Overview

"The concept of ""psychological tools"" is a cornerstone of L. S. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory of cognitive development. Psychological tools are the symbolic cultural artifacts--signs, symbols, texts, formulae, and most fundamentally, language--that enable us to master psychological functions like memory, perception, and attention in ways appropriate to our cultures. In this lucid book, Alex Kozulin argues that the concept offers a useful way to analyze cross-cultural differences in thought and to develop practical strategies for educating immigrant children from widely different cultures. Kozulin begins by offering an overview of Vygotsky's theory, which argues that consciousness arises from communication as civilization transforms ""natural"" psychological functions into ""cultural"" ones. He also compares sociocultural theory to other innovative approaches to learning, cognitive education in particular. And in a vivid case study, the author describes his work with recent Ethiopian immigrants to Israel, whose traditional modes of learning were oral and imitative, and who consequently proved to be quick at learning conversational Hebrew, but who struggled with the reading, writing, and formal problem solving required by a Western classroom. Last, Kozulin develops Vygotsky's concept of psychological tools to promote literature as a useful tool in cognitive development. With its explication of Vygotsky's theory, its case study of sociocultural pedagogy, and its suggested use of literary text for cognitive development, Psychological Tools will be of considerable interest to research psychologists and educators alike."

Full Product Details

Author:   Alex Kozulin
Publisher:   Harvard University Press
Imprint:   Harvard University Press
Edition:   New edition
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.20cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.236kg
ISBN:  

9780674007086

ISBN 10:   0674007085
Pages:   192
Publication Date:   21 December 2001
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Out of stock  
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Table of Contents

Preface Introduction The Concept of Psychological Activity Piaget, Vygotsky, and the Cognitive Revolution The Mediated Learning Experience and Psychological Tools Cognitive Education Cognitive Skills in Immigrant and Ethnic Minority Students Literature as a Psychological Tool The Challenges of Prospective Education References Acknowledgments Index

Reviews

This is a magnificent book. It is brief, devourable and rich in both its erudition and [its] thought-provoking ideas. As soon as I had finished it for the first time, I immediately began again... This is a book which can be read at a number of different levels and where the author's love of and deep knowledge about his subject shines through every page. - Bob Burden, British Journal of Educational Psychology

Author Information

Alex Kozulin is Academic Coordinator of the International Department at the Feuerstein Institute (The International Institute for the Enhancement of Learning Potential), Jerusalem.

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