Search

THE REDEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHMENT PROCEDURES USED TO INDUCE CHANGES IN THE LEARNING PROCESS OF ADOLESCENTS (AGES 12-15) WILL BE EVALUATED. THE EXTENT OF MODIFICATION AND THE BEST ENVIRONMENT FOR CHANGE ARE SECONDARY INTERESTS. INSTRUMENTAL ENRICHMENT, A CONSCIOUS RELEARNING OF LEARNING SETS, IS THE PROPOSED TECHNIQUE FOR ACHIEVING COGNITIVE REDEVELOPMENT. SOME DEGREE OF INDUCED REGRESSION WILL ACCOMPANY THIS METHOD TO ALLOW GRADUAL, NONTHREATENING LEARNING. TWO GROUPS WILL BE FORMED, EACH GROUP CONSISTING OF SUBGROUPS DIVIDED BY THE VARIABLES, "DEEPLY DEPRIVED" AND "SIGNIFICANTLY DEPRIVED." GROUP "A" WILL HAVE 150 STUDENTS LIVING IN A YOUTH VILLIAGE. GROUP "B" WILL HAVE 120 STUDENTS ATTENDING A DAY CENTER. IT IS HYPOTHESIZED THAT THE RESIDENTIAL SETTING WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN RECONSTRUCTING THE IMPORTANT LIFE STAGES DURING WHICH THE COGNITIVE PROCESSES DISTORTED BY CULTURAL DEPRIVATION CAN BE RELEARNED. BOTH GROUPS WILL BE DIVIDED EQUALLY BY SEX AND PROPORTIONALLY BY THE AMOUNT OF INSTRUCTIONAL ENRICHMENT RECEIVED (ALL OR NONE). EACH GROUP WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PROJECT FOR 2 YEARS AND WILL BE EVALUATED 2 YEARS AFTER THE PROGRAM'S COMPLETION. (NC)

The mental and physical development of 994 elementary school children, recruited from populations of High, Medium and Low socio-economic and educational level in Israel was followed up for two (and in part for three) years. The pupils were given mental tests to measure the ability to understand the structure and direction of second order relationships and to reason a priori, even if the correct logical deduction is dissonant with experience. Physical growth was also assessed. Elaboration of parametric correlations indicated that substantial relations between physical and mental growth show up when season of birth is controlled by dichotomizing the sample into Winter and Summer born subjects. Applying a nonparametric data analysis, based on pairs matched closely for chronological age and parental education, and using longitudinally assessed criteria of physiological maturation as independent variables, significant relationship between physiological maturation and mental growth were detected at all three socio-economic and educational levels. The findings indicate that pre-adolescence and early puberty are critical periods of maturationally determined acceleration in mental development, during which conspicuous progress is made in the ability of formal reasoning. (Author/SK)

To assess static balance ability in children 239 subjects (ages 5 to 9) were tested using a technique of electronic ataxiametry. Body weight displacement was measured for various postures. The scores correlated significantly with teacher's evaluation of school preparedness, basic math skills, and reading achievement in samples of normal children. Girls who ranked high in static balance ability in comparison to boys showed higher scores within sex group correlations between equilibrium control and between school and reading readiness. Thirty-three educationally handicapped students who had slightly lower static balance scores in postures with occluded vision were efficiently divided into balance impaired and balance unimpaired groups. Indications were that the study appears to add to the knowledge of the role of maturational and organismic factors in learning difficulties in both normal and educationally handicapped children in primary grades. Extensive tables of results are included. (Author/JM)

A sample of 247 Educationally Handicapped (EH) children at ages 6-10 was investigated to determine the role of static balance impairment in learning disabilities and the possibility of improving reading through balance training. Significant correlations between balance ability and reading level were found in only about 40% of the sample, indicating that learning difficulties of EH children may be categorized into balance related and balance unrelated. Three experimental subsamples were given a short term, structured, and programed balance training of equal duration (6 weeks), starting at different dates. One subgroup under the age of 9 and of average intelligence showed significant increase in reading ability after training when compared to controls matched for IQ, age, sex, father's occupation and balance ability. No experimental effects were apparent in the other two E-groups with higher age and lower intelligence. Nonreaders who also manifested low static balance ability did not improve in equilibrium control nor in reading in spite of intensified balance training of 12 weeks. Trainability in balance was significantly correlated with Performance IQ and reading level prior to the training. Length of stay in EH class correlated positively with reading in those experimentals whose reading improved after balance training. (Author)

This paper discusses the use of mediated learning which involves training given to other humans by an experienced adult who frames, selects, focuses and feeds back environmental experiences in such a manner as to create learning situations. The authors' program utilizing such an approach is described. (Author/EJT)

The post-World War II rehabilitation of large numbers of psychologically deprived and socially maladjusted teenaged war orphans and/or concentration camp victims in Israel was carried out within normal group structures. (Author)