysfunctioning using the Junior South African Individual Scale. An educational model making provision for the development of cognitive skills and neurological readiness is proposed. This model involves the integration of "Bright Stan Cognitive Curriculum" by Carl Haywood .and "Brain Gym" by Paul Dennison into the normal preschool programme. The empirical research is intended to determine the feasibility of implementing this educational model within the existing preschool programme. A presentation of the research design and the data analysis is included in the study. From the results of the research it can be concluded that, with approriate adaption of the existing pre-primary programme and the educational model, the programme would make a positive contribution to an enhanced curriculum and thereby also the optimisation of the learning potential of the schoolbeginner. The required adaptions that will result in a paradigm shift are included in the recommendations arising from this study. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Sielkundige Opvoedkunde)

A Sociedade e o mercado de trabalho exigem de cidadãos e trabalhadores, nos últimos tempos, um perfil de desempenho diferente daquele até então aceito. As principais carências do trabalhador dizem respeito, dentre outras necessidades, ao desempenho de certas competências pessoais e a melhoria do funcionamento cognitivo. As escolas, responsáveis pela preparação dessas pessoas para viver em Sociedade - o que inclui a preparação para o mundo do trabalho - não costumam realizar ações educacionais intencionais na direção da melhoria do desenvolvimento cognitivo de seus alunos. O foco do presente estudo está na possibilidade da Escola realizar intencionalmente o desenvolvimento cognitivo de estudantes, futuros trabalhadores. utilizando um programa já existente, criado e estruturado para essa finalidade por Reuven Feuerstein. No final da década de 1940, coube a Feuerstein a tarefa de educar centenas de crianças e jovens, órfãos da guerra, para que se tornassem cidadãos autônomos e produtivos. Diante da necessidade real de modificar o desempenho cognitivo e resgatar a cidadania dessas pessoas, Feuerstein criou - a partir de sua visão de mundo, de um conjunto de crenças por ele estabelecido e de sua experiência - duas teorias: Modificabilidade Cognitiva Estrutural e Experiência de Aprendizagem Mediada e três sistemas inter-relacionados, ou seja, um sistema de avaliação: Avaliação Dinâmica do Potencial de Aprendizagem, um sistema de intervenção: Programa de Enriquecimento Instrumental e um sistema de manutenção: Modelagem de Ambientes Modificadores. Avaliar o efeito do primeiro nível do Programa de Enriquecimento Instrumental (PEI I) no desenvolvimento cognitivo de estudantes da 3ª série de Escolas pública ou privada de Ensino Médio é o objetivo amplo desse trabalho. Em resumo, foram envolvidos no projeto 96 estudantes (54 rapazes e 42 moças) de duas Escolas de Ensino Médio: uma privada e outra pública. Sessenta e sete desses alunos participaram dos grupos experimentais que se submeteram ao PEI I e as outras 29 pessoas integraram grupos de controle, não participando, portanto, da aplicação do Programa. Todos os estudantes participaram de uma avaliação inicial diante de seis instrumentos, sendo que alguns deles permitiam avaliação dinâmica. Da análise dos resultados dos instrumentos, que envolviam avaliação dinâmica, foram levantadas necessidades e estabelecidos procedimentos de intervenção. Os alunos dos grupos experimentais foram submetidos ao primeiro nível do Programa de Enriquecimento Instrumental (PEI I). Durante a aplicação do PEI I, alunos participaram de avaliação intermediária, realizada a partir da aplicação de instrumento de avaliação e ou de questionário para levantamento da percepção dos estudantes sobre o PEI. Finalmente, todos os participantes foram submetidos a uma avaliação final. Os resultados foram analisados de forma descritiva e estatística. Os testes U ou de Mann- Whitney e o teste t de Student foram utilizados para indicar semelhanças e diferenças prováveis entre os desempenhos dos grupos de alunos. A partir da discussão desses resultados foram montadas proposições que justificaram as seguintes conclusões: A modificabilidade cognitiva estrutural dos estudantes dos grupos experimentais foi ampliada. O desenvolvimento cognitivo demonstrado pelos estudantes dos grupos experimentais foi maior que o desempenho cognitivo demonstrado pelos alunos do grupo de controle. / In the recent past, both society and labour market are demanding from citizens a performance far different from those accept until then. The major lacks of workers may concern, among others, to the development of specific personal competences and to the improve of the cognitive process. Schools, responsible for the preparation for life in society - including the life in the labour market - don\'t usually take intentional educational actions aiming the improve of the cognitive development of their students. The focus of the present study is mainly on analyzing the possibility of Schools to make an intentional effort to develop student\'s cognitive habilities, future workers, using a preexisting program created and structured for this meaning by Reuven Feuerstein. In the late 40\'s, Feurstein took the task of teaching hundreds of children and teenagers, war orphan children, to become autonomous and productive citizens. Facing the real need of improving their cognitive habilities and rescuing their citizenship, Feuerstein came up - using his own wide world perception, personal beliefs and experience - with two theories: Structural Cognitive Modifiability (SCM) and Mediated Learning Experience (MLE) and three interrelated systems, or an evaluation system: Learning Potential Assesment Device (LPAD), an interventional system: Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) and a maintenance system: Shaping Modifying Environments (ME). The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effect of the first level of the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE I) on 3rd grade public or private High School student\'s cognitive development. Summing up, there were 96 students involved in this project (54 boys and 42 girls) from two different High Schools: one private and one public. Sixty seven of these students were placed on experimental groups that were submitted to FIE I and the other 29 kids took part on control groups, staying away from the program application. All the students participated on an initial evaluation, facing six instruments, some of then allowing a dynamic evaluation. From the instrument result analysys, needs were raised and intervention procedures were established. The students\'s experimental group was submitted to the first level of the Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE I). During its application, the students had an intermediary evaluation, made by the application of the evaluation instrument and by a questionnaire to measure the student\'s level of perception about the (FIE I). Finally, all the participants were submitted to a final evaluation. The results were analyzed in a descriptive statistical way. The U or Mann-Whitney tests and the t for Student test were used to indicate probable similarities and differences among the student\'s groups performances. From its discussion were put together propositions to justify the following conclusions: The student\'s experimental group structural cognitive modifiability was raised. The cognitive development shown by the student\'s experimental group was higher than the cognitive performance shown by the student\'s control group.

The dissertation thesis presents the results of a research project which focused on the application of mediated learning experience theory to teaching with respect to cognitive development of pupils. The first chapter introduces cognitive education, which concentrates on the process of learning. It also compares this approach with traditional methods aimed at the content of learning. The following parts of the thesis deal with selected theories postulated by Reuven Feuerstein which are important for understanding the context in which his other theory was developed: the theory of mediated learning experience. This theory is the central theme of the theoretical part of the thesis. Apart from its definition and parameters, the thesis presents specific recommendations for teachers about how to develop cognitive functions of their pupils by applying this theory directly in class. Afterwards, attention is paid to Feuerstein's well-known worldwide intervention program called The Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment. This program is used in the Czech school system, too. The essential part of this chapter introduces a number of studies which focused on the verification of benefits of Feuerstein's approaches to cognitive development in children and adolescents. The last chapter of the theoretical part...