PSYC228 UNIT 4

How does neuron density change during childhood

Neuron density first increases then decreases as synapses are pruned to accommodate environmental demands

What is grey matter

Parts of the Brian that contain neuron cell bodies and some of their connections - when myelinated it allows for faster acting neurons which creates more complex neural pathways

What is white matter

Spongy tissue that connects various areas of the brain to one another, as well as parts of the spinal cord - when myelinated, it allows faster communication between hemispheres and spinal cord

What is the prefrontal cortex

Front most part of the frontal lobe, responsible for complex thought, planning and problem solving

What does myelination of the prefrontal cortex lead to

Leads to increased self knowledge, social awareness and more efficient cognitive processes

How much bone mass does a child have at 10years

50% of their adult bone mass

How does height increase in mid childhood

Increases mainly from lengthening of the lower part of the skeleton - however can be influenced by race and ethnicity

What is the increase of weight and height in mid-late childhood

From 6-12 years there’s an increase of 8lbs per year and 2-3 inches per year

When do children start to differ in weight/height because of their gender

Start to differ around age 10 when females get ready for earlier puberty

3 main factors contributing to development or skeletal system

• genetics

• Nutrition levels

• Hormone levels

main hormone for mid-late childhood

Human growth hormone - stimulates organs o increase cell production in the bones - causes lengthening and enhanced mass

What happens first: bone growth or muscle growth

Bone growth - causes muscles to stretch causing improved motor skills

3 types of improvements in motor development during childhood

1. Consistency - ability to physically repeat an action in the same way with the same function

2. Flexibility - ability to perform act in variety of contexts with similar outcome

3. Efficiency - muscular and cardiovascular system energy expended to perform a physical action

What is piagets concrete operational stage

Piagets third stage of cognitive development where school age children begin to think logically about concrete events

Definition of conservation

Awareness that aobjects, places and things remain constant even though their physical properties change - factor of concrete operational stage

Definition of reversibility

Ability to understand that objects can return to their original form - factor of concrete operational stage

Definition of classification

Ability to create groups of classes of objects and soft them by similar properties - able to first identify specific property that defines the class then able to identify the members of that class - factor of concrete operational stage

Definition of seriation

Ability to sort objects using a rule that determines an increasing magnitude of one or more dimensions - for example transivity - factor of concrete operational stage

Definition of transivity

The logical rule that says if A is greater than B, and B is greater than C, then A is bigger than C

Key factor of concrete operational thinkers

They base their decisions about the world on their own reality or experiences

What is vygotsky’s social cultural theory

children develop their thinking in the context a other people

5 key factors of scaffolding

1. Sharing common goal

2. Ongoing diagnoses of students’ progress

3. Dynamic/adaptive support

4. Dialogues / interaction

5. Fading and transfer of responsibility

Definition of cognitive load

the total number of items that must be attended to by one’s working memory (where information is temporarily stored and manipulated)

The information processing perspective for mid-late childhood

focuses on describing the changes necessary for success in school and other aspects of the child’s life

4 key areas where problem solving abilities improve across childhood

1. Selective attention

2. Automatisation

3. Strategy construction

4. Strategy selection

Definition of selective attention

ability to focus on one particular item in the environment around other distracting stimuli

Definition of automatisation

allocating fewer attentional resources to perform simple repetitive behaviours

Definition of strategy construction

creating an effortful plan to solve a problem

Definition of maintenance rehearsal

a retention strategy where a child repeats the thing to be remembered in order to remember them

Definition of strategy selection

selecting the correct strategy to solve a problem using cognitive awareness of choosing what would work best

Definition of metamemory

the most dramatic change in memory ability in ages 3-10 years - ones understanding of their own memory process

when does metamemory appear

appears in early childhood and increases through high school

4 key functions of metamemory

1. Knowledge regarding the function of memory - and strategies based on that memory

2. Awareness of ongoing memory processes

3. Awareness of one’s ability to remember things

4. Knowledge of the relationship between emotion and memory

What are the three categories / processes of memory

1. Sensory memory = holds sensory data

2. Working/short term memory = temp storage and manipulation of info

3. Long term memory = storage of large amounts of info over a long time

Definition of executive function

the aspect of the brain that supervises the memory process by regulating the flow of information and controlling the 3 memory processes

Definition of metacognition

the process of knowing about knowing

What is general intelligence

a construct thought to underlie one’s ability to adapt and their competence level

• determines ability levels on certain topics such as spatial ability, math, vocabulary, comprehension

What is the Stanford Binet intelligence test

Test of 30 tests to measure the intellectual levels of children - average was around 100 which means if one scores around 100 then they’re considered to be performing at the expected level for their age

