Cognitive Style In Early Education

Cognitive style, a psychological construct, characterizes individual differences in styles of perceiving, remembering, thinking and judging. Originally published in 1990, this volume explores important findings emerging from contemporary research on cognitive style in young children and the implications for classroom practice at the time. Suggestions are provided for using knowledge of cognitive style in classroom settings to match learning tasks to cognitive style and to develop cognitive flexibility. Educators can use knowledge of young children’s and teachers’ cognitive styles to improve the quality of education and educational opportunities for all children.

Originally published in 1976, here is a comprehensive account of the role of cognitive styles in early childhood. The author considers the possible precursors of these styles in infancy, and offers a new classification scheme that helps to clarify the relation of cognitive styles to ability and intelligence. In separate chapters, field independence–dependence, reflection–impulsivity, breadth of categorization, and styles of conceptualization are examined, along with a chapter on the interrelationships between these styles. The final chapter integrates and critically summarizes the significance of cognitive styles during the early years of life. Throughout the volume the author attempts to link cognitive styles with other theoretical constructs (for example, unilinear versus multilinear models of development, Inhelder and Piaget’s studies of classification stages), and finally, the author advances a set of seven conclusions to reflect the contemporary state of knowledge in regard to the character and function of cognitive styles during the early years of life. This volume provides information about the beginnings of cognitive styles in infancy and the course of their development in preschool years. Research is examined both from the viewpoint of developmental change and individual differences among children. The role of sex differences in cognitive styles is thoroughly examined, and, contrary to earlier claims of ‘no difference’, the author convincingly demonstrates that females manifest clear-cut superiority across a wide band of cognitive functions during the pre-school years.

Some educators feel that children's cognitive styles should be taken into account when learning activities are planned for them. The term cognitive styles refers to one's personal style, and describes an individual's mode of understanding, thinking, remembering, judging, and solving problems; in short, how he or she responds to and makes sense of the world. Assessing this functioning makes more sense than relying on a simple score on a standardized intelligence test. Teachers need to be aware of recent cognitive style research and learn to use the results of this research to plan effective educational programs. This book presents historical perspectives, suggests practical classroom applications, and provides implications for future research.

Cognitive style theory suggests that individuals utilize different patterns in acquiring knowledge. This book describes various styles of processing information that are employed by children as they receive new information in various settings—especially in teaching/learning situations. Cognitive style is not an indication of one's level of intelligence, but a description of the unique strategies that learners employ in acquiring new information. This book describes individual differences that have been documented through scholarly investigations of cognitive styles, highlights philosophical and theoretical foundations of cognitive style concepts, and pinpoints implications for classroom practice. Researched concepts are interwoven with current issues such as affirmative action and public policy to promote ideas that assist with a better understanding of at-risk learners and troubled youth in general. Currently, the theory of multiple intelligences is receiving widespread acceptance. This book suggests that MI theory is merely a reframing of cognitive style theory. The book also details how some children diagnosed as hyperactive are improperly labeled.

The ways we think about the world, about ourselves and our personal relations are largely determined by our cognitive schemes, cognitive styles. These cognitive schemes, cognitive styles appear in early childhood, and parents have a decisive role in the learning process. This book examines the parental influence on cognitive styles and through it, to the way of thinking and personal relations of mentally healthy individuals. Also discussed herein are the parental educational influences that impede the individual in adequate adaption to reality.

In 1990, the National Education Goals were established by the President and the 50 state governors. Great attention has been given to Goal 1, dubbed the "readiness" goal: By the year 2000, all children in America will start school ready to learn. The Goal 1 Resource Technical Planning Groups were asked to suggest ways in which Goal 1 could be measured. The purpose of this document is to further amplify the dimensions of early learning and development used by the National Educational Goals Panel to measure progress toward Goal 1. The following five dimensions are discussed: (1) "Physical Well-Being and Motor Development"; (2) "Social and Emotional Development," serving as the foundation for relationships which give meaning to school experience; (3) "Approaches toward Learning," referring to the inclinations, dispositions, or styles that reflect ways children become involved with learning; (4) "Language Development"; and (5) "Cognition and General Knowledge." For each of the dimensions, a rationale; general definition; the relationship to individual, cultural, and contextual variation; and a summary are given. The report concludes with a discussion of underlying issues, implications, and action steps. (Contains 83 references.) (BGC)