Class notes, April 10, 2008

For Mid-term Exam:

1. Research the topic you have chosen
2. Summarize your findings
3. Write 10 questions
4. The answer to each question MUST be included in your summary, or a reference link provided
5. Questions must be posted by Thursday April 17th
6. Each person was assigned a number, based on their birth month, and must answer each question with that number (i.e. if you were born in in the month of January, you must answer question # 1 for each topic).
7. Bring your answers to class on April 24th.

NOTE: there will be no in-class session next week.

Class notes:

Kim talked about the textbook's chapter on Piaget (cognitive/knowledge development; stages of development; cultural and environmental influences on stages of development), then lead a discussion of Piaget's main contribution: 4 stages of development and 3 developmental processes.

We then watched a video on Piaget, with breaks for two exercises: schema for driving a car, and 20 questions.

We participated in an exercise where 3 groups selected the 10 best questions developed for Chapter 6 and posted them to a wiki. We discovered that entries can be wiped out by the last person saving his/her information while others are working. Kim then lead a discussion of the questions. An important principle arose: make questions only about important things. Avoid trivia. Ask yourself: what are the main points students need to know about this topic?

ALSO NOTE: before April 24th, you are expected to indicate your topic idea for your Final Project on the wiki page Kim set up for that purpose.