Cognitive Development

Primary Mental Abilities

Seven factors used to identify intelligence

Jean Piaget

Theorist known for his theory of cognitive development

Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

A multiple-factor view of intelligence in 3 areas: analytics, creativity, and practicality

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

the classroom or setting where the child can be successful, with or without accommodations, and with typical age/grade level peers. Ex: gen ed classroom

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Law mandating that all students with disabilities must receive a free and appropriate education that is tailored to their needs and abilities. Ex: IEP goals

Deductive Reasoning

Using two or more known premises to draw a conclusion. Ex: all cats say meow (premise 1). Jackie is a cat (premise 2), therefore we can deduce that Jackie says meow (conclusion)

Inductive Reasoning

Generalizing knowledge from one area to another. Ex: If a random sample of a population shows a correlation in improved health with a new drug, it can be induced that the drugs will be helpful for others in the population

Cognitive Development

Development of the ability to reason, think through problems, and explore new situations and stimuli; develops in 4 stages from birth to roughly 15 years old, according to Jean Piaget’s theory of child development

Creative Thinking

Looking from a new perspective. Ex: brainstorm, have a debate

Multiple-Factor View of Intelligence

Considering an individual’s intelligence level by looking at a variety of areas

Undifferentiated Perspective

Attributing one’s own perspective to everyone else’s; generally having an inability to attribute any other perspective to anyone else. Ex: Jessica loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She thinks everyone else loves them too

Conservation

Understanding that things can stay the same in quantity even if their appearance changes. Ex: knowing that the amount of liquid does not change when poured from one container to another of a different size

Accommodations

Assistance or changes to the learning process to allow the student to learn the same material as others (Changes HOW they learn). Ex: Extended time on a test

Third-Party Perspective

Seeing from one’s own, others, and a third person’s perspective (neutral bystander, hence sometimes called the bystander perspective); generally keeps multiple perspectives in mind at the same time. Ex: Jessica loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She knows that some other people don’t like them, but that it’s alright for two people to hold different opinions about a subject

Questioning

Asking questions to gather information. Ex: troubleshoot an issue, design a questionaire

Theory of General Intelligence

Intelligence is a general cognitive ability that can be measured and expressed

Critical Thinking

Analysis and judgement. Ex: Design an experiment, determine important part of a word problem, make a flowchart

Response to Intervention (RtI)

A process to monitor and measure student progress in the general education curriculum after instructional intervention is provided. Ex: small group pull-out, tutoring

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

An educational right of all children to receive instruction tailored to their needs at no cost to their family by the local education agency (LEA)

Exceptional Student Education (ESE)

The services offered at schools to children with disabilities. Helps each child with a disability progress in school and prepare for life after school. ESE services include specifically designed instruction to meet the unique needs of the child

Inclusion

Ensuring students with disabilities are included in classroom activities as much as possible

Zone of Proximal Development

The range of tasks that a learner can perform with the guidance or support of a teacher

Local Education Agency (LEA)

The education agency responsible for the school

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Legally mandated, customized educational plan developed for students with disabilities in the United States, outlining specific learning goals, services accommodations, and supports needed to meet their unique educational needs

Preoperational Stage

The second stage of Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development, occurring from 2-7 years old, in which children think egocentrically and symbolically

Memory/Recall

The ability to provide facts from given information. Ex: recite a poem, make a timeline, list main events

Lev Vygotsky

Social psychologist who believed that humans developed through intrapersonal connections with society. Ex: associated with constructivism

Reasoning and Planning

Solving problems and making decisions. Ex: Create a model, demonstrate a method, make up a game

Morality

Principles derived from a religion, culture, or belief system; differentiation of right and wrong

Modifications

Changes made to the curriculum or instructional practices to alter the expectations or performance criteria for students, often used to support learners with special needs by providing a more accessible and tailored educational experience

Concrete Operational Stage

The third stage of Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development, occurring from 7 years old to adolescence, in which children begin to think logically and use inductive reasoning

Societal Perspective

Understanding that the neutral bystander is influenced by the societal and cultural context; generally realizes that different societies would have different neutral perspectives. Ex: Jessica loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and understands that other people do not. She also understands that both her opinion and the opinion of the other are influenced by larger institutions, such as a family and culture

Review of Existing Data (REED)

A mandated review of all existing evaluation data including the intial evaluation, any re-evaluations, classroom observations, and standardized testing to determine if dismissal of services is necessary

Theory of Multiple Intelligences

Eight different and distinct forms of intelligence, which cannot be numerically measured or expressed

Differentiated Instruction

Tailoring teaching methods to meet indvidual needs. Ex: Using varied reading levels for different student groups

Formal Operational Stage

The final stage of Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development, occurring from 12 years old and beyond, in which people can use deductive reasoning to think abstractly and solve complex problems

Self-Reflective Perspective

Seeing, thinking, and feeling from the other person’s perspective (first signs of empathy); generally still assumes the other perspectives are equally valid. Ex: Jessica loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She knows that some other people don’t like them and can begin to understand that the other person’s perspective is ok.

Reasoning and Planning

Solving problems and making decisions. Ex: Create a model, demonstrate a method, make up a game

Social-Informative Perspective

Understanding that perspectives exist and can be different for different persons; generally still assumes their own perspective is the best. Ex: Jessica loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She knows that some other people don’t like them, but she thinks they are wrong.

Sensorimotor Stage

The first stage of Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development, occurring from birth to two years, in which the world is experienced through objects