Course Syllabus
Learning area
Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding
· Typical cognitive development: models, methods and instruments to assess cognitive development
· Atypical cognitive development: etiological models explaining neurodevelopmental disorders
· Experimental designs to study neurodevelopmental disorders.
Applying knowledge and understanding
· Understanding, analysis, and evaluation of research designs in cognitive developmental psychology
· Identifying and analyzing the critical elements of research designs to understand different application in cognitive development
· Applying experimental paradigms for the investigation of typical and atypical cognitive development and its relationships with behavior and emotions.
Contents
Studies on
cognitive development are devoted to understand the etiology of
neurodevelopmental disorders, improving assessment tools and treatment
programs. In this course different types of cognitive processes will be
presented and discussed: attention, memory, executive function, school
learning, language, theory of mind, intelligence and visuo-spatial skills.
These cognitive processes will be analyzed in connection to neurodevelopmental
disorders (ADHD, Autism, Learning Disability, Language Impairment), school
inclusion, effects of the new media on cognition, and the reliability of child
witness. Students will familiarize with several tests for the assessment of
cognitive development. Neurological basis and use of new devices related to
cognitive development will be presented and discussed.
Detailed program
The course focuses on theory and practice of the research approach to analyze different phenomena in cognitive development:
· Assessment and treatment of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: in particular, Learning Disabilities, ADHD and Autism.
· Neurological basis of developmental disorders.
· Trainings for children with neurodevelopmental disorders: how to define a project and how to test their efficacy
· Use of new technology to train cognitive processes in children.
· School inclusion of children with Special Educational Needs
· Atypical development of Attention and Executive Function in relation to technological devices
· The psychological issues related to legal psychology in children.
Prerequisites
A background in developmental psychology and cognitive psychology will help in understanding the course content. Students lacking such basic knowledge are encouraged to ask for a list of basic references.
Teaching methods
The teaching method will be interactive and will take place through the discussion of scientific articles, videos’ presentations and comments, practical exercises, and discussions on the course topics. The course material (slides and, when possible, scientific articles) will be made available on the e-learning site of the course so that also non-attending students can use it.
Lessons will be held in presence, unless further COVID-19 related
restrictions are imposed.
Assessment methods
The exam will verify the level of mastery of the course contents with special attention to:
- Methods and research designs for treatment evaluation;
- Methods and research designs in cognitive development;
- Ability to elaborate course contents;
- Ability to analyze a scientific paper in the field of cognitive development.
The exam will consist of an oral presentation + discussion of a paper on cognitive development and a written research project derived from the scientific paper.
For attending students the oral presentation + discussion of the paper could be done during the course. Non-attending students have to present and discuss the paper during the oral exam. In both cases, students have to write a work project that could be presented in class or during the oral exam.
Textbooks and Reading Materials
1) Slides presented in class
2) Papers will be presented at the beginning of the classThe bibliography will be provided at the beginning of the class and published in the class web-site.
Staff
-
Gian Marco Marzocchi
-
Elena Nava