Piaget- Cognitive Development

Question 1

Piagets two types of learning

Answer 1

Assimilation- new info, no radical change to existing knowledge so assimilated to schema

Accommodation- new info, radical change to existing knowledge, accommodated by creating new schema

Question 2

Piaget equilibrium and disequilibrium

Answer 2

Equilibrium- when we have encountered new info and built it into our understanding of a topic by A or A

Disequilibrium- new info challenging schema causing discomfort

Piaget says we learn because disequilibrium is unpleasant, we reach equilibrium (schema complete) by AorA to fully understand a scenario

Question 3

What does Piaget say about schema

Answer 3

Some schema innate, others more sophisticated and change over time so we understand more complex situations

Question 4

Strength Piagets TCD- practical application

Answer 4

P- Practical application, applied to teaching
E- Old classes, sit in rows+copy, new classes, activity, explore based, discovery learning
E- supports idea that learning is through expanding schema through AorA (discovery learning)

However tested his theory on own children and university nursery children- smarter, more self motivated- bias to self motivated learners and upper class white- not generalisable

Question 5

Limitation Piaget TCD- lack of evidence

Answer 5

P- no firm evidence for DL being better way to learn
E- Lazonder found discovery learning AND input from teachers most effective way to learn, said teacher input most important
E- so DL less useful than Piaget suggested, lean more to teacher learning

Question 6

Limitation Piaget TCD- role of others

Answer 6

P- Piaget underestimated the role of others in learning
E- Piaget says learning is individual, contrasts others such as Vygotsky who says others play a large role
E- much evidence for role of others…..
Collaboration is important