Conceptualizing and Assessing Metacognitive Development in Young Children.

Though metacognition—the knowledge, monitoring and regulation of cognition—is strongly associated with learning and academic success, it has rarely been studied in early childhood when it is most likely to affect subsequent developmental and academic trajectories. A series of three studies examined metacognition at this important age (n = 125 preschoolers). Study 1 demonstrated that preschoolers were able to articulate their metacognition related to a meaningful task and, as predicted, showed significant growth over a school year. In Study 2, the convergent validity between two measures of preschoolers' metacognition was examined. Findings indicated that, while there was some overlap across components of metacognition, there were substantial unique elements left to examine. Moreover, SES moderated these associations. In Study 3, the facilitation of emerging metacognitive processes was examined using a Dynamic Assessment intervention. Children who received the metacognitive intervention obtained significant gains on metacognitive strategies and knowledge as well as cognition skills (memory) whereas the children in the comparison group did not. Some individual differences were found related to executive functioning and expressive vocabulary as well as SES. Importantly, children with higher metacognitive skills had higher pre-academic achievement regardless of SES status. Results from multiple methods in this series of programmatically linked studies will contribute in critical ways to psychological and educational theory by explicating this critical developmental capacity and its importance to learning and academic success. Notably, findings from this program of research will also inform the design and implementation of effective interventions to accelerate the learning and academic achievement of young children, particularly those at risk for learning difficulties.PhDEducation & PsychologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/108721/1/marulisl_1.pd

Phase behavior and material properties of hollow nanoparticles

Effective pair potentials for hollow nanoparticles like the ones made from carbon (fullerenes) or metal dichalcogenides (inorganic fullerenes) consist of a hard core repulsion and a deep, but short-ranged, van der Waals attraction. We investigate them for single- and multi-walled nanoparticles and show that in both cases, in the limit of large radii the interaction range scales inversely with the radius, $R$, while the well depth scales linearly with $R$. We predict the values of the radius $R$ and the wall thickness $h$ at which the gas-liquid coexistence disappears from the phase diagram. We also discuss unusual material properties of the solid, which include a large heat of sublimation and a small surface energy.Comment: Revtex, 13 pages with 8 Postscript files included, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Increasing adolescents' depth of understanding of cross-curriculum words: an intervention study

Background: There is some evidence that vocabulary intervention is effective for children, although further research is needed to confirm the impact of intervention within contexts of social disadvantage. Very little is known about the effectiveness of interventions to increase adolescent knowledge of cross‐curriculum words. Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention programme designed to develop adolescents’ knowledge of cross‐curriculum words. Methods & Procedures: Participants were 35 adolescents aged between 12 and 14 years who were at risk of educational underachievement with low scores on a range of assessments. Participants received a 10‐week intervention programme in small groups, targeting 10 cross‐curriculum words (e.g., ‘summarize’). This was evaluated using a bespoke outcome measure (the Word Knowledge Profile). The study involved an AABA design, with a repeated baseline, delayed intervention cohort and blind assessment. Intervention included both semantic and phonological information about the target words and involved the adolescents using the words in multiple contexts. Outcomes & Results: Results were promising and participants’ knowledge of the targeted words significantly increased following intervention. Progress was demonstrated on the Word Knowledge Profile on the item requiring participants to define the word (for the summer intervention group only). This increase in depth of knowledge was seen on taught words but not on matched non‐taught words. Conclusions & Implications: Cross‐curriculum words are not consistently understood by adolescents at risk of low educational attainment within a low socio‐economic context. A 10‐week intervention programme resulted in some increases to the depth of knowledge of targeted cross‐curriculum words

