Social Interaction in Learning and Development – serie

This book portrays an extensive and intensive discussion of theories and research that refer to Vygotsky’s and Feuerstein’s theories of mediated learning and their effects on learning potential and cognitive modifiability. Most topics are discussed in relation to a broad spectrum of developmental and cognitive research that are under the conceptual umbrella of mediated learning and cognitive modifiability. Some topics such as neural plasticity, executive functions, mental rotation, and cognitive education are related to mediated learning, though indirectly, and therefore are included in this book. In many ways the book presents an extension of Vygotsky and Feuerstein’s theories and empirical validation in a variety of family, social and cultural contexts. The book includes a thorough analysis and summary of 50 years of research and methodology of the intimate relation between mediated learning interactions and cognitive modifiability and of dynamic assessment underlying measurement of cognitive modifiability. Special emphasis is given to Tzuriel’s dynamic assessment instruments developed during more than four decades. Tzuriel’s novel instruments are interwoven in the extensive research on parent-child interactions, siblings’ , teachers' and peers' mediation and in validation of dynamic assessment approach and cognitive education programs aimed at development of thinking skills and academic achievements.

This book portrays an extensive and intensive discussion of theories and research that refer to Vygotsky’s and Feuerstein’s theories of mediated learning and their effects on learning potential and cognitive modifiability. Most topics are discussed in relation to a broad spectrum of developmental and cognitive research that are under the conceptual umbrella of mediated learning and cognitive modifiability. Some topics such as neural plasticity, executive functions, mental rotation, and cognitive education are related to mediated learning, though indirectly, and therefore are included in this book. In many ways the book presents an extension of Vygotsky and Feuerstein’s theories and empirical validation in a variety of family, social and cultural contexts. The book includes a thorough analysis and summary of 50 years of research and methodology of the intimate relation between mediated learning interactions and cognitive modifiability and of dynamic assessment underlying measurement of cognitive modifiability. Special emphasis is given to Tzuriel’s dynamic assessment instruments developed during more than four decades. Tzuriel’s novel instruments are interwoven in the extensive research on parent-child interactions, siblings’ , teachers' and peers' mediation and in validation of dynamic assessment approach and cognitive education programs aimed at development of thinking skills and academic achievements.

This book presents the Preschool Peer Social Intervention (PPSI), a manualized comprehensive social curriculum to enhance peer-interaction for pre-schoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in three key domains: play, interaction, and conversation.The book outlines the PPSI’s transactional approach in each of the three intervention domains and incorporates developmental features and age-appropriate play, interaction, and conversation skills while accounting for individual differences in social communication abilities. The intervention is designed to be implemented within the child’s natural social environment, such as preschool, and it includes the child’s social agents, namely, their peers, teachers, and parents. PPSI intervention curricula addressed in this book are based on typical play, interaction, and conversation development, taking into account the social and communication challenges found to characterize young children with ASD in these domains.Building up the ability to play, interact and converse more efficiently with peers may render a substantial impact on preschoolers with ASD, with vast potential for improving not only these children’s immediate social experience with peers, but also their future social competence that relies on these early building blocks.

This book presents the Preschool Peer Social Intervention (PPSI), a manualized comprehensive social curriculum to enhance peer-interaction for pre-schoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in three key domains: play, interaction, and conversation.The book outlines the PPSI’s transactional approach in each of the three intervention domains and incorporates developmental features and age-appropriate play, interaction, and conversation skills while accounting for individual differences in social communication abilities. The intervention is designed to be implemented within the child’s natural social environment, such as preschool, and it includes the child’s social agents, namely, their peers, teachers, and parents. PPSI intervention curricula addressed in this book are based on typical play, interaction, and conversation development, taking into account the social and communication challenges found to characterize young children with ASD in these domains.Building up the ability to play, interact and converse more efficiently with peers may render a substantial impact on preschoolers with ASD, with vast potential for improving not only these children’s immediate social experience with peers, but also their future social competence that relies on these early building blocks.

The book pursues the goal of exploring and strengthening a dialogical approach of communication and cognition. It brings together contributions from world-leading researchers related to the dialogical approach in education and psychology. It presents, among others, the place of language and materiality in the development of communication and thinking, as well as the role of the methods in the relationship between researchers and participants. This leads to an innovative definition of the dialogicality and how a dialogical approach can provide heuristic (conceptual and methodological) tools to better understand how people think, communicate and learn in a complex world.The authors hereby develop an epistemological framework inspired by scholars such as Michaïl Bakhtin, Lev Vygotsky and Herbert Mead under the assumption that dialogue, or dialogicality - and therefore the presence of the other – is fundamentally entangled into the human thinking and development.This book contributes to the understanding of human communication, cognition and mind, and participates in a scientific dialogue which helps to advance future research. It includes theoretical and empirical chapters and presents innovative methods of inquiry, which makes it a useful tool for both teaching and research.

