Abstract/Notes: A general rethinking of the school system is underway. Today, the purpose of school is to prepare students for rapid change and the complexity of reality so that they are not overwhelmed. Executive cognitive functions have been shown to be fundamental to this purpose, specifically thoughtful planning of an idea, reflexivity, systematic approach to a task/problem, and the ability to stay focused. These are the skills that tomorrow's leaders will need (Diamond and Lee, 2011). But what theoretical and instructional models exist that aim to develop the cognitive skills necessary to succeed in school and in life? How and to what extent are the pedagogical principles of these models reflected in the organization of the physical learning space? This paper aims to trace some of the methods that promote the development of executive cognitive skills and examine how they organize the learning space.   Ambienti di apprendimento che potenziano il funzionamento cognitivo degli studenti. È in atto un ripensamento generale del sistema scolastico. Oggi la finalità della scuola è di preparare gli studenti ai rapidi cambiamenti e alla complessità del reale in modo che non ne siano travolti. Fondamentali a questo scopo si sono rivelate le funzioni cognitive di tipo esecutivo, in particolare la pianificazione mentale di un’idea, la riflessività, la sistematicità nell’affrontare un compito/problema e la capacità di rimanere concentrati. Queste sono le competenze di cui avranno bisogno i leader di domani (Diamond & Lee, 2011). Ma quali sono i modelli teorici e didattici che si propongono di sviluppare le competenze cognitive necessarie per avere successo a scuola e nella vita? Come e in che misura i principi educativi di questi modelli si riflettono sull’organizzazione dello spazio fisico di apprendimento? Questo contributo si propone di ripercorrere alcuni tra i metodi che favoriscono lo sviluppo di competenze cognitive di tipo esecutivo e di indagare come organizzano lo spazio formativo.

Language: Italian

DOI: 10.36253/form-12606

ISSN: 1825-7321

Abstract/Notes: The paper presents the results of research on cognitive representation of freedom in middle and late childhood, based on the philosophical and psychological understanding of the issue. The basis of the considerations were classic models of representation: J. Piaget and L. Wygotski, modern models: A. Karmiloff-Smith, K. Nelson, J. Mandler and theory of building the experience of M. Tyszkowa. These theories say that cognitive representation is uniquely human way of gaining knowledge which is connected with continuous redescription of obtained information. The research involved 33 six-year-old- and 31 nine-year-old children. Researchers used the Piaget’s clinical method which was based on a created questionnaire. The children’s task was to provide connotations with the word freedom, paint the freedom and tell about the possibility of making decisions in their relationship with parents.Obtained material (verbal and non-verbal) shows that children use the representations of freedom at the implicit and explicit level. / W artykule zaprezentowano wyniki badań nad poznawczą reprezentacją wolności u dzieci w średnim i późnym dzieciństwie, w oparciu o filozoficzne i psychologiczne rozumienie niniejszej problematyki. Podstawą rozważań były klasyczne: J. Piageta i L. Wygotskiego,i współczesne: A. Karmiloff- Smith, K. Nelson, J. Mandler modele reprezentacji oraz koncepcja budowania doświadczenia M. Tyszkowej. Wymienione koncepcje pozwalają ujmować reprezentację poznawczą w kategoriach specyficznie ludzkiego sposobu zdobywania wiedzy, który polega na ciągłej redeskrypcji posiadanych informacji. Badaniami objęto trzydzieścioro troje dzieci w wieku sześciu lat i trzydzieścioro jeden w wieku dziewięciu lat. Wykorzystana została metoda kliniczna Piageta w oparciu o stworzony kwestionariusz. Dzieci wymieniały skojarzenia ze słowem wolność, przedstawiały ją w sposób graficzny i prezentowały możliwość podejmowania decyzji w relacji z rodzicami. Zebrany materiał werbalny i niewerbalny pokazuje, że dzieci posługują się reprezentacjami wolności na poziomie ukrytym i jawnym.

Language: Polish

DOI: 10.14632/eetp.2017.13.47.183

ISSN: 1896-2327, 2353-7787

Abstract/Notes: This text presents a theoretical analysis of Maria Montessori’s concept of cognitive autonomy, defined as a process of gaining power and control over one’s own thinking and learning, building the ability to regulate its course and evaluate the results of learning. The main aim of the article is to present the cognitive potential included in M. Montessori’s pedagogical thinking, the undiscovered dimensions of her concepts, and the unusual actuality confirmed by the latest research results. The first part of the article presents the constructive nature of the learning process based on self-discipline, the internal ability to regulate one’s own impulses, and control them consciously. The second part of the article presents contemporary interpretations of Maria Montessori’s concepts, provided by researchers and teachers- practitioners from the perspective of new psychological and pedagogical achievements. The evolution in the thinking of Montessori teachers is seen here as being a sensitive balance, with the “purity” of Montessori’s original ideas on the one hand, and a critical reflection over one’s own personal teaching practice, and discovering problems or phenomena, which – although unnamed – are deeply rooted in the Montessori classroom environment. / Artykuł jest teoretyczną analizą montessoriańskiej koncepcji autonomii (samodzielności) poznawczej dziecka, rozumianej jako stopniowe zdobywanie kontroli nad własnym uczeniem się, budowanie zdolności do regulowania jego przebiegu i oceny efektów. Głównym celem jest ukazanie potencjału poznawczego zawartego w myśli pedagogicznej Marii Montessori, głębi jej koncepcji pedagogicznej, a zarazem zaskakującej aktualności założeń, które znajdują potwierdzenie w wynikach współczesnych badań nad uczeniem się. W pierwszej części tekstu ukazano uczenie się jako proces konstruktywistyczny, oparty na zdolności do samodyscypliny, wewnętrznego regulowania własnych impulsów, poddawania ich świadomej kontroli. W drugiej części artykułu ukazano współczesne interpretacje koncepcji M. Montessori, dokonywane przez badaczy i nauczycieli praktyków, pod wpływem najnowszych badań psychologicznych. Przedstawiona tu ewolucja poglądów nauczycieli charakteryzuje się z jednej strony dbałością o „czystość” montessoriańskiej idei, z drugiej zaś krytyczną refleksją nad własną praktyką edukacyjną i odkrywaniem w niej idei i problemów, które – choć nienazwane – tkwią głęboko zakorzenione w przygotowanym do samodzielnego uczenia się otoczeniu klasy Montessori.

