42.066 - Vygotsky in Colombia

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

Among the many changes taking place in the South American country of Colombia is a radical rethinking of the goals and methods of education. The objectives of this session are to share with the AERA audience empirical data and theoretical frameworks from a country that is not well known, initiate a dialog between Colombian educators and other practitioners and researchers with similar concerns, illustrate ways a Vygotskyan theoretical framework is playing an important role in Colombian education today. The three papers will describe: a pilot program to transform instructional practices in public schools in an economically-disadvantaged area of Bogotá; an investigation to explore how preschool teachers interact with toddlers; research in a preschool designed and run by the Muisca community.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Cultural-Historical Research

Chair

• Martin John Packer, Universidad de los Andes

Papers

• The Development of Scientific Concepts in Colombian Sixth Graders: Environment and Nature - Eduardo Escallón, Universidad de los Andes; Paola Peña, Universidad de los Andes; Blanca Isabel Gonzalez, Secretaria de Educación Distrital - Bogotá - Colombia

• Instructional Interactions With Toddlers: An Exploration of Joint Attention in Day Care Centers in Colombia - Paola Guerrero, Universidad de los Andes; Carolina Maldonado, Universidad de los Andes

• Educating Young Children to Be Members of an Indigenous Colombian Community - Martha Rocío Gonzalez, Universidad de los Andes; Martin John Packer, Universidad de los Andes

Discussant

• Stanton E F Wortham, Boston College