Piaget's cognitive development Flashcards
What does Piaget suggest about children’s knowledge
Children do not simply know less than adults but instead think in entirely different ways
What does Piaget say about the role of schemas
Children are born with a small number of innate schemas (sucking, grasping).
We begin to develop schemas in infancy (eg our me-schema), and construct more complex schemas of the world as we develop
What does Piaget say about the role of motivation in learning
When we cannot make sense of something new, we enter disequilibrium (an unpleasant state), so we are pushed to learn so we can reenter a state of equilibration (our preferred mental state)
Define assimilation
When new information is added to a pre-existing schema.
Define accommodation
When new information does not fit with any existing schema, so we have to adapt existing schemas or construct new ones.
Evaluation (research support)
Howe studied 9-12 year olds in groups of 4 and asked them to investigate and discuss the movement of objects down slopes.
Found = The children’s understanding of the scenario did not become more similar, but instead, they each picked up different facts and conclusions.
Supports Piaget because it shows the children each created an individual representation, which is what Piaget would have expected.
Evaluation (Real world application)
Piaget’s theory has changed classroom teaching to more discovery-based learning where children are encouraged to make their interpretation of the curriculum through activities.
HOWEVER = There is no evidence to suggest that discovery-based learning is effective in isolation, but Harmen found that discovery-based learning paired with considerable teacher efforts is most effective.
Evaluation (Underestimation of the role of others)
Piaget suggests although others are useful for information, learning is an individual process rather than a social process.
Whereas others such as Vygotsky suggest learning is a social process involving MKO’s and there is large evidence to support this.
