Note: (this is prepared to give some insight into the content mentioned below)

Critical appraisal of views of Piaget, Bruner and Vygotsky with reference to multiple school
contexts of India.

T Arun Christopher – Central University of Kashmir

Type of schools

 ICSE / CISE – Indian Certificate of secondary education / council of Indian School certificate
examinations.
 CBSE – Central Board of Secondary Education, India
 State Board – followed by all state governments
 Matriculation Board - followed

Concept Piaget Bruner Vygotsky

/educationist views
learning Active construction, Learning should be Collaborative
restructuring prior reconstruction of construction of
knowledge occurs experience. This is socially defined
through multiple done in ICSE board knowledge & values
opportunities and and to a certain occurs through
diverse process to extent CBSE schools socially constructed
connect to what is opportunities in the
already known. This form of group work
principal is accepted and projects in ICSE
by Govt. Matric and Schools only
CBSE schools in
India, but followed
only in ICSE board.
Teaching method Challenge students, Teach through Co- construct
guide students effective strategies, knowledge with
thinking towards correct students is prioritised
understanding is misconceptions are in ICSE board.
done at ICSE boards prioritised in CBSE
boards.
Role of teacher Facilitator, guide, Allow the student Facilitator, guide, co-
listens for students into the path of participant is adopted
current conception, discovery. ABL and in ICSE
ides, thinking is not ALM method
followed by any followed in State
board except partially boards (at the
by ICSE primary level in
Tamil Nadu)
Role of students Active participants in Co-operate and Co-construct,
the learning process discover (active collaborate in
(active thinker, thinker, explainer, learning process,
explainer, interpreter interpreter etc.) is active thinker,
etc.) is found mostly also seen in ICSE explainer, interpreter,
in CBSE and ICSE and certain extent questioner, etc. seen
 boards CBSE boards in ICSE boards
knowledge Changing body of It is innate and Built on what
knowledge intellectual participants
individually development move contribute construct
constructed in socialfrom enactive together.
world. Based on (activity) to symbolic ISCE board mostly.
learners exposure and(language).
interest. This is seen
(Followed in some
in Govt. Matric, state boards e.g.
ISCE and CBSE Tamil nadu), matric,
CBSE & ICSE board
Law of readiness Only when the child Opposed law of Children are ready to
is ready, learning readiness: learn if they are
takes place Child can be appropriately
effectively. Based on prepared to learn by exposed to social
the age group adopting effective learning situations.
learning concept has strategies. Hence age He supports Piaget’s
to be arranged. is not a factor for views. Followed in
Followed in State, learning. Followed State, Matric and
Matric and CBSE in ICSE board CBSE board
board
Concept formation through assimilation Learning through Social cultural
and accommodation experience (enactive- influence
and complex action based{0-1 (scaffolding, zone
cognitive yrs}, iconic-image proximal
development occurs based {1-6 yrs} and development, cultural
through equilibrium symbolic-language clues)
based{7 yrs and
above}) and concept
formation is natural
and over the age it
develops. Supports
vygotsky view of
mature person
influence immature
person in concept
formation
Interaction Self talk is good at Interpersonal and Self talk is given
lower level but as the intra personal more importance as it
child grows it reflects relations are acts in cognition and
his/her poor mental emphasised. also outlet for stress.
health. Learning is through Self talk leads to
cooperation. ICSE development of
follows this method. interpersonal
relations
Language Language Language Takes place when
development development takes development is a students are learning
place. Mother tongue cause not a in groups. Mother
is a priority only state consequence of tongue is a priority
boards follow. cognitive only state boards
 CBSE gives hindi
and English medium
while ICSE offers
English medium
only.
Cultural effect Culture influences
learning hence state
board and matric
boards bring in
culturally sensitive
topics in syllabus.
Level of difficulty Easy to difficult
followed in state
board, matric and
CBSSE
Learning objective All round
development of the
individual –
interaction and self
sufficient personality.
State board and
matriculation focuses
on this
development. Mother follow.
tongue is a priority
only state boards
follow.
Culture influence Culture influence
learning CBSE gives learning CBSE gives
mild preference but mild preference but
ICSE doesn’t give ICSE doesn’t give
preference preference
No formats. To a Easy to difficult
certain extent followed in state
followed by ICSE board, matric and
boards CBSSE
All round All round
development of the development of the
individual – Able to individual – Able to
invent new things solve problems
and solve problems is keeping socio-
followed in ICSE cultural aspects in
board mind. ICSE and
CBSE focus on this.

India being a big country is not able to cater to all the principles discussed by educationist and
psychologist. But our system of education has progressed remarkably within the broad boundaries
and has contributed to the growth and development of science and technology. For a diverse
country like India providing equal opportunity to all its learners is a challenging task. But education
sector gets prime allocation of funds to improve the quality of teaching and learning and in the due
course of time the views of Piaget, Vygotsky and Bruner etc. will be addressed effectively by
incorporating them into the education system to a greater extent possible. As teaching and learning
is an evolving process, things will improve for the better in the future.