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

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

Lev Vygotsky Socio-cultural theory

Importance of culture and society on a child ’ s learning –knowledge is socially constructed –culturally determined Importance of interactions with more- abled members of the society –zone of proximal development –scaffolding

Language is the foundation of all higher cognitive processes –private speech –inner speech Development is continuous, not occurring in stages

Contributions of Vygotsky's Theories to Current Practice opportunities for discovery and play opportunities for social interactions in learning use of language to enhance conceptual development