Cognitive Development
Jean Piaget Cognitive Development Theory
Kinds of Knowledge physical knowledge logico-mathematical knowledge social knowledge
Constructivism children are active learners, not passive observers organize their knowledge into schemes schemes change through assimilation accommodation
Stages of Cognitive Development children’s schemes change over time, cognition develops in stages, not gradually each stage builds on accomplishments of prior stage
Sensori-motor Stage ages birth – 2 years old infant uses senses and motor abilities to explore first explorations are innate reflexes goal-directed behaviors object permanence
Substages of Sensori-motor Stage 1st: (birth - 1 mo) innate reflexes, circular reactions 2nd: (1-4 mo)primary circular reactions 3rd: (4-8 mo)secondary circular 4th: (8-12 mo)goal directed behavior, object permanence 5th: (12-18 mo) tertiary circular 6th: (18-24 mo) mental representation
Preoperational Stage ages 2-7 child uses mental representations of objects play moves from using real objects to more complex play child’s thinking is perception-bound, egocentric, irreversible, centrated, intuitive, animistic
Concrete operations ages 7-11 child uses logical operations ability to conserve think flexibly seriate classify with more than 1 attribute and with hierarchical thinking
Formal operations ages 12 and up child uses logical operations in a systematic fashion can think abstractly hypothetico-deductive thinking
Contributions of Piaget's Theories to Current Practice focus on active, hands-on learning play is important sensitivity to a child's current level of understanding acceptance of individual differences
Criticisms of Piaget's Ideas research methods underestimated the abilities of younger children didn't adequately consider the role of culture and experience in children’s undertaking of his tasks stage theory