Technology: A Tool for Knowledge Construction in a Reggio Emilia Inspired Teacher Education Program

This article describes the application of technology in Reggio Emilia inspired early childhood and teacher education programs at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. We have found that technology used in a Reggio inspired program can be a valuable tool for the representation and organization of ideas, collaboration among a specific learning community, visualization and reflection on thinking, and communication of learning to the broader community. Our experiences and reflections suggest that the integration of technology in a Reggio inspired curriculum supports knowledge construction of both children and student teachers.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42650/1/10643_2004_Article_477971.pd

The Influence of Children's Literature on Gender Role Perceptions: A Reexamination

This project reexamined young children's gender attitudes regarding occupational roles. The results of this study suggested that young children's atitudes, while still generally stereotypic, were more flexible regarding occupational roles. The reading of carefully selected books and book related activities positively influenced gender attitudes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42647/1/10643_2004_Article_416648.pd

Using Technology in Reggio-Inspired Long-Term Projects

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42648/1/10643_2004_Article_290536.pd

Children's recall and recognition of sex role stereotyped and discrepant information

This research investigated the influence of differing levels of sex role stereotyped and discrepant information on immediate and delayed (one week) memory. Specifically, kindergarten and second-grade children's recall and recognition of stereotyped, moderately discrepant, and highly discrepant pictures were compared. In Study 1, a sorting procedure was utilized to determine the level of stereotyping of 34 toys. From this study 12 toys were selected as stimuli for Study 2. In Study 2, children's immediate and delayed recall and recognition was assessed. Results suggested significantly better recall of highly discrepant pictures than stereotyped or moderately discrepant pictures. In addition, immediate recall was better than delayed recall and second-grade recall was better than kindergarten recall. Similar trends emerged with the recognition task. Results were discussed with respect to the schematic processing model.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45579/1/11199_2004_Article_BF00289952.pd

Development of Story Characters in Gender-Stereotypic and -Nonstereotypic Occupational Roles

This research examined the creative writing responses of 140 third- and sixth-grade boy and girl writers to story characters cast in either stereotypic (male mechanic and female nurse) or nonstereotypic (female mechanic and male nurse) occupational roles. The 560 stories were examined for maintenance of character in assigned occupational role, development of character along gender-stereotypic and -nonstereotypic lines, and evidence of gender change in the lead character. Results suggested that development of character was consistent with gender expectations for the lead character in the stereotypic stories and in the nonstereotypic female mechanic story. For the nonstereotypic male nurse story, the development of character was consistent with the author's gender. Further evidence of stereotypic thinking occurred in those nonstereotypic stories where the lead character's gender was changed to be consistent with the stereotype of the occupational role. These findings support previous research on gender differences and gender perceptionsPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66818/2/10.1177_0272431690104005.pd