Stages of Learning Piaget

Jean Piaget He was a psychologist who influenced what we know about how children learn. He believed intellectual development takes place in predictable stages as the child’s abilities mature. He suggested that the child’s ability for logical thought is not learned, but determined in the genes. Children cannot be forced to develop understanding until their abilities mature (can’t teach a two year old to read). Children who do not get a chance to apply their developing abilities, may never reach their full intellectual abilities.

Piaget’s four periods of intellectual development: PeriodAgeDescription Sensorimotor Birth- 2 Learns through senses and actions. Baby is completely egocentric (thinks only about himself) Preoperational2-7 Thinks in terms of own activities and what is seen and heard, begins to understand abstract terms (love/beauty), limited concentration (only one thing at a time); pretending and imagining (may not be aware of what is real or make-believe)

Piaget’s Intellectual Stages PeriodAgeDescription 3) Concrete Operations 7-11Learns best through direct experience; logical thinking possible; can classify objects (animals or foods) 4) Formal Operations 11- adultAbstract thinking develops (problem- solving/ future- planning); thinks critically (do not accept everything they see or read); forms ideals

Piaget's Stages of Intellectual Development

Symbolic thinking Symbolic thinking is the ability to use words or numbers to represent ideas. Younger children, who have not developed symbolic thought, rely on concrete experiences (Saying “I have 4 balls” means nothing to a young child- they have to see the balls). Preschool child needs objects or symbols, not just words to learn.

Heredity versus Environment Limits for intelligence are present at birth- bright parents have bright children (heredity). A child’s environment can actually increase or decrease his or her intelligence. Heredity set the limits of intelligence, while environment determines how close to the limits a person gets!

Key Terms: Object permanence: recognizing that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight. Symbolic thinking: the use of words and numbers to represent ideas.