Joan Travers Simon

Modelling Learning: an Empirical Transdisciplinary Approach Joan Travers Simon

Based on the author's empirically based research on children's literacy development at home and school, Joan Travers Simon (Ph. D.) postulates and critically reviews a model of learning, informed by cultural psychology and sociocultural theory. The transdisciplinary approach, complemented by diachronic and synchronic data analysis, brings to light potential variations between long-term and short-term development. It also stresses the importance of time as a complex variable in developmental issues in conjunction with the proactive, dialogic nature of social agents negotiating environmental cues at varying levels of consciousness. In an insightful manner, appealing to the various stakeholders in children's development, and particularly to practising and future teachers, the author convincingly argues for a reassessment of central notions regarding children's learning and how we as adults may best support such learning processes.