The book pursues the goal of exploring and strengthening a dialogical approach of communication and cognition. It brings together contributions from world-leading researchers related to the dialogical approach in education and psychology. It presents, among others, the place of language and materiality in the development of communication and thinking, as well as the role of the methods in the relationship between researchers and participants. This leads to an innovative definition of the dialogicality and how a dialogical approach can provide heuristic (conceptual and methodological) tools to better understand how people think, communicate and learn in a complex world.The authors hereby develop an epistemological framework inspired by scholars such as Michaïl Bakhtin, Lev Vygotsky and Herbert Mead under the assumption that dialogue, or dialogicality - and therefore the presence of the other – is fundamentally entangled into the human thinking and development.This book contributes to the understanding of human communication, cognition and mind, and participates in a scientific dialogue which helps to advance future research. It includes theoretical and empirical chapters and presents innovative methods of inquiry, which makes it a useful tool for both teaching and research.

This open access book explores new developments in various aspects of peer learning processes and outcomes. It brings together research studies examining how peer feedback, peer assessment, and small group learning activities can be designed to maximize learning outcomes in higher, but also secondary, education.Conceptual models and methodological frameworks are presented to guide teachers and educational designers for successful implementation of peer learning activities with the hope of maximizing the effectiveness of peer learning in real educational classrooms.There is a strong emphasis on how technology-enhanced tools can advance peer learning, both with respect to designing and implementing learning activities, as well as analyzing learning processes and outcomes.By providing empirical studies from different peer learning initiatives, both teachers and students in academic and professional contexts are informed about the state of the art developmentsof peer learning.This book contributes to the understanding of peer learning challenges and solutions in all level of education and provide avenues for future research. It includes theoretical, methodological, and empirical chapters which makes it a useful tool for both teaching and research.

This open access book explores new developments in various aspects of peer learning processes and outcomes. It brings together research studies examining how peer feedback, peer assessment, and small group learning activities can be designed to maximize learning outcomes in higher, but also secondary, education.Conceptual models and methodological frameworks are presented to guide teachers and educational designers for successful implementation of peer learning activities with the hope of maximizing the effectiveness of peer learning in real educational classrooms.There is a strong emphasis on how technology-enhanced tools can advance peer learning, both with respect to designing and implementing learning activities, as well as analyzing learning processes and outcomes.By providing empirical studies from different peer learning initiatives, both teachers and students in academic and professional contexts are informed about the state of the art developmentsof peer learning.This book contributes to the understanding of peer learning challenges and solutions in all level of education and provide avenues for future research. It includes theoretical, methodological, and empirical chapters which makes it a useful tool for both teaching and research.

​This book renews the concept of the symbolic function, exploring human capacity to create and utilize symbols, semiotic systems, and realities. It offers a unique theoretical perspective on the early psychological growth of children, focusing on the symbolic function's role in their development . In this sense, it offer new conception of the emergence of symbolic function and language. It further presents detailed analyses of semiotic function manifestations and their integration around age three, signifying a child's entry into the "symbolic species" and its profound influence on overall mental development. This book deals with issues related to the symbolic function in general, as well as its origin and development. It further presents detailed analyses of semiotic function manifestations and their integration around age three, signifying a child's entry into the symbolic species and its profound influence on overall mental development. This text serves as a valuable academic resource for university teachers, researchers and students interested in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between cognitive, socio-emotional development, and social practices in the emergence of symbolic function in early childhood.

​This book renews the concept of the symbolic function, exploring human capacity to create and utilize symbols, semiotic systems, and realities. It offers a unique theoretical perspective on the early psychological growth of children, focusing on the symbolic function's role in their development . In this sense, it offer new conception of the emergence of symbolic function and language. It further presents detailed analyses of semiotic function manifestations and their integration around age three, signifying a child's entry into the "symbolic species" and its profound influence on overall mental development. This book deals with issues related to the symbolic function in general, as well as its origin and development. It further presents detailed analyses of semiotic function manifestations and their integration around age three, signifying a child's entry into the symbolic species and its profound influence on overall mental development. This text serves as a valuable academic resource for university teachers, researchers and students interested in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between cognitive, socio-emotional development, and social practices in the emergence of symbolic function in early childhood.

This book fills a gap in early developmental psychology by providing a critical reconsideration of the status of artifact objects as protagonists of children's actions and communication. The main thesis explored in the book is that objects are part of the material culture; they have public functions and social meanings that are transmitted by the members of the community. Their meanings are not "naturally" given, and children are not born knowing what to do with objects. All chapters analyze and illustrate communication with parents, or with teachers and peers in the early-years school. The book also explores the status of action and uses of materiality in communicative situations with children on the autism spectrum. The book shows objects coming alive in action and in communication, shaping the social foundations and early development of the human psyche. The book is intended for use by scholars and researchers in developmental psychology, teachers in early childhood education (mainly 0-3 years), undergraduate and postgraduate students in the fields of psychology and education, and sociocultural psychologists interested in early development.

This book fills a gap in early developmental psychology by providing a critical reconsideration of the status of artifact objects as protagonists of children's actions and communication. The main thesis explored in the book is that objects are part of the material culture; they have public functions and social meanings that are transmitted by the members of the community. Their meanings are not "naturally" given, and children are not born knowing what to do with objects. All chapters analyze and illustrate communication with parents, or with teachers and peers in the early-years school. The book also explores the status of action and uses of materiality in communicative situations with children on the autism spectrum. The book shows objects coming alive in action and in communication, shaping the social foundations and early development of the human psyche. The book is intended for use by scholars and researchers in developmental psychology, teachers in early childhood education (mainly 0-3 years), undergraduate and postgraduate students in the fields of psychology and education, and sociocultural psychologists interested in early development.