The Child as an Active Learner

摘要: In the study of early childhood development, “active child” is an enduring theme that has inspired, motivated, and puzzled developmental psychologists over decades. Despite a large body evidence demonstrating young children can allocate their attention exploration in non-random manner, we still do not have clear answers for how being active influences children’s development. How does fit into story development? It often thought activity relevant to development because it contributes learning. This idea consistent with perspective may be learners. However, date, there very little empirical work showing successfully acquire specific pieces knowledge through voluntary allocation attention, self-driven exploration/free play, or question-asking. At same time, definition learning itself only grown more divergent. been taken mean physical while engaging task, method emphasizes higher-order thinking, elaborative cognitive processes such as generating explanations, interactive collaborative learning, etc.The current dissertation seeks understand whether occur own actions, well support Our suggests single unitary process—instead, better described multiple working concert so actually occur. First, learners will need detect situations when something learnt. Chapter 2 presents series experiments looking times 8-month-old infants appear driven by observed event provides set alternative hypotheses currently favored hypothesis. other words, where understanding inaccurate incomplete, explanation events they observed. Second, selectively attend approach potential sources information. 3 13-month-old preferentially explore unexpected events, which are great opportunities obtaining information theory revision. Third, would generate goal. 4 findings preschool systematically data learn about categories, systematicity search strategy correlated classification performance. 5 demonstrates judge effectiveness presented questions way maximizing gain, suggesting computational foundations developing effective strategies place age. Finally, from self-generated data, incorporating outcomes one’s knowledge. 6 shows 2-years-old generalizations based on course free play.Taken together, this demonstrate learners, component present childhood. these emerge at different time points during capacities also continue develop, enabling become adept time.