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EDUC 111: Cognitive Development of Children and Adolescents
EDUC 111: Cognitive Development of Children and Adolescents
MODULE 5
Cognitive Development of Children and
Adolescents
LESSO Theories of Cognitive Development
N1
Learning Outcome :
INTRODUCTION:
In this lesson we will be examining three theories of cognitive development among
children and adolescents. Piaget’s Theory is a truly a classic in the field of educational
psychology and its focus is on how individuals construct knowledge. The key theme of
Vygotsky’s theory is that social interaction plays a very important role in cognitive
development. While Bronfenbrenner came up with a simple yet useful paradigm showing
the different factors that exert influence on an individual’s development. It points out the
ever-widening spheres of influence that shape every individual, from his/her immediate
family to the neighborhood, the country, even the world.
You are expected to explain and differentiate their theories at the end of this lesson.
1. It’s Christmas and Uncle Bob is Giving “Aguinaldo” to the children. Three year-old
Karen did not want to receive the one hundred peso bill instead she wanted to have the
20-peso bill because her mother used to give her 20 pesos every weekend. Her ten-
year-old cousins were telling her it’s better to get the one hundred bill, but they failed
to convince her.
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2. As a child, recall a specific skill that you really wanted to learn and eventually
learned well through the help of another person. Describe how were you able to learn
that skill.
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3. Recall your childhood and complete the following sentences. You may also ask your
parents for some information.
When I was 5 years old, my parents_________________________________________
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As a child, my unforgettable playmates were _________________________________.
When I was elementary, I regularly watched the television show
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When I was growing up, we went to church in
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I cannot forget my teacher who
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When I was growing up
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When I was in high school
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ANALYSIS
1. In activity no. 1, why do you think Karen prefer the 20-peso bill and not the 100-
peso bill? Do you have the same experience in the past? If you were Karen, which bill
will you choose? Why?
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2. In activity no. 2, can you say that the person who taught you that skill effective in
teaching you? Why do you think so? Can you still perform that skill until now?
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3. In activity no. 3, was it easy or difficult for you to complete the sentences? Why?
Which of your experiences mentioned above made a great impact of who and what you
have become right now and why?
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ABSTRACTION
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The children with different ages have different stages of cognitive development. As
a future teacher, you will come to understand cognitive of children and adolescents and
identify ways of applying this understanding in teaching learners and curriculum designing.
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Symbolic Function- this is the ability to represent objects and events. A symbol is
a thing that represent something else.
Egocentrism- This is the tendency of the child to only see his point of view and to
assume that everyone also has his/her same point of view.
Centration- this refers to the tendency of the child to only focus on one aspect of a
thing or event and exclude other aspects.
Irreversibility- pre-operational children have the inability to reverse their
thinking.
Animism- this is the ability of the child to attribute human like traits or
characteristics to inanimate objects.
Transductive reasoning- this refers to a child’s reasoning or concluding type
that is neither inductive nor deductive.
“If situation A is causes situation B, then Situation B causes situation A.”
From Piaget’s findings and comprehensive theory, we can derive the following principles:
1. Children provide different explanations of reality at different stages of
cognitive development.
2. Cognitive development is facilitated by providing activities and situations that
engage learners and require adaptation
3. Learning materials and activities should involve the appropriate level of motor
or mental operation for a child of given age; avoid asking students to perform
task that are not fit or suitable to their current cognitive capabilities.
4. Use teaching methods that actively involve students and present challenges.
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The key theme of Vygotsky’s theory is that social interaction plays a very important
role in cognitive development. He believed that individual development could not be
understood without looking into the social and cultural context within which development
happens. When Vygotsky was a young boy he was educated under a Socratic Method
(question-and-answer method) that allowed him to examine the current thinking and
practice higher levels of understanding. This led him to recognized social interaction and
language as two central factors in cognitive development.
Social Interaction
Piaget’s Theory was more on individual and cognitive development, while
Vygotsky was more social and interaction that contributed to individual’s cognitive
development. He believed that social interaction, environment, and community takes a
major role in one’s development. He emphasized that effective learning happens through
participation in social activities, context, teachers, parents and peers that help and provide
feedback to the learner and its learning experience.
Cultural Factors
Vygotsky believed in the crucial role that culture played on the cognitive
development of children. He believed that child’s early life all contribute to the cognitive
development of the child.
Language
Language is used by the child to gain knowledge that others already have.
Language can use to know and understand the world and solve problems. It also serves as
social function, regulate and reflect on his own thinking.
Vygotsky believed in the essential role of activities in learning. Children learn best
through hands-on activities. Learning by doing is even more effective when they interact
with knowledgeable adults and peers.
macrosystem
(cultural values
Chronosystem
custom and laws)
changes overtime
exosystem
(city government
workplace, mass
media)
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mesosystem
(extended family)
microsystem
(family, church,
school)
Child
The microsystem is the layer nearest the child. It includes structures such as one’s
family, school, and neighborhood. As such covers the most basic relationships and
interactions that a child has in his/her immediate environment. This means that the child is
affected by people with whom he interacts and also affected by the child. For example,
child to mother, child to father, child to neighbors where they are comfortable.
