Abstract:

This paper focuses on certain aspects of the complex interplay between gender and academic achievement. A host of mediating factors seems to exert varying degrees of influence on the interaction between gender and school achievement. We present preliminary findings from an extensive review of the literature and discuss their significance from the perspective of the ecological paradigm of human development. Interactions can be categorized along the lines of proximal and distal dimensions. Proximal dimensions refer to specific social, physical, or symbolic variables that directly impinge on the child (including family structure, parenting styles, father absence, play groups and 'cliques') while distal dimensions refer to interactions that include societal institutions (including place of residence, social class and social support networks). A major sustainable influence originates in the preschool experiences of children as they affect later academic achievement and particularly in the categories of learning goals. Boys and girls appear to attribute different meaning to early experiences by adopting learning styles emerging from distinct interactive and play styles. The emerging evidence points to the need for new research to establish causal relations and/or new explanatory frameworks.

Bionote

Demetra Evangelou has a PhD in Early Childhood Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research interests focus on outcome issues in Early Childhood Education and their implications for teacher training.

Lilian G. Katz has a PhD from Stanford University and is Professor Emerita of Early Childhood Education at the University of Illinois. She is the Director of the ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She is a world renown authority in Early Childhood Education and has published and lectured extensively on the subject.

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Presentation Type
30 min. Paper

Presentation Equipment and Other Requests
Video projector (Data Projector) for Powerpoint

Speaking Date/Time Restrictions

Country
USA