scholarly journals Embodied Argumentation in Young Children in Kindergarten

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 514
Author(s):  
Josephine Convertini ◽  
Francesco Arcidiacono
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Kindergarten Children ◽  
Recycled Materials ◽  
Surrounding World ◽  
Multimodal Representations ◽  
Physical Objects ◽  
Argumentative Structure

In kindergarten, children are usually engaged with both verbal activities and non-verbal activities, often requiring the manipulation of physical objects. During technical tasks (e.g., problem solving), children can use argumentation as one of the languages of science that mediates how they interact with the surrounding world. In this paper, we focused on technical tasks in kindergarten in order to understand to what extent activities requiring the manipulation of physical objects also leave space for argumentation. The study involved 25 children engaged in three problem-solving activities requiring the manipulation of Lego® and some recycled materials. To analyze the non-verbal (embodied) side of the argumentative activities, we firstly identified the argumentative structure of each exchange involving the participants. Then, we focused on segments of “incomplete” argumentative dialogues (i.e., presenting only some elements typical of children’s argumentation) by appealing to multimodal representations (speech, gestures, and physical objects). The findings of the study showed that even apparently incomplete exchanges can have an argumentative function generated by non-verbal elements of the interactions. Investigating the role of embodied argumentation during technical tasks in kindergarten can allow teachers to recognize and further develop children’s argumentative resources.

Learning and teaching through talk: music composing in the classroom with children aged six to seven years

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela E. Major ◽  
Michelle Cottle
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Teacher Questioning ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Discourse Skills ◽  
Children’S Thinking

We know that pupil talk is an integral part of the learning process. Previous research has not viewed affective engagement in a music composing task as a vehicle for developing higher order discourse skills. The aim of this study is to evaluate the significance of teacher questioning in encouraging quality dialogue with children during music composing. This paper reports on an empirical study investigating dialogue with young children during an imaginative music composing task. Pairs of children aged 6 and 7 years were audio recorded as they talked to each other and the researcher about the task. The dialogues between the researcher and the pupils highlight the importance of teacher questioning in encouraging young children to engage in evaluative talk and problem solving, through discussion and musical experimentation. Significantly, the findings suggest that young children are able to reflect on the learning process through meta-cognitive thinking. The findings highlight the significance of the role of the teacher in scaffolding and encouraging children's thinking and learning through dialogue, and the importance of talk and evaluation as a part of reflective music composing activities.

834-P: Understanding Risks for Depressive Symptoms among Caregivers of Young Children Newly Diagnosed with T1D: The Role of Social Support and Social Problem-Solving

Diabetes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 834-P
Author(s):  
CHRISTINE H. WANG ◽  
MANUELA SINISTERRA ◽  
NICOLE HERRERA ◽  
CARRIE TULLY ◽  
LAUREN CLARY ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Social Problem ◽  
Social Problem Solving ◽  
Newly Diagnosed

Tutoring Interactions between Young Children: How Symmetry can Modify Asymmetrical Interactions

1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Verba
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Task Demands ◽  
Construction Of Knowledge ◽  
Preschool Period ◽  
Expert Novice ◽  
Asymmetric Interactions ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Interactionist Approach

The constructivist and interactionist approach to cognitive development emphasises the importance of the active participation of children in social interactions and their contribution to knowledge acquisition. Peer tutoring is one way of making such a contribution. During the preschool period, children develop specific skills that allow them to assist and guide less competent peers through the learning process. This study was aimed at gaining insight into the potentials of tutoring in young children, and at demonstrating the role of the symmetrical relationship which prevails in peer interaction in expert-novice problem-solving activity. An adult trained 24 boys and girls for a building task. The young “experts” were then observed with 48 same- and different-age novices of the same sex. The results showed that already at this young age, the experts and novices exhibited asymmetric interactions fulfilling the essential functions of tutoring. The tutors geared their actions to the task demands but were not yet sensitive to the novice’s needs. Qualitative analysis of interactive episodes indicate that the symmetrical nature of the two partners’ skills and statuses brought the tutoring closer to several forms of co-operation or to specific parallel work: While guiding the partner, the expert child shared the problem-solving activity with the novice, consolidating his/her own know-how at the same time. The shift—under some circumstances—from asymmetrical interactions to symmetrical co-elaboration suggests a new conception of sociocognitive functioning in the construction of knowledge.

Developmental foundations of externalizing problems in young children: The role of effortful control

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheryl L. Olson ◽  
Arnold J. Sameroff ◽  
David C. Kerr ◽  
Nestor L. Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Effortful Control

Improving the questions we ask, with Psychology and Cognitive Conflict.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett Buttliere
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Scientific Method ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Cognitive Conflict ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
Science In Society

Over the last decade, there have been many suggestions to improve how scientists answer their questions, but far fewer attempt to improve the questions scientists are asking in the first place. The goal of the paper is then to examine and summarize synthesize the evidence on how to ask the best questions possible. First is a brief review of the philosophical and empirical literature on how the best science is done, which implicitly but not explicitly mentions the role of psychology and especially cognitive conflict. Then we more closely focus on the psychology of the scientist, finding that they are humans, engaged in a meaning making process, and that cognitive conflict is a necessary input for any learning or change in the system. The scientific method is, of course, a specialized meaning making process. We present evidence for this central role of cognitive conflict in science by examining the most discussed scientific papers between 2013 and 2017, which are, in general, controversial and about big problems (e.g., whether vaccines cause autism, how often doctors kill us with their mistakes). Toward the end we discuss the role of science in society, suggesting science itself is an uncertainty reducing and problem solving enterprise. From this basis we encourage scientists to take riskier stances on bigger topics, for the good of themselves and society generally.

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