The mesosystem is the layer that serves as the connection between the structures
of the child’s microsystem. For example, the mesosystem will include the link or
interaction between the parents and teachers, or the parent and health services or the
community of the church.
The exosystem is the layer refers to the bigger social system in which the child
does not function directly. This includes the city government, the workplace, and mass
media. The structures in this layer may influence the child’s development by somehow
affecting some structure in the child’s microsystem. This includes the circumstances of the
parents’ work like the location, schedules. We see a change in the children’s routine when
for example the mother works at a call center. That was seen in that burger chain
commercial where the mother and the children meet up at the fastfood for breakfast just
before the children go to school and the mother going home from work in a call center. The
child may not directly with what is in the exosystem but he is likely feel the positive or
negative impact this system creates as it interacts with the child’s own system.
The macrosystem is the layer that is found in the outermost part in the child’s
environment. This includes the cultural values, customs, and laws. The belief system
contained in one’s macrosystem permeates all the interaction in the other layers and
reaches the individual.
The chronosystem covers the element of time as relates to a child’s life. This
involves pattern of stability and change in the child’s life.
The ecological systems theory focuses on the quality and context of the child’s
environment. This theory helps also the teacher to look into every child’s environmental
systems in order to understand more the characteristics and needs of each child, each
learner.
APPLICATION
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2. Choose one person in your microsystem or mesosystem who has a positive influence or
impact in your life. Write an essay about this person with at least 500 words. Describe
his/her characteristics, personality, values and principles and your relationship with this
person. Share a specific situation wherein he/she applied scaffolding to teach or help you
learn a skill, a sport, or other activities which you may have not learned if he/she didn’t
assist or guide you. Express as well your gratitude towards this person in your essay.
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GOOD JOB! You finished Lesson 1! I hope you enjoyed and learned from this
lesson. Kindly proceed to Lesson 2.
Learning Outcome:
INTRODUCTION
ACTIVITY
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ANALYSIS
2. Based on the multiple intelligence graph, is the result true to you? Why or why not?
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3. What did you feel while doing the activity? What are your insights about it?
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ABSTRACTION
The Two-Factor theory supports that intelligence has two factors: a general mental
ability factor (g) which represents what different cognitive tasks have in common; plus
many specific factors (s) which include mental abilities (mathematical, mechanical, or
verbal skills).
This theory is the outcome of Charles Spearman’s (1904) belief that by measuring
related cognitive factors, he could measure intelligence. Spearman was the first to use the
psychometric approach to measure or quantify cognitive abilities or factors that are
thoughts to be involved in intellectual performance.
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The disadvantage, however, is that it excludes and does not measure many other
kinds of mental abilities (s) such as motor, perceptual, musical, practical, or creative
abilities which some psychologists consider to represent other kinds of intelligence.
1. Experiential Intelligence - is the ability to formulate new ideas and combine unrelated
facts. A test measures experiential intelligence if it assesses a person’s ability to deal with
novel tasks in an automatic manner. Such a task might involve remembering all words
containing letter T in a paragraph.
This theory opines that human beings have 9 kinds of intelligences namely:
1. Naturalist Intelligence
Naturalist intelligence designates the human ability to discriminate among living
things (plants, animals) as well as sensitivity to other features of the natural world (clouds,
rock configurations). This ability was clearly of value in our evolutionary past as hunters,
gatherers, and farmers; it continues to be central in such roles as botanist or chef. It is also
speculated that much of our consumer society exploits the naturalist intelligences, which
can be mobilized in the discrimination among cars, sneakers, kinds of makeup, and the
like.
2. Musical Intelligence
Musical intelligence is the capacity to discern pitch, rhythm, timbre, and tone. This
intelligence enables us to recognize, create, reproduce, and reflect on music, as
demonstrated by composers, conductors, musicians, vocalist, and sensitive listeners.
Interestingly, there is often an affective connection between music and the emotions; and
mathematical and musical intelligences may share common thinking processes. Young
adults with this kind of intelligence are usually singing or drumming to themselves. They
are usually quite aware of sounds others may miss.
3. Logical-Mathematical Intelligence
Logical-mathematical intelligence is the ability to calculate, quantify, consider
propositions and hypotheses, and carry out complete mathematical operations. It enables us
to perceive relationships and connections and to use abstract, symbolic thought; sequential
reasoning skills; and inductive and deductive thinking patterns. Logical intelligence is
usually well developed in mathematicians, scientists, and detectives. Young adults with
lots of logical intelligence are interested in patterns, categories, and relationships. They are
drawn to arithmetic problems, strategy games and experiments.
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4. Existential Intelligence
Sensitivity and capacity to tackle deep questions about human existence, such as the
meaning of life, why we die, and how did we get here.
