CYP5132 - Language and Thinking in the School Years

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of cognitive and language development;
Evaluate critically contrasting theories of cognitive and language development;
Evaluate different perspectives on individual differences with particular regard to the concepts of “intelligence”, “creativity” and “motivation”;
Assess modes of thinking and language use in the domains of literacy, mathematics, science and moral development

Content:

Students will consider theories of cognitive development in greater depth than Level 4, with particular reference to the work of Piaget and more contemporary approaches to learning and cognitive development. Attention will be given to the question as to whether this development is continuous or staged. Vygotsky’s views concerning the role of social interaction and cultural context will be analysed. More contemporary theories of the development of cognition will include Information Processing approaches. This will focus on microgenetic analysis of problem solving and the study of the development of memory. Different theories of language development will be explored. Questions regarding the relationship between language and thought will be dealt with. There will be an appraisal of the development of aspects of: literacy with a focus on reading comprehension; and “E-learning”. The development of intelligence and the concepts of “IQ”, “creativity” and “motivation” will be examined in some detail, based in part on the introduction to “intelligence” and “motivation” during the Level 4 course, “Introduction to the Psychology of Education”. Ideas, theories and research concerning the ways in which thinking develops will be evaluated, with a special focus on learning mathematical and scientific concepts. Finally, Kohlberg’s research in the domain of moral thinking will be explored.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lectures will be interspersed with seminars, workshops and tutorials.

Lectures, seminars and workshops
Hours: 30
Intended group size: Cohort

On-line support and small group tutorials
Hours: 1 (min)
Intended Group size: 6-10

Guided independent study Hours: 169