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Part 1: Keen Attention and Learning Vid

Barbara Rogoff & Maricela Correa-Chavez

Observation in the scientific method, and learning.
UCSC: Some children are especially keen at observing surrounding events
Guatemalan Mayan children were twice as likely to pay attention to surrounding events. European children much less likely to pay attention.

  • Mayan children more likely to learn
    Similar pattern in Mexican children, and those with indiginous heritage
  • Expected to observe, even when not told to pay attention

This attention is a resource for learning

Part 2: Research Paper

Children’s Attention to Interactions Directed to Others: Guatemalan Mayan and European American Patterns

  • Maricela Correa-Chavez and Barbara Rogoff - UCSC

third-party attention - attending events not addressed to oneself

  • central to learning in communities with Indigenous Mesoamerican history

By age 3 they can keep a running tab of what and where their family members are doing?

Attention styles:

  • Mayan toddlers and mothers showing attention to multiple events of interests
  • European quickly alternating instead

Also:

  • Ability to maintain engaged as an observer differed
    • Could this be correlated to growing up with siblings/forced to shared attention?