Module 1 Final Copy Cognitive Enhancement Advantage PDF
Module 1 Final Copy Cognitive Enhancement Advantage PDF
1 ________________________________________
Cognitive Enrichment Advantage (CEA) is a comprehensive
approach, developed by Katherine Greenberg, to assist
students to become independent thinkers. This approach
includes a common language about critical thinking skills.
CEA gives teachers and students a way to ‘think about their
thinking’ – or engage in ‘metacognition’.
-4-
What is Cognitive Enrichment Advantage?
________________________________________________________________________
3. Family-School-Community Partnership
CEA encourages a partnership between home, school and
community agencies.
All significant people in a child’s life develop a common purpose in
using a shared language about thinking.
There is recognition that families need broad-based support and
need to be integral team members.
It is expected that a child will learn how to learn when they are
always encouraged to actively be involved in what they are learning.
Understanding of the CEA ‘language about thinking’ takes time and
effort.
It is recommended by Katherine Greenberg that students be
engaged in the CEA approach for at least two years for optimal
benefits.
-5-
‘Learning to Think and Thinking to Learn’
Cognitive Enrichment Advantage Uses Evidence-Based Practices to
Develop Students’ Thinking and Learning Skills
_____________________________________________
The goal for successful school systems in a complex, global system goes
beyond achieving high literacy and numeracy levels: “It is about
learning to learn…It is about the joy of learning and the pleasure and
productivity of using one’s learning in all facets of work and life
pursuits.” (Fullan, Hill, & Crevola, 2006, p.3).
Goals
The goal of CEA is to teach learners how to learn. CEA assists students, teachers, and
families to learn and use a common language about cognitive, motivational, and
affective processes. Greenberg (2000a) describes this language as being
‘metastrategic’ because children use this language to develop their own personal
learning strategies in a variety of situations. Children are not given or directly taught
specific strategies. Through ‘mediated learning experiences’ children are assisted to
discover and apply a ‘language about thinking’.
Within the CEA approach teachers and families are assisted to adopt a ‘mediational’
teaching style, as well as learn about the common metastrategic language (Malloy-
Miller, Currie & Tucker, 2002). Mediated learning occurs when a more expert person
assists a learner to discover needed information or strategies (Feuerstein, 1980).
Greenberg (2000b) believes that it is essential for teachers and families to use
mediational questioning for children to be able to truly understand the CEA concepts
and construct their own strategies. Greenberg’s studies indicate that a child benefits
most after two years of exposure to CEA methods (Greenberg, 2000a).
The effect size for reading ranged from +0.20 to + 0.55; for language, from +0.90 to
+1.0; and for math from +1.0 to +1.5, in favour of the CEA school sites 1 .
Greenberg (1994) also studied the effect of CEA on the teaching style of teachers.
Teachers from both the CEA school sites and comparison schools were videotaped.
The interactions between the teacher and the students were analysed for examples of
mediational teaching by an observational system (Greenberg 1990), a rating scale
(Lidz, 1993, cited in Greenberg, 2000a), and a teacher-child interaction rating
(Brophy & Good, 1969, cited in Greenberg, 2000a). Teachers in the CEA sites
displayed greater use of mediational teaching methods (effect size of +0.9).
Greenberg (2000a) also collected data from a smaller group of students from both
CEA schools and comparisons schools, using dynamic assessment measures
concerning intrinsic motivation and attention. Students from CEA schools revealed
significantly increased intrinsic motivation and attention relative to students in
comparison schools. Greenberg’s work meets all of the evidenced-based practice
quality indicators described by Montague and Dietz (2009).
1An effect size of .20 is considered small, .30 is considered educationally important, .50 as medium
and .80 or higher as a large effect size.
-7-
4. Learning progresses through common developmental stages and is
influenced by heredity and environment. This is expressed in a unique
way for all learners.
5. Learning is significantly shaped by social context or situation.
Vygotsky’s concept of a Zone of Proximal development, where a more
knowledgeable learner guides the learning of less skilled learner, is
recognized as a frequent and effective source of learning.
These learning principles are reflected in the design and delivery of the CEA
Program.
-8-
concept of Self Regulation. They understand this concept relative to the tasks and
expectations of their grade level Malloy-Miller, et al., 2002). Students’ knowledge of
Self Regulation builds over time (Ylvisaker & Feeney, 2008). Parents and teachers
find that after extended exposure to CEA concepts, their children/students became
more independent at home and at school and often used the term Self Regulation
(Malloy-Miller et al., 2002).