Language: Polish

DOI: 10.14632/eetp.2017.13.47.89

ISSN: 1896-2327, 2353-7787

Abstract/Notes: We report here cognitive and academic outcome measures at ages 12 and 16 for approximately 80% of a sample of 205 children who had been randomly assigned to 2 programs for developmentally delayed preschoolers, Direct Instruction (DI) and Mediated Learning (ML). There were no main effect differences between programs, but there were aptitude-by-treatment interactions similar to those found earlier: initially lower functioning students benefited more from the ML program, whereas initially higher functioning students benefited more from the DI program. Multiple regression analyses suggested that lower scores on cognitive and academic achievement measures are associated with greater experience in special education, even controlling for preschool period ability measures, gender, and ethnicity. The challenges of interpreting this result are discussed.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1177/001440290507100306

ISSN: 0014-4029, 2163-5560

Abstract/Notes: Studies in cognitive neuroscience have shown that education practices can affect the development of executive functions (EF) in young children, although there is very little evidence on young preschool children. The present study aims to provide support for this endeavor, and consists of a quasi-experimental design with one-group pre-test/ post-test measures of cognitive control at age 3 in an urban public Montessori preschool. Three-year-olds (N = 23) in an authentic Montessori public preschool in Washington DC improved significantly on core EF measures (inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility) validated by the NIH Toolbox Early Childhood Cognition Battery, and the data revealed large effect sizes. Comparisons against NIH published norms revealed no selection bias. Performance on EF measures did not correlate with age but did correlate with amount of time between testing sessions, suggesting the possibility that experience, more than age, could have contributed to cognitive control growth. A controlled comparison between mixed-age and single-age classes revealed no differences in these EFs, raising the possibility that aspects of the environment other than the age composition are likely to contribute to growth. We propose that a potential contributor to EF growth is Montessori education, and more specifically, that this growth might be found in the design of interaction of the child with the environment. In particular, we discuss the design element called control of error, and consider why this element might be related to cognitive abilities such as inhibitory control. In current national discussions on the importance of equitable early childhood education, the synthesis of findings from neurocognitive studies has implications for children’s academic and life success.

Language: English

DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2018.00106

ISSN: 2504-284X

Abstract/Notes: Montessori education is a popular way of education in the world. Although this method has been passed around the world for many years, it became popular in China's education system in the 1990s. However, parents in China either choose to believe in Montessori's influence and significance on their children or choose to keep their children educated only in traditional Chinese culture. There are some kindergartens in China where China Sinology and Montessori education coexist. Current studies lack discussion on the impact of the integration of Montessori education and Sinology education on children. Both Montessori education and Sinology have their special advantages for children's cognitive development. This research aims to explore the influence of the Montessori teaching method and Chinese traditional education on the language cognitive development of 3–6 years-old-children.

Language: English

ISSN: 2411-5681

Abstract/Notes: This paper studies the imaginative play in young children using a model based on neutrosophic logic, viz, Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps (NCMs). NCMs are constructed with the help of expert opinion to establish relationships between the several concepts related with the imaginative play in children in the age group 1-10 years belonging to socially, economically and educationally backward groups. The NCMs are important in overcoming the hindrance posed by complicated and often imprecise nature of psychological or social data. Data was collected by video recording of children playing and the interpretations given by experts. Fifteen attributes / concepts related with children playing with the same toy were observed and according to experts several concepts were related and for some the relations between concepts were indeterminate, so it was appropriate to use NCMs. These NCMs were built using five expert’s opinion and the hidden patterns of them happened to be a fixed point.

Language: English

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3569702

ISSN: 2331-6055, 2331-608X

Abstract/Notes: Phillips asserts that Montessori developed a “cognitive theory” that is generally ignored by psychologists. This work locates Montessori’s work in the the context of late nineteenth century theory with Feud, Adler and Jung, as well as the theories of Darwin and Hegel.

Language: English

DOI: 10.1080/0260747770030106

ISSN: 0305-8913

Language: English

ISSN: 0010-700X

Abstract/Notes: Dorota Zdybel, University of Maria Curie-Sklodowska in Lublin, Poland

Language: English

ISSN: 2281-8375