Early Brain Development
Define the role of the cerebellum in early brain development.
The cerebellum controls physical skills like movement & balance and processes sensory information.
What are Piaget's four stages of cognitive development?
The four stages are sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational, and formal operational.
What was the primary aim of Piaget's three mountains study?
The primary aim was to investigate children's perspective-taking abilities.
Define what is meant by a "growth mindset.
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and learning.
Describe the how the brain has started to develop when the foetus is 3-4 weeks old
It has developed into a long tube with three distinct sections: the forebrain, mid brain & hind brain.
Evaluate the strengths of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.
One strength is that it has practical applications in education, as it helps tailor teaching strategies to children’s developmental stages.
Evaluate the methodology used in Piaget's three mountains study.
A critique is that the study may lack ecological validity as the task was artificial and did not reflect real-life situations.
Evaluate the impact of praise on student motivation according to Dweck's theory.
Praise focused on effort fosters a growth mindset, encouraging persistence, while praise for ability can lead to a fixed mindset, reducing resilience.
Explain how early brain development is influenced by environmental stimulation.
Early brain development is influenced by stimulation because enriched environments promote neural connections, leading to better cognitive outcomes.
Explain the significance of object permanence in Piaget's sensorimotor stage.
Object permanence is significant because it indicates a child's understanding that objects continue to exist even when not seen, reflecting cognitive development.
Explain the concept of egocentrism as demonstrated in the three mountains study.
Egocentrism refers to the inability to see a situation from another person's perspective, shown by children choosing their own viewpoint over others.
Explain how a fixed mindset can affect a student's academic performance.
A fixed mindset can lead to avoidance of challenges and a lack of effort, as students may believe their abilities are unchangeable, hindering their learning potential.
List the key stages in brain development during the prenatal period.
- Development of the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain around 3-4 weeks. - Splitting of the forebrain and hindbrain into cavities by 5 weeks.
- Formation of the cerebellum by 6 weeks and medulla by 20 weeks.
Describe the characteristics of the concrete operational stage.
- Logical thinking about concrete events.
- Understanding of conservation.
- Ability to classify objects by multiple criteria.
- Development of seriation skills (ordering objects).
Outline the procedure of Piaget's three mountains study.
Children were shown a model of three mountains.
- They were asked to describe what they could see from their own viewpoint.
- They were then asked to choose a photograph representing what a doll would see from a different angle.
List key characteristics of fixed and growth mindsets.
- **Fixed Mindset:**
- Belief that abilities are static.
- Avoidance of challenges.
- Fear of failure.
- **Growth Mindset:**
- Belief in the potential for improvement.
- Embracement of challenges.
- Resilience in the face of setbacks.
A child shows significant difficulty in motor skills and coordination. Discuss how this might relate to early brain development.(give 3 points)
- Poor development of the cerebellum may affect motor control.
- Insufficient sensory stimulation could hinder neural connection formation. - Delayed maturation of the hindbrain may impact reflexes and involuntary responses.
A teacher notices that a 6-year-old struggles with abstract concepts but excels in hands-on activities. Apply Piaget's theory to explain this observation.(at least 2 points)
The child is likely in the concrete operational stage, where logical thinking is applied to concrete objects.
- They may find abstract tasks challenging due to the developmental limitations of their stage.
- Hands-on learning aids understanding, aligning with Piaget’s emphasis on active learning.
A child is able to understand that another person can have a different viewpoint in a discussion. Apply knowledge from Piaget's 3 mountains study to explain this.
- This indicates that the child has moved beyond egocentrism, likely entering the concrete operational stage.
- They can now consider multiple perspectives, a key characteristic of developing cognitive abilities.
- This ability enhances social interactions and communication skills.
A student believes that they will never improve in mathematics because they have always struggled with it. Apply Dweck's mindset theory to this situation.
- The student exhibits a fixed mindset, believing their ability is unchangeable.
- Encouraging a growth mindset could help them see that practice and effort may lead to improvement.
- Providing strategies for learning and emphasizing effort over innate ability could enhance their motivation.