Labels direct infants’ attention to commonalities during novel category learning

Recent studies have provided evidence that labeling can influence the outcome of infants’ visual categorization. However, what exactly happens during learning remains unclear. Using eye-tracking, we examined infants’ attention to object parts during learning. Our analysis of looking behaviors during learning provide insights going beyond merely observing the learning outcome. Both labeling and non-labeling phrases facilitated category formation in 12-month-olds but not 8-month-olds (Experiment 1). Non-linguistic sounds did not produce this effect (Experiment 2). Detailed analyses of infants’ looking patterns during learning revealed that only infants who heard labels exhibited a rapid focus on the object part successive exemplars had in common. Although other linguistic stimuli may also be beneficial for learning, it is therefore concluded that labels have a unique impact on categorization

TurtleGO: Application with Cubes for Children's Spatial Ability Based on AR Technology

In this paper, we introduce a new application called TurtleGO that uses augmented reality (AR) technology, with which K-2 children can experience a geometric sense of the egocentric perspective. This application was developed with the concept of Logo-MicroWorlds, which allows children to examine and simulate their geometric ideas in a virtual world with a turtle agent. TurtleGO provides children with real-time feedback in a monitor representing the augmented turtle image on blocks based on AR technology while children are playing with actual blocks. Our application is flexible and inexpensive as it makes possible the use of various sized cubes already in possession. All the children between grades 2 through 5 improved in their ability to distinguish pair of stimuli as identical or mirror images when they used TurtleGO. However, we found that our application provides an effective and intuitive AR learning environment to lower grade elementary students, improving their spatial transformation skills since upper graders could solve the tasks easily without it.N