Cognitive Development

Outline of Cognitive Development

I. Development

A. Definition of Development: B. Influential Factors of Development C. Principles of Development

III. Vygotskys Theory

The Social Cultural Perspective Basic Assumptions Practices and Applications

II. Piagets Theory

A. Basic Assumption B. Influences on Development C. Basic Structures and Processes Four Stages of Development

IV. Comparison of Theories and Implications for Teachers

Key Terms

Development

Continuous theory Discontinuous theory

Concrete Operational

Piaget

Definition of Cognitive Development

Sensorimotor Stage

Schemes Adaptation Assimilation Accommodation Equilibration/Disequilibration

Formal Operations

Inferred Reality Seriation Transitivity Class Inclusion

Adolescent Egocentrism Metacognition

Vygotsky

Reflexes Object Permanence Preoperational Stage Conservation Centration Reversibility Egocentric

Sign Systems Self Regulation Private Speech Zone of Proximal Development Scaffolding

Stages of Cognitive Development

Piagets Assumptions and Implications for Teachers

1.

Learning is a search for meaning.

Therefore, learning must start with the issues around which students are actively trying to construct meaning.

2.

Meaning requires understanding wholes as well as parts. And parts must be understood in the context of wholes.

Therefore, the learning process focuses on primary concepts, not isolated facts.

3.

We must understand the mental models that students use to perceive the world and the assumptions they make to support those models.
Therefore, we must observe and listen to students.

4.

The purpose of learning is for an individual to construct his or her own meaning, not just memorize the "right" answers and regurgitate someone else's meaning.

Therefore, since education is inherently interdisciplinary, the only valuable way to measure learning is to make the assessment part of the learning process, ensuring it provides students with information on the quality of their learning.

Principles to Guide Teaching

Principles: 1. Children will provide different explanations of reality at different stages of cognitive development. 2. Cognitive development is facilitated by providing activities or situations that engage learners and require adaptation (i.e., assimilation and accommodation). 3. Learning materials and activities should involve the appropriate level of motor or mental operations for a child of given age; avoid asking students to perform tasks that are beyond their current cognitive capabilities. 4. Use teaching methods that actively involve students and present challenges.

Examples for Teaching

For children in the sensorimotor stage, teachers should try to provide a rich and stimulating environment with ample objects to play with. Children in the concrete operational stage, learning activities should involve problems of classification, ordering, location, conservation using concrete objects.

Vygotsky's Theory of Cognitive Development

The

Social Cultural Perspective Basic Assumptions

The Role of Society Thought and Language The Role of Adults Practices and Applications

Basic Principles of Vygotskys Framework

Children

construct their own knowledge can not be separated from its social

Development

context

Learning

can lead from development

Language

plays a central role in mental development

Stages of Language Development

Social speech (or external speech) A child uses speech to express simple thoughts and emotions such as crying, laughter and shouting Egocentric Speech children often talk to themselves, regardless of someone listening to them. They things out loud in an attempt to guide their own behavior Inner Speech It is inner, soundless speech which allows the child to direct his/her thinking and behavior.

Vygotskys Model of Scaffolding

The Bottom-line
Children Social

actively construct their knowledge

interaction is essential for cognitive development development involves relating new information to prior knowledge often think in different ways at different ages

Cognitive

Children