Oral Language Skills Intervention in Pre-school – A Cautionary Tale

Background: While practitioners are increasingly asked to be mindful of the evidence-base of intervention programmes, evidence from rigorous trials for the effectiveness of interventions that promote oral language abilities in the early years is sparse. Aims: This study evaluates the effectiveness of a language intervention programme for children identified as having poor oral language skills in preschool classes. Methods & Procedures: A randomised controlled trial was carried out in 13 UK nursery schools. In each nursery, eight children (N = 104, mean age = 3 years 11 months) with the poorest performance on standardised language measures were selected to take part. All but one child was randomly allocated to either an intervention (N = 52) or a waiting control group (N = 51). The intervention group received a 15-week oral language programme in addition to their standard nursery curriculum. The programme was delivered by trained teaching assistants and aimed to foster vocabulary knowledge, narrative and listening skills. Outcomes & Results: Initial results revealed significant differences between the intervention and control group on measures of taught vocabulary. No group differences were found on any standardised language measure; however there were gains of moderate effect size in listening comprehension. Conclusions & Implications: The study suggests that an intervention, of moderate duration and intensity, for small groups of preschool children successfully builds vocabulary knowledge, but does not generalize to non-taught areas of language. The findings strike a note of caution about implementing language interventions of moderate duration in preschool settings. The findings also highlight the importance of including a control group in intervention studies

A Systematic Review of the Research on Vocabulary Instruction That Impacts Text Comprehension

