Jean Piaget

Was the first to make a

systematic study of cognitive
development.
Believed childhood plays a
vital role in development
More concerned with children

3 Basic Components
1.
2.
3.

Schemas
Adaption
Stages of Development

Lev Vygotsky

Social Development Theory has

become the foundation in
cognitive development
Stresses the role of social
interaction. It proceeds
development.
Language plays a huge role in
development
Community plays a central role

Aim of education should be to

create autonomous learners
Cognitive growth involves
interaction between human and
Culturally invented tech
Language is key
Believes a child at any age is
capable of learning complex
information
Discovery learning; the teacher is
facilitator

2 Main Principles
1.
2.

More Knowledge Other (MKO)

Zone of Proximal Development
(ZPD)

Classroom application
Influential in developing educational
policy and teaching practice.
Emphasized discovery learning which
was seen as central to the
transformation of the primary school

Classroom application
Reciprocal teaching mirrors
Vygotskys theory. Teacher and
students collaborate in learning.
Also scaffolding is connected with

Jerome Bruner

3 Modes of Representation
1.
2.
3.

Enactive (0-1) action based

Iconic (1-6) Image based
Symbolic (7 & up) language

Classroom application
The concept of Spiral curriculum
involves information being structured
so that complex ideas can be taught at a
simplified level first, then repeating the
process at a more complex level. This
would lead to children solving problems
themselves.

Thinkport 2003