Cognitive Modifiability, Emotional–Motivational Factors, and Behavioral Characteristics Among Gifted Versus Nongifted Children

The zone of actual and the zone of proximal development measured through preschool dynamic assessment as predictors of later school performance - a longitudinal study

The goal of the study was to examine whether the zone of actual (ZAD) and the zone of proximal development (ZPD) in children, measured through preschool dynamic assessment, could be used as predictors of later school performance. A longitudinal study was conducted. The participants were 114 students from the ?Stevan Colovic? primary school in Arilje (54 boys, and 60 girls), Serbia. The findings generally confirm that measures from preschool dynamic assessment can be used as predictors of later school performance. ZAD was shown to be a better predictor than ZPD. ZPD is an independent predictor only for performance in language and mathematics tests in a final trial test. Affective-motivational scaffolding is a better predictor than cognitive scaffolding. These results are considered in the context of Vygotsky?s theory and also in that of dynamic assessment procedures. Theoretical and practical implications for future studies of affective-motivational and cognitive factors as predictors of school performance are being considered.

Dynamic Testing of Children's Solving of Analogies: Differences in Potential for Learning of Gifted and Average-Ability Children

This study investigated potential differences in the processes of solving analogies between gifted and average-ability children (aged 9–10 years old) in a dynamic testing setting. Utilizing a pre-test-training-post-test control group design, participants were split in four subgroups: gifted dynamic testing (n= 24), gifted control (n= 26), average-ability dynamic testing (n= 48), and average-ability control (n= 52). Irrespective of ability group, dynamic testing resulted in a larger number of accurately applied transformations, changes in the proportion of preparation time utilized, and more advanced usage of solution categories. Differences were found between and within the groups of gifted and average-ability children in relation to the different process variables examined.

Gifted and Average-Ability Children's Potential for Solving Analogy Items

Analogical reasoning is assumed to play a large role in learning and problem solving in everyday and school settings. It was examined whether a newly developed dynamic test of analogical reasoning would be sufficiently difficult for identifying young gifted children’s potential for solving analogies. The study included 74 gifted (n = 31) and average-ability (n = 43) children between 7 and 8 years old. Employing a pre-test–training–post-test format, in which half of the children received a graduated prompts training and the other half received a control task between pre-test and post-test, it was investigated (1) whether trained children would improve more in accuracy from pre-test to post-test than their untrained peers, and whether (2) gifted and average-ability children would demonstrate differences in their level of improvement from pre-test to post-test, and (3) their needs for instruction during training. The results indicated that dynamically tested children improved more than those in the control condition. In addition, the dynamic test seemed sufficiently difficult for the gifted children: regardless of whether they were trained, gifted children demonstrated superior accuracy scores than their average-ability agemates at pre-test and post-test, but similar levels of improvement. They were also found to need fewer instructions during training.

Child Modifiability as a Predictor of Language Abilities in Deaf Children Who Use American Sign Language

PURPOSE

This research explored the use of dynamic assessment (DA) for language-learning abilities in signing deaf children from deaf and hearing families.

METHOD

Thirty-seven deaf children, aged 6 to 11 years, were identified as either stronger (n = 26) or weaker (n = 11) language learners according to teacher or speech-language pathologist report. All children received 2 scripted, mediated learning experience sessions targeting vocabulary knowledge—specifically, the use of semantic categories that were carried out in American Sign Language. Participant responses to learning were measured in terms of an index of child modifiability. This index was determined separately at the end of the 2 individual sessions. It combined ratings reflecting each child's learning abilities and responses to mediation, including social-emotional behavior, cognitive arousal, and cognitive elaboration.

RESULTS

Group results showed that modifiability ratings were significantly better for stronger language learners than for weaker language learners. The strongest predictors of language ability were cognitive arousal and cognitive elaboration.

CONCLUSION

Mediator ratings of child modifiability (i.e., combined score of social-emotional factors and cognitive factors) are highly sensitive to language-learning abilities in deaf children who use sign language as their primary mode of communication. This method can be used to design targeted interventions.