-9-
Provide Examples and Encourage Students to Apply to Their
Problems; Connect Abstract and Concrete Examples;
Combine Graphic and Verbal Descriptions:
As children in CEA classrooms are guided through a discovery discussion
about a new CEA concept, the teacher-mediator offers examples of how
she/he might use that concept and then the children add their examples.
Examples are generated throughout the school day and the children begin to
use the concepts to develop their own learning strategies. During the
introduction discussions, teachers pose a series of questions prompting the
students to think more deeply about the CEA concept. The responses of the
children are recorded in mind maps, concept maps or other graphic
organizers. Teachers often keep these records as anchor charts to refer back
to or add onto with their students. During the introductory discussion, the
students summarize their ideas about the CEA concept into a general
statement or principle about the main idea of that concept (e.g., “If I use
‘Exploration’ then I will get the information that I need and be ready to
learn”). This takes the concrete examples of the students and helps them to
build a more abstract rule that they can apply in a variety of situations
(Greenberg, 2000b, Malloy-Miller et al., 2002).
A similar effect for deep level questioning has also been demonstrated with
grade eight students (Chi, De Leeuw, Chiu & Lavancher, 1994) and with grade
four students (King, 1994).
- 11 -
regulation. They added that a disposition toward critical thinking would include
being analytical, systematic, inquisitive, judicious, truth seeking, confident, and
open-minded.
All of these features of critical thinking are represented in the list of cognitive,
affective, and motivational concepts that are presented to children through the CEA
method (Greenberg 2000b).
Conclusion:
Cognitive Enrichment Advantage incorporates educational and psychological best
practices related to children ‘learning how to learn’. Kathy Greenberg (2000a)
completed effectiveness studies to verify the best practice basis of CEA. Cognitive
Enrichment Advantage can be an effective ‘toolkit’ for teachers and parents whom
support and guide children’s learning.
- 12 -
A Little Bit of History…
_________________________________________________________________________
Cognitive Enrichment Advantage (CEA) has been used by teachers within the
Thames Valley District School Board since 2000. CEA was introduced to the Thames
Valley district through a community partnership between the primary children’s
service agencies in the London area. These included:
Thames Valley Children’s Centre
Thames Valley District School Board
London District Catholic School Board
Madame Vanier Children’s Services
Learning Disabilities Association – London Region
Middlesex-London Health Unit
Kids Count
Investing in Children
Parents for Children with Attention Deficit Disorder.
From that Steering Committee group the project, Kids On-Track (KOT), was formed
as a vehicle to demonstrate CEA and provide educational opportunities for families
and teachers. From 2000 to 2003 funding support was received from the:
National Crime Prevention Centre
The Solicitor General’s Office of Ontario
The Trillium Foundation
May Court Club of London.
All of the Community Partners made in-kind donations. From 2003 to 2010 funding
was shared between TVCC and TVDSB.
The Kids On-Track (KOT) project sent out an annual invitation to Elementary
School Principals to consider beginning with the CEA approach. Since September
2000 KOT has coached more than 250 TVDSB teachers in 24 TVDSB school sites,
and through workshops an additional 25 teachers, 6 School Support Counselors,
staff in the TVDSB Steps For Success program and staff at Madame Vanier
Children’s Services. Four schools from the London and District Catholic School
Board participated in the first two years of the KOT project and a number of
teaching staff from the LDCSB have attended CEA workshops.. KOT has had many
connections with families over the years via family meetings, newsletters and
attendance at workshops.
Through the KOT project a group of dedicated and knowledgeable educational and
health professionals was built who are readily able to foster the development of
children’s critical thinking skills.
Now in 2010, the coaching and educational support of the Kids On-Track project
has been transformed into an electronic learning tool. The vision is still the same.
The core belief is that children can be supported to develop their potential
through the development of critical thinking skills. This is especially
important for children who are at risk for learning, attention, movement and
behavioural difficulties. The intent is to foster the use of a language about
thinking as a basis for children to develop their own success strategies
for schoolwork, playground activities, leisure pursuits and community
participation.
- 13 -
Cognitive Enrichment Advantage is all about “Learning to Think and
Thinking to Learn”. This is the essence of metacognitive functioning and the
basis of metacognitive strategies. Thank you for joining in the pursuit of helping all
children be the best thinkers possible!
- 14 -
Module 1:
Cognitive Enrichment Advantage
(CEA): Practice Activity
_________________________________________________________
Watch the video interviews with teachers who use the CEA approach in their
classrooms (Video 7).
Tip:
Mediated Learning is the key to CEA.
Check out Module Two and Video 2.
- 15 -
Cognitive Enrichment Advantage: Reading List:
________________________________________________________________________
Ashman, A. F., & Conway, R. N. (1997). An introduction to cognitive education: Theory &
applications. London: Routledge.