Although numerous studies have identified a correlational relationship between vocabulary and comprehension, we know less about vocabulary interventions that impact reading comprehension. Therefore, this study is a systematic review of vocabulary interventions with comprehension outcomes. Analyses of 36 studies that met criteria are organized around (a) type of comprehension measure (i.e., comprehension of passages that included taught words or more generalized comprehension measures) and (b) type of intervention (i.e., direct teaching of word meanings or word‐learning strategies). The authors looked for patterns in characteristics of vocabulary instruction within these analyses. Their findings led to four major themes: (1) Teaching of word meanings supported comprehension of text containing the target words in almost all cases; (2) instruction that focused on some active processing was typically more impactful than a definition or a dictionary method for supporting comprehension of text containing the target words, but we do not know how much instruction is sufficient; (3) there is very limited evidence that direct teaching of word meanings, even long‐term, multifaceted interventions of large numbers of words, can improve generalized comprehension; and (4) there is currently no empirical evidence that instruction in one or two strategies for solving word meanings will impact generalized comprehension. However, studies that actively teach students to monitor their understanding of vocabulary and to use multiple, flexible strategies for solving word meanings are a promising area for future research. The authors discuss the implications of these themes, as well as critical avenues for future vocabulary research.Chinese虽然许多研究已经确定了词汇与阅读理解之间的相关关系,但在词汇干预教学对阅读理解的影响方面,我们所知道的则较少。因此,本研究针对词汇干预教学及其阅读理解学习成果,作一个系统性文献综述。符合标准的36个研究按其类别分两方面作分析:(a)阅读理解测验的类型(即,包含已教过的单字的文章阅读理解测验或较广义的阅读理解测验);(b)干预教学的类型(即,单字意义的直接教学或单字学习策略)。本文作者在这些分析中寻找词汇教学特点的模式,其分析结果带出四个主要主题︰(1)在几乎所有情况下,单字意义教学能支援含有目标单字的文本阅读理解;(2)就支援含有目标单字的文本阅读理解而言,侧重于一些主动性文本处理的教学,通常比单字定义教学或字典教学更有影响力,但本文作者不知道多少教学才足够; (3)单字意义的直接教学,甚至是长期性的,多方面的大量单字干预教学,均只有非常有限的证据证明可以提高广义的阅读理解; (4)目前还没有实证研究证据证明只教一两个解决单字义的学习策略就能对广义阅读理解产生影响。然而,在未来研究中,那些积极指导学生监控自己对词汇的理解和使用多样灵活的字义解决策略的研究,应是一个有希望的领域。本文作者最后讨论这四个主题的启示,以及未来词汇研究的关键途径。SpanishAunque numerosos estudios han mostrado una relación correlativa entre el vocabulario y la comprensión, no sabemos tanto sobre las intervenciones de vocabulario que impactan la comprensión lectora. Por ende, este estudio es una revisión sistemática de intervenciones de vocabulario que incluyen comprensión. Los análisis de 36 estudios que satisfacen dicho criterio fueron organizados de acuerdo a (a) la clase de comprensión medida (p. ej., la comprensión de pasajes que incluían palabras enseñadas o medidas de comprensión más generalizadas) y (b) la clase de intervención (p. ej., la enseñanza directa del significado de las palabras o estrategias para aprender palabras). Los autores buscaron patrones en las características de la instrucción de vocabulario dentro de estos análisis. Encontraron cuatro temas principales: (1) La enseñanza del significado de palabras apoya la comprensión de textos que incluyen dichas palabras en casi todos los casos; (2) la instrucción enfocada en algún procesamiento activo tiene típicamente un impacto mayor que una definición o el uso del diccionario para apoyar la comprensión del texto con las palabras indicadas, pero no sabemos cuánta instrucción se necesita; (3) hay poca evidencia de que la enseñanza directa del significado de las palabras, aún en intervenciones multifacéticas a largo plazo de muchas palabras, mejora la comprensión en general; y (4) actualmente no hay evidencia empírica alguna que la instrucción usando una o dos estrategias para resolver el significado de palabras impacta la comprensión general. Sin embargo, instrucción que les enseña activamente a los estudiantes a supervisar su propio entendimiento del vocabulario y a usar varias estrategias flexibles para encontrar el significado de las palabras prometen ser un área para investigaciones futuras. Los autores discuten las implicaciones de estos temas al igual que vías de vital importancia para futuras investigaciones sobre el vocabulario.Arabicعلى الرغم من أن العديد من الدراسات قد حددت العلاقة الارتباطية بين المفردات والفهم، لا تزال معرفتنا اقل بالنسبة لتدخلات المفردات التي تؤثر على القراءة والفهم. وبالتالي، فإن هذه الدراسة تراجع منهجية تدخل المفردات المؤثرة على الفهم. تم تنظيم التحاليل التي أجريت على 36 دراسة تلبي معايير (أ) نوع مقياس الفهم (أي: فهم المقاطع التي شملت الكلمات المدرسة أو تدابير الفهم الأكثر عمومية) (ب) نوع التدخل (أي التعليم المباشر لمعاني الكلمات أو استراتيجيات تعلم الكلمات). نظر المؤلفون عن أنماط خصائص تعليم المفردات ضمن هذه التحليلات. وأدت نتائجهم إلى أربعة محاور رئيسية هي: (1) تدريس معاني الكلمات التي تدعم فهم النص الذي يحتوي على الكلمات المستهدفة في جميع الحالات تقريبا، (2) التعليمات التي تركز على المعالجة الفعَّلة كانت عادة أكثر تأثيرا من تعريف الكلمة أو الأسلوب القاموسي لدعم فهم النص الذي يحتوي على الكلمات المستهدفة، لكننا لا نعرف ما هو الكافي من التعليمات. 3) هناك أدلة محدودة للغاية أن التعليم المباشر لمعاني الكلمات، وحتى على المدى الطويل، او التدخلات المتعددة الأوجه لأعداد كبيرة من الكلمات، يمكن أن يحسن الفهم العام. و (4) لا يوجد حاليا أي أدلة تجريبية أن التعليمات العملية في واحد أو اثنين من استراتيجيات تحليل معاني كلمة سيؤثر على الفهم العام. لكن، الدراسات التي تعلم الطلاب بنشاط مراقبة فهمهم للمفردات، واستخدام عدة استراتيجيات مرنة من أجل تحليل معاني الكلمات لها مبَشِّـرات للبحوث المستقبلية. يناقش المؤلفون الآثار المترتبة على هذه المحاور، وكذلك السبل الهامة في بحثوث المفردات المستقبلية.RussianМногочисленные исследования установили корреляцию между словарным запасом и пониманием текста, однако о лексических вмешательствах, которые дают положительный эффект для понимания прочитанного, известно немного. Поэтому был предпринят системный обзор подобных лексических интервенций. Анализ выбранных по определенному принципу 36 исследований сосредоточен на (a) критериях понимания (понимание абзацев, содержащих изученные слова, или критерии более общего характера) и (б) типе вмешательства (прямое обучение значениям слова или освоение стратегий работы с лексикой). В рамках данного обзора авторы пытались классифицировать полученные выводы. Выделены четыре лейтмотива: (1) почти всегда обучение значениям слова приводит к пониманию текста, содержащего целевую лексику; (2) обучение, связанное с активными лексическими упражнениями, как правило, более эффективно для понимания текста, содержащего целевую лексику, чем работа с определениями или словарями, но пока неясно, каков должен быть объем обучения; (3) существует совсем мало доказательств того, что прямое обучение значениям слова и даже долгосрочные, многогранные вмешательства, включающие большое количество лексики, улучшают общее понимание почитанного; (4) в настоящее время нет никаких эмпирических доказательств того, что обучение одной или двум стратегиям, позволяющим уловить смысл слова, положительно влияет на общее понимание прочитанного. Однако наиболее перспективным направлением для исследований представляется ситуация, когда школьников активно обучают самоконтролю при освоении лексики и дают им разнообразные гибкие стратегии для понимания смысла слов. В статье обсуждается значение полученных выводов, а также критически важные направления для будущих исследований.FrenchQuoique de nombreuses recherches aient mis en évidence une corrélation entre le vocabulaire et la compréhension, nous ne savons pas grand‐chose des interventions relatives au vocabulaire qui ont un impact sur la compréhension de la lecture. Cette étude est par conséquent une revue systématique des interventions en matière de vocabulaire et de leurs effets sur la compréhension. Les analyses des 36 études répondant aux critères sont organisées autour de (a) le type de mesure de la compréhension (i.e. la compréhension de passages qui incluent les mots enseignés ou des mesures plus générales de la compréhension) et (b) le type d’intervention (i.e. un enseignement direct de la signification des mots ou des stratégies d’apprentissage des mots). Les auteurs ont examiné les structures des caractéristiques de l’enseignement du vocabulaire au cours de ces analyses. Les résultats conduisent à quatre conclusions principales : (1) Enseigner la signification des mots est presque toujours bénéfique à la compréhension du texte contenant les mots cibles ; (2) un enseignement focalisé sur un processus actif a de façon typique un impact supérieur à une méthode qui donne la définition du vocabulaire pour améliorer la compréhension du texte contenant les mots cibles, mais sans pouvoir préciser quelle quantité d’enseignement est suffisante. (3) Il y a très peu de preuves qu’un enseignement direct de la signification des mots, et même que des interventions longues et multidimensionnelles d’un grand nombre de mots, puissent conduire à une compréhension générale ; et (4) on n’a actuellement pas de preuve empirique que l’une ou l’autre de ces deux stratégies de connaissance du sens des mots ait un impact sur la compréhension en général. Toutefois, les recherches qui enseignent aux élèves à diriger de façon active leur compréhension du vocabulaire et qui utilisent des stratégies multiples et souples de compréhension des mots sont un domaine prometteur pour les recherches à venir. Les auteurs discutent des implications de ces conclusions, ainsi que des voies pertinentes pour les futures recherches sur le vocabulaire.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136457/1/rrq163_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136457/2/rrq163.pd

