The social structure of memory and the use of external representation systems: pedagogical possibilities

• Grant number: 14/17635-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Education
• Principal Investigator: Maria Silvia Pinto de Moura Librandi da Rocha
• Grantee: Maria Silvia Pinto de Moura Librandi da Rocha
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (PUC-CAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The general objective of this research is to investigate the use of external representation systems and the social structure of memory during pedagogical practices in a pre-school classroom. The specific objectives are the following: (i) to map which external representation systems that improve mediated memory skills are made available by the teacher on the day by day of a pre-school classroom with 5-6 year-old children; (ii) to examine, along with this classroom's teacher, how children use such external representation systems; (iii) to plan, with the teacher, the construction of new external representation systems in order to develop the children's mediated memory; (iv) to register the use of such new systems on the day by day; and (v) to analyze, together with the teacher, how children use the new external representation systems. Such objectives will be achieved by observing (filming) the school's day by day and by having meetings with the classroom's teacher. The analyses will aim to identify (i) trends in the children's psychological operations of mediated memory and (ii) possibilities for building external representation systems for pedagogical practices. It is expected that the results will allow a further advance on the theoretical knowledge on mediated memory development and will help building pedagogical practices along the process. Besides, as it is a collaborative research, it aims to contribute with teacher education. (AU)