• it was renamed to the Stanford binet test and the use of “level” was changed to “mental age”

what is the intelligence quotient (IQ)

score calculated from results on an intelligence test originally derived from the formal : (mental age/chronological age) x 100

Definition of intellectual disability

a disorder characterized by significantly below average intellectual function, and impaired adaptive functioning with onset prior to 18 years of age - indicated with an IQ of around 70 or lower)

Definition of gifted

significantly above average intellectual functioning as indicated by an IQ of 130 or higher

Critiques of the Stanford Binet test

• some of the wording seems to be confusing

• Learning test taking skills can improve one’s score

What are the wechsler intelligence scales

Popular psychometric test done to measure the global capacity to think rationally

• done because he believed intelligence involves a global capacity to think rationally

What is sternberg’s triarchic theory of successful intelligence

a theory of intelligence emphasizing the three key components of analytical, practical, and creative

What is the theory of multiple intelligences

a theory of intelligence suggesting the existence of at least either distinct intelligences: linguistic, spatial, bodily, intrapersonal, logical/mathematical, musical, interpersonal, naturalistic - ( a possible 9th being spiritual/existenial)

What is the most obvious change in language development in childhood

Vocabulary size

• grade 1 - 14 000

• Grade 4 - 40 000

Definition of metalinguistic awareness

understanding the complexity of languages and the fact that language relies on context as well as word meaning

What is second language learning

the process of learning another non native language - shown to suppress the native language (first language attrition)

Definition of language immersion

language education programs where students are taught academic content exclusively in a non native language (a language not spoken at home)

Six classroom characteristics that foster academic resilience and reinforce mastery of reading

1. Warm accepting environment

2. Assessing academic resilience

3. Model literacy and self efficacy

4. Use effective feedback

5. Set goals

6. Promote self evaluation

What are the two key methods of reading instructions

1. Phonetics approach - emphasizes segments of sound in words rather in learning reading

2. Whole language approach - emphasizes communication over particular elements of reading and writing

What are the three Rs

• reading

• Writing

• Arithmetic

What is social and emotional learning (SEL)

educational programs seeking to foster a development of five non subject matter competencies

What are her 5 non subject matter competences in SEL

• self awareness

• Self management

• Social awareness

• Relationship skills

• Responsible decision making

Results of SEL programs

had found significantly improved socioemotional skills, attitudes, behaviour and academic performance

• Suggests that meeting socioemotional goals of learning in school helps students meet intellectual and behavioural goals

What are mastery goals

An achievement goal that focuses on self improvement and skill development while downplaying ability level and peer comparison

What are performance goals

an achievement goal that emphasizes ability level and competition among peers

Definition of racialized

people or community’s that are treated poorly or experience violence because of racism or a belief that theyre inferior

Definition of achievements tests

a measure of children’s knowledge about particular academic subjects such as reading, writing and math

Definition of dyscalculia

learning disorder with the difficulty in learning or understanding how we use numbers to represent, communicate and manipulate quantitive information

Definition of specific learning disorder

a specific difficulty with reading, writing and math - when academic functioning is substantially below what is expected for age, IQ and schooling

What is ADHD

a persistent pattern of obstruction and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that emerges prior to 12 years old and causes impairment in multiple contexts

Stats of ADHD

Approx 84% of children with ADHD that persists into adulthood has at least one other disorder

• 61% with 2 other disorders

• 45% with 3 other disorders

Definition of paraprofessionals

persons trained in a professional task but not qualified members of a given profession

Combined overweight/obese rate in Canadians aged 5-17

31%

Which groups have the highest rates of childhood obesity

ethnic minorities and low income communities

How much time have 10yr olds spent outside decreased

70% since the 1980s

Why its important for children to reach physical activity guidelines

Oxygenation - children’s bodies are less efficient that adults at carrying and extracting oxygen so increases heart rate and being in fresh air helps

How many Canadian children are meeting physical activity guidelines

only 14% of children aged 5-11

What is asthma

chronic illness where the airways of the lung constrict resulting in decreased airflow

How many people are affected by asthma

approx 334mil ppl

Why low SES leads to likely asthma

Possibly due to maternal smoking, exposure to cockroach and mouse antigens

What are the most common causes for asthma attacks

infections, allergies, exercise, weather conditions, second hand smoke

Where is asthma most common

in low - middle income countries

In childhood (18% of child hospital admissions)

How family interventions can reduce asthma episodes

• reduce exposure to trigger elements in the environment

• Strengthen medication maintenance schedules by improving family organization and routine