Ben-Hur, M. (2000). Learning and transfer- A Tautology. In A. Costa (Ed.), Teaching for
Intelligence II: A Collection of Articles, Arlington Heights, Illinois: Skylight Professional
Development.
Chi, M. T., De Leeuw, N., Chiu, M., & Lavancher, C. (1994). Eliciting self-explanations
improves understanding. Cognitive Science, 18, 439- 477.
Craig, S. D., Sullins, J., Witherspoon, A., & Gholson, B. (2006). The deep-level reasoning-
question effect: The role of dialogue and deep-level reasoning questions during vicarious
learning. Cognition and Instruction, 24, 565-591.
Duffy, G. G. (1993) Teacher’s progress toward becoming expert strategy teachers. The
Elementary School Teacher, 94,109-120.
Expert Panel On Literacy and Numeracy Instruction For Students With Special Education
Needs, Kindergarten to Grade 6. (2005). Education for all. Toronto, ON: Ontario Ministry of
Education.
Facione, P. A. (2006). Critical thinking: What is it and why does it count? Retrieved from
www.insightassessment.com.
Feuerstein, R., Rand, Y., Hoffman, M., & Miller, M. (1980). Instrumental enrichment: An
intervention program for cognitive modifiability. Baltimore, MD: University Park Press.
Flavell, J. H. (1985). Cognitive development (2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Fullan, M., Hill, P., & Crevola, C. (2006). Breakthrough. Thousands Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Garet, M. S., Porter, A. C., Desimone, L., Birman, B., & Yoon, K. S. (2001). What makes
professional development effective? Results from a national sample of teachers. Educational
Research Journal, 38, 915-945.
Georghiades, P. (2004). From the general to the specific: Three decades of metacognition.
International Journal of Science Education, 26, 365-383.
- 16 -
Greenberg, K. H. (1994). Differences in the degree of mediated learning and classroom
interaction structure for trained and untrained teachers. Journal of Classroom Interaction,
29, 1-9.
Greenberg, K.H. (2000). Attending to hidden needs: The cognitive enrichment advantage
perspective. Educational and Child Psychology, 17, 51- 69.
Haywood, C. (1987). A mediational teaching style. The Thinking Teacher, 6, (1), 1-6.
King, A., Staffieri, A., & Adelgais, A. (1998). Mutual peer tutoring: Effects of structuring
tutorial interaction to scaffold peer learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 90, 134-
152.
Malloy-Miller, T. , Currie, M., & Tucker, M. A. (2002). A qualitative analysis of parent and
teacher observations of a community–based cognitive education program: Experiences,
issues and strategies. Unpublished manuscript, London, ON: Thames Valley Children’s
Centre.
McCombs, B. L. (2001). What do we know about learners and learning? The learner-
centered framework: Bringing the educational system into balance. Educational Horizons,
Spring, 182-193.
McCombs, B. L., & Vakili, D. (2005). A learner-centered framework for e-learning. Teachers
College Record, 107, 1582-1600.
Montague, M., & Dietz, S. (2009). Evaluating the evidence base for cognitive strategy
instruction and mathematical problem solving. Exceptional Children, 75, 285-302.
Murphy, K., & Alexander, A. (2007). Contextualizing learner-centered principles for teachers
and teaching. In W. D. Hawley, & D. L. Rollie (Eds.), The keys to effective schools (pp.13-32).
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
- 17 -
Nutbrown, C. (1994). Threads of thinking. London, UK: Paul Chapman.
Pashler, H., Bain, P., Bottge, B., Graesser, A., Koedinger, K., McDaniel, M., & Metcalfe, J.
(2007). Organizing instruction and study to improve student learning (NCER 2007-
2004).Washington, DC: National Center for Education Research, Institute of Education
Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from http://ncer.ed.gov.
Tracy, B., Reid, R., & Graham, S. (2009). Teaching young students strategies for planning
and drafting stories: The impact of self-regulated strategy development. The Journal of
Educational Research, 102, 323-331.
VanLehn, K., Graesser, A. C., Jackson, G. T., Jordan, P., Olney, A., & Rose, C. P. (2007).
When are tutorial dialogues more effective than reading? Cognitive Science, 31, 3-62.
Ylvisaker, M., & Feeney, T. (2008). Helping children without making them helpless:
Facilitating development of executive self-regulation in children and adolescents. In V. H.
Anderson, R. Jacobs, & P. Anderson (Eds.), Executive functions and the frontal lobe: A
lifespan perspective (pp. 409- 438). London, UK: Taylor and Francis.
- 18 -