5. Interpersonal Intelligence
Interpersonal intelligence is the ability to understand and interact effectively with
others. It involves effective verbal and nonverbal communication, the ability to note
distinctions among others, sensitivity to the moods and temperaments of others, and the
ability to entertain multiple perspectives. Teachers, social workers, actors, and politicians
all exhibit interpersonal intelligence. Young adults with this kind of intelligence are leaders
among their peers, are good at communicating, and seem to understand others’ feelings and
motives.
6. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
Bodily kinesthetic intelligence is the capacity to manipulate objects and use a
variety of physical skills. This intelligence also involves a sense of timing and the
perfection of skills through mind–body union. Athletes, dancers, surgeons, and crafts
people exhibit well-developed bodily kinesthetic intelligence.
7. Linguistic Intelligence
Linguistic intelligence is the ability to think in words and to use language to express
and appreciate complex meanings. Linguistic intelligence allows us to understand the order
and meaning of words and to apply meta-linguistic skills to reflect on our use of language.
Linguistic intelligence is the most widely shared human competence and is evident in
poets, novelists, journalists, and effective public speakers. Young adults with this kind of
intelligence enjoy writing, reading, telling stories or doing crossword puzzles.
8. Intra-personal Intelligence
Intra-personal intelligence is the capacity to understand oneself and one’s thoughts
and feelings, and to use such knowledge in planning and directioning one’s life. Intra-
personal intelligence involves not only an appreciation of the self, but also of the human
condition. It is evident in psychologist, spiritual leaders, and philosophers. These young
adults may be shy. They are very aware of their own feelings and are self-motivated.
9. Spatial Intelligence
Spatial intelligence is the ability to think in three dimensions. Core capacities
include mental imagery, spatial reasoning, image manipulation, graphic and artistic skills,
and an active imagination. Sailors, pilots, sculptors, painters, and architects all exhibit
spatial intelligence. Young adults with this kind of intelligence may be fascinated with
mazes or jigsaw puzzles, or spend free time drawing or daydreaming.
APPLICATION
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2. Give a specific situation based on your personal experience that shows your experiential
intelligence, contextual intelligence, and componential intelligence.
3. In Gardner’s 9 Multiple Intelligences, which of the intelligences you think you are
inclined to? What are the activities you like to do most or perform well having that kind of
intelligence?
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Well done! You finished Lesson 2! You may now proceed with Lesson 3.
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Factors Affecting Cognitive
LESSO
N3 Development and Exceptional
Development
Learning Outcomes
INTRODUCTION
Every child is unique to himself, in personality traits, in cognitive abilities,
in physical stature, in emotional stability, and others. Among children, these differences are
highly noticeable. Even in the aspect of learning some children are fast learner, those gifted
with exceptional intellectual capabilities and some are slow, those who function at
significantly lower intellectual levels.
ACTIVITY
1. Define gifted child.
2. Identify Children with Intellectual Deficits.
ANALYSIS
1. Why they are called children with exceptional development?
ABSTRACTION
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Unusually keen sense of humor (gentle or hostile):
•Humor used for critical attacks
•Becomes class clown for attention –
Idealistic standards and sense of justice:
•Unrealistic expectations and goals
•Intolerant towards others
•Very self-critical
Intensity:
•Eagerness disrupts others
•Easily frustrated with inactivity
•Intense feelings, energy, eagerness
Intensified self-awareness and feelings of being different:
•Self-imposed isolation and rejection
•Emotional and social growth inhibited due to feelings of being different
Unusual amounts of information:
•Easily bored
•Gets impatient with perceived slowness of others
Enjoys intellectual activities and elevated levels of comprehension:
•Perceived as disrespectful by adults
•Resists repeated drill work
Flexible thought process and conceptualized thinking:
•Questions teacher's procedures
•Low tolerance for deadlines and chronological thinking
•May reject what is already known
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Klinefelter’s Syndrome- is a form of chromosome abnormality characterized by
feminine physical characteristics like breast development and rounded broad, hipped
figure. Psychological and social problems include anxiety, hyperactivity, attention deficit
in social interaction, and females suffers depression.
APPLICATION
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MODULE SUMMARY
MODULE ASSESSMENT
2. Discuss how can you apply your learning from this module about cognitive development
in your profession as a teacher.
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References:
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Acero, V.D., Javier, E.S., and H.O. Castro (2010). The child and adolescent learners. child
and adolescent development. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore, Inc.
Anonat, R.D. (2014). Child and adolescent development (revised ed). Mandaluyong City:
Books Atbp. Publishing Corp.
Bataga, N.U., Castro, D.A., and Abregana, C.G.L. (2014). Introduction to psychology:
concepts and theories. Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.
Corpuz, B., Lucas, M.R., Borabo, H.G., and Lucido, P. (2010). The child and adolescent
development: looking at learners at different life stages. Quezon City: Lorimar
Publishing, Inc.
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