Child Development in and Beyond Schools

(Formerly EDUC 144). How schools form a context for children's social and cognitive development. Focus is on early and middle childhood. Transactional processes between children and learning opportunities in classroom contexts. Topics include: alternative theoretical perspectives on the nature of child development; early experience and fit with traditional school contexts; assessment practices and implications for developing identities as learners; psychological conceptions of motivational processes and alternative perspectives; the role of peer relationships in schools; and new designs for learning environments. Readings address social science and methodological issues. STEP Elementary only.