Guidelines for Designing Social Robots as Second Language Tutors

In recent years, it has been suggested that social robots have potential as tutors and educators for both children and adults. While robots have been shown to be effective in teaching knowledge and skill-based topics, we wish to explore how social robots can be used to tutor a second language to young children. As language learning relies on situated, grounded and social learning, in which interaction and repeated practice are central, social robots hold promise as educational tools for supporting second language learning. This paper surveys the developmental psychology of second language learning and suggests an agenda to study how core concepts of second language learning can be taught by a social robot. It suggests guidelines for designing robot tutors based on observations of second language learning in human–human scenarios, various technical aspects and early studies regarding the effectiveness of social robots as second language tutors

Language at preschool in Europe:early years professionals in the spotlight

Over the past decades early years education throughout Europe has experienced large changes due to higher numbers of children attending centres for early childhood education and care (ECEC), a growing linguistic and cultural diversity in society and a shift from care to education, that is, preparing children for entry to primary school. These changes have created expectations from policy makers, researchers and parents for qualitatively high levels of ECEC. Language support for children at risk is often named as one of the key aspects of high-quality childcare because of its importance for a successful entry to and progression within the future educational career of a child. However, rather little is known about how early years professionals meet the linguistic expectations of twenty-first century Europe. The present special issue tries to fill this gap by giving a platform to five European investigations into language at preschool in Europe with a focus on early years educators’ competences, knowledge, skills, beliefs and needs. This introductory article aims at preparing the reader for the contributions that follow in this special issue. We first describe current policy and practice of language support in European ECEC with regard to children’s and educators’ needs. Afterwards we review all the contributions and provide a summary focusing on the diversity as well as the commonalities of the five investigations, before formulating an outlook for future work