Cognitive Development

Explain the core knowledge perspective of cognitive development, noting research that both supports

and challenges its assumptions. Describe the information processing view of cognitive development

including its contributions and limitations.

Core knowledge perspective, babies are born with a set of innate knowledge systems, or core domains

of thought. Each of these prewired understandings permits a ready grasp of new related information

and therefore supports early, rapid development. (Berk pg 159)

Core knowledge theorists argue that infants could not makes sense of the complex stimulation around

them without having been genetically “set up” in the course of revolution to comprehend it's crucial

aspects.(Berk pg 159)

Example: Does a child learn to build a tower with blocks by watching others or did the child begin

life with the task built in.

Information processing researches agree with Piaget that children are active,inquiring beings, but

instead of providing a single unified theory of cognitive developing they focus on many aspects

of thinking, from attention, memory and categorization skills to complex problem solving.

(Berk pg 160)

Theorists want to know exactly what individuals of different ages do when faced with a task or

problem. There are three parts to the information processing system. Sensory register represents

sights and sounds directly. Working or short term memory holds limited amount of information

that is worked on to facilitate memory and problem solving. Long term memory stores information

permanently. (Berk pg 161)

Characteristics and signs of high quality education in elementary school. Describe the U.S. No Child

Left Behind Act. Discuss the pro's and cons of high-stakes testing.

Characteristics and signs of high quality education include a number of categories.

Classroom Size is a characteristic. A sign that is of high quality education is that the size of the...